Join the CPO family—Volunteer!
You are invited to volunteer at CPO! Volunteers must to be at least 9 years old. Because CPO has a warehouse, all volunteers under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
- You can volunteer one time, once a month, once a week, or as frequently as your schedule permits.
- Volunteers work from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on their scheduled day(s)—CPO is open Monday through Saturday.
- For information about what our volunteers do while at CPO, click on the tabs (Clothing, Food, Greeter, etc.) below.
To schedule your time at CPO, please contact our Volunteer Coordinators at 919-847-1466. When you volunteer, please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes.
- Clothing
- Food
- Greeter
- Interviewer
- Warehouse
- Project
Volunteers working in the clothing area assist clients who are choosing clothing for children who are up to four years old or who are selecting maternity clothing.
Work: light, mostly standing
Spanish language skills are a plus, but not necessary
Volunteers who are working in the food sorting and repacking area may be stocking shelves, packing boxes, sorting vegetables, or using one of our carts to assist clients in taking the groceries to their cars.
Work: light to medium.
The work assignments can be adjusted to the volunteer's wishes.
The volunteer who greets our clients:
- Welcomes them as they arrive at CPO.
- Answers their questions.
- Collects their referral (from the social service agency that sent them to CPO).
- Provides them with a number (to ensure they receive what is on their referral).
Work: light, desk work
Requires: good people skills
Spanish language skills are a plus, but not necessary
The volunteers who interview our clients verify that the clients are eligible to receive food and clothing before any items are distributed. They also provide the volunteers who are in the food and clothing areas with information about what the clients are to receive and update CPO's records.
Interviewers must be comfortable dealing with people and be sensitive to our clients' needs and challenges. Computer skills are necessary for data entry and record keeping.
Work: light, desk work
Requirements: good people skills, computer skills
Spanish language skills are a plus, but not necessary
Volunteers working in the warehouse receive and store canned, boxed, and refrigerated food.
Work: varies from medium to strenuous
Use of a fork lift and driving the CPO truck at times are required. Authorization to operate either vehicle is limited and only granted by the CPO Director.
Many of our supporters are unable to volunteer during our operating hours. Instead, they help us by collecting the food and clothing that we distribute or by raising funds for us to purchase food. Some of the projects that people have done to support CPO include:
-
'Feed a Family' food drives or soup drives
Annual Raleigh Crop Walk
Neighborhood food or clothing drives
Baby showers or sewing blankets for newborns
Work days for your group
Dining out or shopping events
Garage sales
For more information about planning a project, please contact our Director. For contact information, please click here. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.