Volunteer in Our Community
July 2026
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Serve:
In Fairfax County
Food Drive - Central Union Mission Family Ministry Centers in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
The Mission: NOVA family ministry center in Arlington seeks to minister to those in need with the gospel and a helping hand. Over 300 people line up weekly for the food distribution at this new location. The center in the city already serves over 400 people each week. Please consider donating non-perishable foods by dropping them in the Mission bin in the Atrium any Sunday. The greatest items needed include:
rice, beans, pasta, pasta sauce, mac & cheese, canned meats, canned soups, vegetables, and fruit, snack cups, granola bars
Volunteer at Central Union Mission in Arlington, Virginia - Mission: NOVA
The Mission's Virginia location at 5401 7th Road South in Arlington is flourishing! Join us as we offer food & clothing, bible studies, ESL and pathway to citizenship classes, computer training, job placement and legal services. We especially need Spanish speakers. To help with this new ministry outreach that is sharing gospel and meeting needs in our community, visit missionNOVA.org.
Young Lives of Eastern Fairfax
As a component of Young Life, the Young Lives ministry supports teenage mothers in our local community. IBC volunteers support their events with childcare, meals, and mentors. For more information, contact serving@ibc.church.
In Washington, D.C.
Cornerstone Schools of Washington, D.C.
Cornerstone Schools, located in southeast D.C, provides a Christ-centered, nurturing, and academically robust education to K-12th grade students. There are several opportunities to be involved in supporting the school to include their prayer team, tutoring, lunch buddy program or donating to their food pantry and other needs. Visit www.cornerstone-schools.org/give+serve or contact Josephine Ashiara at jashiara@cornerstone-schools.org
At Central Union Mission, in Washington, D.C.
Mission Muffins
As part of Central Union Mission’s Ready 2 Cook program, our employees learn baking, retail, and business skills that help make them ready for the job market. We believe we can replace dependence with responsibility, pairing the employee’s potential with his determination to succeed. Every time you purchase one of our delicious products, you are helping to train and equip a homeless or employment-challenged individual to return to society.
You can place your order in advance at ibc.church/missionmuffins by Wednesday, July 1 for onsite delivery on Sunday, July 5 in the Atrium. For August, please place orders by Wednesday, July 29 for delivery on Sunday, August 2.
Serving Dinner at Central Union Mission
Join our team as we encourage the guests at the Shelter. For more information on dates available, contact serving@ibc.church.
Hygiene Packs
The Mission provides support to over 5,000 families a month with food and clothing. Please consider giving a Hygiene Pack of items they often cannot afford. Label a box/bag with some or all these items and place it in the Atrium any Sunday.
Toilet Paper, Adhesive bandages, Cotton Balls, Facial Tissues, Hand/Body Lotion, Body Wash, Shampoo/Conditioner, Deodorant, Toothpaste/Toothbrush, Comb/Brush, Nail Clippers, Hand Soap, Cotton Swabs
Bible Verse Writing Rally
Organize a verse-writing rally with your family or any group to encourage those less fortunate. Bible verse cards are a great encouragement to the low-income neighbors who receive services from the Mission. All you have to do is:
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Write out Bible verses of encouragement on 3x5 index cards, one verse per card. Do not list any personal information.
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Mail the stack of cards to:
Central Union Mission
P.O. Box 96763
Washington, DC 20090
Food Drive
The center in the city serves over 400 people each week. Please consider donating non-perishable foods by dropping them in the Mission bin in the Atrium any Sunday. The greatest items needed include:
rice, beans, pasta, pasta sauce, mac & cheese, canned meats, canned soups, vegetables, and fruit, snack cups, granola bars
Operation Backpack 2026
Join the IBC family as we help support children in need at Mission: NOVA in Arlington and the Family Ministry Resource Center in Washington, D.C.
You can obtain supply lists and tags at missiondc.org/events. You will also find a link to the Amazon Wish List. Supplies purchased on Amazon are shipped directly to the CFRC.
The supply list, and backpack tags, are also available at the Welcome Center. Please drop off backpacks filled with school supplies in the Atrium by Sunday, August 9.
Volunteers are needed to distribute the backpacks. Contact: TDuncan@missiondc.org
Sponsor a Child at Central Union Mission Camp Bennett This Summer
As a long-standing ministry of Central Union Mission, over 400 children will be given the opportunity to experience intentional Christian community at Camp Bennett from late June to early August. The Mission is one of the few rescue missions who ministers to inner-city children in this special way. Please consider sponsoring a child at campbennett.org.
Serve Our Community at IBC
Immanuel's Hope
Immanuel's on-campus charitable mission needs donations of seasonal clothing, bedding, towels, and small household items. Donations may be dropped off at Immanuel's Hope on Wednesdays, 12-4pm, or anytime in the bin in the IBC Atrium.
You can volunteer: We need volunteers to help with our telephone ministry to set up appointments, confirm family needs, and share the gospel. We also need volunteers to meet with the families as they come to shop.
We are especially in need of men volunteers who can receive, move and store donations on Wednesday afternoons, 12-4pm, and assist on Saturday mornings when distributions are made to clients in need.
Contact: hope@ibc.church
English Classes | English as a Second Language (ESL)
Our English classes are looking for helpers and conversation partners. Helpers are most needed in the classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Conversation Partners have flexibly scheduled one-on-one hour-long meetings with students 2-4 times per month at a mutually workable location. Minimum requirements for teachers, helpers, and conversation partners:
1) Love Jesus
2) Love people
3) Speak English (native or additionally)
Contact Sara Ortiz: esl@ibc.church
Ongoing Serving Opportunities
The Serve Initiative
Across our county and around the DC area, the people of Immanuel Bible Church are plugging into service and outreach opportunities! It’s a great way to be salt and light in the community God has placed us in. This webpage will help you individually or your neighborhood group, family, Bible study, or ABF table to connect with places of ministry where our church has ongoing involvement. Click on any name below to learn more about the organization and find out who to contact. At the bottom of this page, upcoming opportunities are featured.
Please contact me here or deedee Collins at serving@ibc.church if you need additional assistance.
Michael Connor
Pastor of Mission and Outreach
Anacostia Gracious Arts Program (AGAP)
AGAP offers an after-school arts education to the youth of Anacostia. Volunteers assist with meal preparation, mentoring, Bible lessons and diverse arts classes. Meets Mondays. For more information, visit http://www.agapdc.org/
Contact: Dennis Crawford, dcrfrd@gmail.com
Assist Pregnancy Center
Located across the street from Immanuel Bible Church, this center helps mothers-to-be and couples at a difficult time in their lives. Multiple opportunities for volunteer service. For more information, visit assistpartners.org
Contact: 703-354-7291 or volunteer@assistcpc.org
Food & Friends
Food & Friends prepares, packages and delivers meals and groceries to more than 1,350 people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia. For more information, visit http://www.foodandfriends.org
Contact: Beth Stewart at estewart@foodandfriends.org.
Urban Immersion
Hosted by the Center for Student Missions, we work at various sites ministering to those in need in the nation's capital, including Central Union Mission. Come and experience the city in a whole new way . . .through God's eyes! This is a great mission trip suitable for families with children 12 or older.
Contact: Deedee Collins, serving@ibc.church
Young Life Capernaum
Young Life Capernaum gives young people with mental and physical disabilities the chance to experience fun and friendships through clubs, camps and other exciting activities. The club meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month at H.B. Woodlawn H.S. in Arlington. Teams from Immanuel participate regularly.
For more info, visit https://capernaum.younglife.org/
Contact: Caleb Henderson, caleb.younglife@gmail.com
Car Ministry Partnership
Immanuel is now partnering with The Car Ministry (TCM), a NOVA-based Christian charity specializing in receiving, repairing and then granting used vehicles to needy families. Please follow the instructions below to either donate a vehicle or to make a request to receive one.
Donating a vehicle:
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TCM accepts vehicles that are less than 20 years old that are drivable and, in general, are in good working order.
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No major engine or transmission repairs required.
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Odometer ideally less than 200,000 miles. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of TCM depending on make and model of car donation.
Contact The Car Ministry here if you have a car you are considering donating.
Requesting a vehicle - eligibility requirements:
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Requester has stable housing (not homeless or living in temporary shelter)
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Resident of Northern Virginia (or a missionary).
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Full-time employment by a member of requesting family to ensure ability to afford costs associated with car ownership
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Household income does not exceed level for family to be eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC).
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Valid Virginia driver’s license.
Click here to request a donated vehicle from The Car Ministry.