Opportunities From: Oliver Gospel

Where You’ll Be:

Built in 1888, the Men’s Center at Oliver Gospel originally functioned as the heart of the organization, housing all program guests, administrative offices, and kitchen services under one roof. Today, it remains an integral part of the work that we do. With 90 beds across the three floors, the Men’s Center provides a safe space for the men of the Midlands community experiencing homelessness, poverty, and addiction to take steps toward a hope-filled future and experience life transformation.

What You’ll Do:

As a Community Meal Server, you may be responsible for tasks such as setting up the dining room, serving food on the line, refilling beverages, clearing trays, wiping down tables, and assisting with light clean-up after the meal. Volunteers are expected to follow food safety and hygiene guidelines, work as part of a team, and treat every guest with dignity and kindness. A staff member will guide you throughout your shift to ensure you feel comfortable and confident in your role.

Why It Matters:

Our Community Meal Servers play a vital role in ensuring that we are able to feed each guest of our Men’s Center in a timely manner and offer dignity, compassion, and connection to everyone that walks through our dining hall doors. As a Community Meal Server, you help create a safe and welcoming space where guests feel seen, respected, and valued. Your willingness to serve not only meets an immediate need but also reinforces a sense of community and hope—reminding every guest that they are not alone.

Eligibility:

Must be 15 years or older Must be accompanied by an adult if under the age of 18 Must be able to be on your feet for up to 2 hours

FAQ:

Where do I park?
Parking is available at metered spots on the street or in the Taylor Street Garage (first two levels only). Payment is handled through the Passport App. For full details on city parking regulations, click here.

What should I wear?
Please wear comfortable, modest clothing that allows you to move easily while maintaining a respectful appearance. We kindly ask that volunteers refrain from wearing sweatpants, spaghetti strap tops, low-cut tops or crop tops, short shorts or skirts, opened toe shoes, and headphones. If you have long hair, we also ask that you tie it back before handling any food.

How do I log my hours?
All volunteers must clock in and out. The check-in station is located on the left wall inside the dining hall entrance. If you experience any issues, please notify a staff member to sign you in on paper. You can also track your hours using the Causer – Get Connected volunteer app.

I haven’t received a confirmation email. What should I do?
Confirmation and reminder emails come from volunteer@olivergospel.org. These often go to spam or junk folders, so please check there if you haven’t received one.

What if I need to cancel my shift?
If you're unable to attend your shift, please cancel through the volunteer portal or notify us as soon as possible by emailing volunteer@olivergospel.org.

Our Clothing Distribution Program at the Men's Center is dedicated to providing clean, gently used, and seasonally appropriate clothing items to the men within our programs. As we restart this Program this summer, we are looking for compassionate and dependable volunteers to work alongside staff to organize clothing requests from program guests, select appropriate items based on each request, and prepare packed bags for scheduled distribution times. Volunteers will also help to maintain the organization of the clothing closet.

This opportunity will take place every other Tuesday from 10 AM - 12 PM starting on June 9th. 

FAQ:

Where do I park?

Parking is available at the meters on the street or in the Taylor Street garage using the first two levels using the Passport App. Find out more about the city's parking regulations here. 

 

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothing you can move around in but still remain modest and respectful. No sweats, spaghetti strap tops, low-cut tops, crop-tops, short shorts, skirts, or open-toed shoes. Please no headphones while working.

 

How do I log my hours?

ALL volunteers must clock-in/out. The check-in station is located on the wall to the left when you walk in to the dining hall. If there are issues logging in please ask a staff member to sign in on paper. You can also use the volunteer app "Causer-Get Connected." 

 

I have not received a confirmation email.

Emails come from "volunteer@olivergospel.org" and tend to go to spam/junk folders. Please check for these emails, you should receive a confirmation email of signing up and a reminder about your shift. 

 

Four nights a week (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun) our Men's Center hosts a chapel service for our men in the Refresh and Rebuild programs. Chapel is a 30-minute long component of our programming in which we share the message of the Gospel, the hope that Jesus offers us, and how we apply Scripture's principles to our lives. If you are gifted and have a desire to teach or are musically gifted with your voice or instruments, we would love to give you the opportunity to speak life into our men staying with us in our programs.

 

Please email volunteer@olivergospel.org to start the below process.

 

Volunteer Requirements:

Must be 18 or older. Complete brief questionnaire for chapel speaker volunteers Speak with Men's Center Program Manager or appropriate representative Affirm agreement with chapel speaker expectations Be able to come within available chapel date/time vacancies 6:30-7p Volunteers are asked to maintain modest and respectful dress attire while serving No sweats, spaghetti strap tops, low-cut tops, crop-tops, short shorts, or skirts, torn clothing, or open-toed shoes

 

FAQ:

Where do I park?

This opportunity is located at the Men's Center at 1100 Taylor St, Columbia, SC. Paid parking is available across from our downtown location in the municipal parking garage using the Passport App. Street parking may also be available the meters take coins or Passport app. You can check out how to use the app here. Please enter through the blue door located on the Taylor St side of the Men's Center. Our front desk associates will greet you and direct you into our dining hall. 

 

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothing you can move around in but still remain modest and respectful. No sweats, spaghetti strap tops, low-cut tops, crop-tops, short shorts, skirts, or open-toed shoes. Please no headphones while working.

 

How do I log my hours?

ALL volunteers must clock-in/out. The check-in station is located in the break room. Please clock in and out on the tablet there. If the tablet is down then please sign in on the sheet. You can also download the Causer--Get Connected app to log your hours. Your hours will then be shown in your profile. 

 

What will I be doing?

We are looking for teachers that are able to teach a variety of topics and life skills for the men in our Recovery and Rebuild Program. These primarily relate to topics of Housing, Career, and Finances which include the following:

Housing: search process, financial requirements, affordable housing, living in a community

Career: employer expectations, application process, interviewing skills, onboarding, overcoming barriers

Finances: budgeting, credit reports/repair, banking, saving, investing

 

Opportunity Schedule:

Vary based on volunteer availability and program schedule

 

Volunteer Requirements:

Must be 18 or older

Must have documented experience of expertise in subject matter being taught (degree, resume, certificate, etc.)

 

Where do I go?

Once you complete your background check and register for this opportunity, please email volunteer@olivergospel.org to continue with next steps.

What will I be doing?

We are looking for barbers and hairstylists that would be willing to volunteer their time to give haircuts to our men, women, and children. We want to offer free haircuts to our men at our downtown location that are staying in our Refresh, Rebuild, and Recovery programs. There's nothing like a fresh haircut that helps someone present themselves well!

We are also looking for salon hairstylists that can offer haircuts for our women and children, each once a month. This opportunity will be located at Toby's Place, where we have a built-in salon in our facilities. 

Opportunity Schedule:

Opportunity times are scheduled with the Community Engagement Coordinator and will vary on your availability. 

Volunteer Requirements:

Must be 18 or older. Dress code: Volunteers should wear long pants, a loose-fitting top with sleeves, and closed-toed shoes.

Where do I go?

Barbering opportunities for our men will be located at our downtown location, which is our Men's Center. For hairstyling for our women and children will be located at Toby's Place. Volunteers for Toby's Place will be required to have a background check. 

 

Download the "CauseConnect" volunteer app to access your calendar for opportunities you signed up for, to sign up for more opportunities, and check in and out of opportunities (and please do check in and out!)

 

WHAT'S MY NEXT STEP?

Click on the "Volunteer" button in the top right-hand corner of the screen to reserve your slot!

 

Do you have any questions? Contact Kara Pippin

Email: kara.pippin@olivergospel.org

Phone: (803)254-6470 ext 1200