At Poiema, volunteers aren't a supplement to the mission — in many ways, they are the mission.
From the moment a woman walks through our doors to the day she walks across our graduation stage, she is surrounded by people who decided to show up.
Where You Come In
REAL ROLES. REAL INVESTMENT. REAL IMPACT
Is this you?
Mentor
Be the healthy friendship she's never had.
You'll be matched with one resident at a time — meeting for coffee, sharing a meal, showing up in person once or twice a month. What she needs isn't expertise. It's evidence that a steady, boundaried relationship is real and that she's worth someone's time.
For: Women of faith with compassion, healthy boundaries, and space for hard stories.
Commitment: One year, one resident at a time.
Driver
Your car is the bridge to her independence.
Drivers help residents get to work and vital appointments locally in Charles County. When she can get there reliably, she keeps her job, saves money, and moves forward. Thirty dollars per Uber she doesn't have to spend is thirty dollars toward her future.
For: Anyone with a reliable vehicle and a flexible, consistent schedule.
Requirement: Insurance minimums & clean driving record.
Poiema Kids Caregiver
Two hours that give a mom permission to heal.
While residents are in program sessions, their children need to be somewhere safe and loved. You sign up monthly in two-hour slots, always with at least one other volunteer. This role opens after three months in another capacity — because the children here have earned that level of trust.
For: Child-loving, team-oriented volunteers who enjoying playing with kids.
Commitment: Two-hour at a time, following a three-month prerequisite.
Event Support
Every detail tells her she matters.
Poiema does every event with excellence — curating every detail so every guest feels seen and every graduate feels celebrated. That level of care happens because a team shows up to carry the details. If making things beautiful for other people is your gift, this is your place.
For: Dependable, team-oriented people who love making meaningful moments happen.
Commitment: Event-based, with opportunities throughout the year.
Skilled Volunteers
Show up with your hands ready.
We're specifically looking for skilled workers — for home repairs, yard work, furniture moving, and property maintenance across our homes.
For: Anyone with handyman skills and a willingness to do practical, physical work.
Commitment: As needed, with ongoing opportunities.
We walk alongside you every step of the way.
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ATTEND
Not sure yet? Start here. We host a Be Our Guest event monthly as your chance to experience Poiema before you commit to anything.
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APPLY
Submit your volunteer application. We'll complete a background check and reference check — because the women and children we serve deserve that standard.
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TRAIN
All volunteers complete mandatory orientation. Each role includes role-specific training and ongoing support so you feel equipped and prepared.
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SHOW UP
You're in — part of something that doesn't work without you.
This is who you are showing up for.
Meet Melissa. Graduate. Living Proof.
Five minutes. One woman's journey from where she was to where she is now — made possible by a program, a community, and people who decided to show up.
This is what your yes makes possible.
“This story, this journey, this impact — is not only changing lives but generations and communities. Humbled to be a stone on the path of restoration for these amazing women.”
— Perliter, Poiema Volunteer
