Volunteering at ECHO starts with a conversation with the volunteer coordinator to discuss various opportunities and expectations. See the many options below.

Except on holidays, ECHO is open five morning shifts (9:30 am- 12:30 pm) and three evenings shifts (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm) a week, plus one Saturday morning per month. Volunteers who choose tasks in the building are asked to commit to at least two weekday morning shifts per month, or one Saturday or evening shift per month.

See below for some short-term or temporary projects for those unable to make a long-term commitment.

Since ECHO has no paid staff, our workforce changes daily, and we have few people in supervisory positions. Because of this, ECHO is unable to accommodate those who need to accumulate court-ordered Community Service Hours.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact ECHO by email at VolunteerCoordinator@echo-inc.org. Include a phone number and the best time to contact you.

Tasks performed at the ECHO building:

ECHO is establishing two new positions:

• #1 Client Engagement Chair – ECHO is seeking a volunteer to assume a new position, Client Engagement Chair. The Client Engagement Chair leads the Counselor team that is responsible for helping ECHO meet the first step of assisting neighbors in need – determining individual eligibly for ECHO support and the nature of that support. To ensure ECHO is effectively determining eligibility and the nature of support for neighbors in need, the Client Engagement Chair has the following responsibilities: • Recruit and train new counselors. • Update current Counselors and Assistant Counselors on changes in guidance and ECHO procedures. • Coordinate with other ECHO teams that provide assistance to clients – Food, Clothing, Housewares, etc. – to ensure sufficient stocks of in-kind donations to meet client needs/demand. • Coordinate with other ECHO teams – IT, ADMIN – to ensure the efficiency of Counselor processes/procedures for determining client eligibility and need. • Ensure that assistance is provided to clients in accordance with ECHO Mission, Vision and Values statements. The Chair of the Counselor Team should have at least five years experience in a similar environment, preferably as a Counselor, Case Worker or comparable role, strong leadership skills, and an appreciation of the dynamics of an all-volunteer organization.
• #2 Counselor ADMIN Support – ECHO is seeking a number of volunteers to assume new positions for Counselor Admin Support. The Counselor Admin volunteers support Counselors and Assistant Counselors in meeting their mission to engage clients to determine individual eligibility for ECHO support and the nature of that support. To effectively help Counselors and Assistant Counselors engage with clients, Counselor Admin volunteers have the responsibilities to: • Work with Counselors and Assistant Counselors to maintain paper and automated records related to engaging clients to determine individual eligibility and need. • Update information on programs for clients and keep current the program information in Client Waiting Room. • Maintain ECHO information in the County’s Human Services Resource Guide (HSRG) and work with Counselors to extract information relevant to our clients for services/support that exceeds ECHO’s capacity/capability. • Assist Counselors with locating and filing Client folders. • Help maintain the accuracy of automated Client information. • Help with the diaper distribution program: prepare diaper bundles for clients with appointments and give diapers to clients when they come to ECHO. Experience and comfort using and helping troubleshot IT applications very helpful. Volunteers will work one or more shifts/week. air of the Counselor Team should have at least five years experience in a similar environment, preferably as a Counselor, Case Worker or comparable role, strong leadership skills, and an appreciation of the dynamics of an all-volunteer organization.

• Ongoing positions include:

• Administration: take on leadership roles, coordinate daily operations, direct other volunteers, or chair programs, make sure the policies set by ECHO’s Board of Directors are executed, represent ECHO with donors, businesses, organizations and the general public, answer questions from volunteers and clients.
• Admin Support: do general officer work, answer phones, process emails, support Executive Director and Executive Committee, maintain admin files and data bases.
• Building and Grounds Maintenance: help with minor building repairs, mow grass, do minor landscape work, conduct necessary snow removal.
• Clothing:  work with clients as they shop for clothing for their families, sort donated clothing and place clothing on shelves and racks for clients to choose, work with family counselors to make sure clients get the clothing and household goods for which they qualify under ECHO guidelines.
• Consignment:  assess donations to determine if they are more useful to ECHO’s mission if sold for the funds to be used for client assistance or administrative costs, transport goods to consignment stores.
• Counselors:  interview clients and establish written records of client visits, including the amount and types of assistance given, refer clients to any other appropriate sources of assistance.
• Counselor Assistant: greet arriving clients, answer phone, confirm appointments by phone, general office tasks.
• Data Entry: enter data about client visits from hand-written records into a computer database.
• Fix-It Desk – test non-clothing donations to ensure they’re safe and operational. If something appears not to work properly, the volunteer attempts to determine the cause and fix it. If something needs to be repaired, the volunteer attempts to fix it. The volunteer performs a range of maintenance, supply and support operations to include:
  • Ordering supplies (toilet paper, paper towel, facial tissues, cups, coffee, garbage/storage bags, and batteries on-hand:
  • Coordinating with partner organizations for pick-up of items ECHO passes along partners.
  • Coordinating and perform HVAC maintenance (schedule semi-annual HVAC maintenance service; change furnace filters quarterly, etc.).
  • Maintaining Fire Extinguishers (Schedule annual inspection; Perform a visual monthly inspection
• Food: sort and shelve donated or purchased foods, assist clients as they shop for food, must be able to lift 40 pounds.
• Grant Writer: Be part of a team to research and apply for grants on behalf of the organization or in support of initiatives that benefit clients. A Grant Writer’s responsibilities include researching grant opportunities, writing compelling grant proposals to acquire funding, and working with the finance team to identify ECHO programs that could benefit from grant funding. Responsibilities • Identify grant funding opportunities • Write, submit and manage grant proposals • Furnish prospective funders with supporting documents. Preferred Qualifications • Proven work experience as a Grant Writer or similar role • Proficient with measuring and reaching income goals • Working knowledge of MS Office Word and Excel
• Housewares: sort donated items that are not food or clothing, check for condition, fold and stock shelves with bedding, towels, cookware, dinnerware and small appliances and work with clothing volunteers to distribute these housewares items to the clients.
• Donations Door: greet donors, help educate donors about what ECHO can/cannot accept, assist with heavy or unwieldy packages of donations, record donations, perform an initial sorting of donations by type, i.e. clothing, small appliances, etc. and deliver to respective area.
• Technical Support: refurbish donated Windows computers (desktop and laptop) that will be given to clients.
• Teen Program Leader: mentor and supervise 13-18 year old volunteers as they engage in various service opportunities at ECHO on Wednesdays 7:00-8:30 pm. Coordinate with food room, enrichment and clothing committees to organize work projects for Wednesday nights. Monitor ECHOTeenVolunteers@gmail.com account and create volunteer schedule. Approve service verification requests as needed. 

Tasks performed away from the ECHO building:

Some tasks can be accomplished away from ECHO, while others require driving and/or transporting goods.

• • eBay/Craigslist Sales: sell donated items online and give the proceeds to ECHO.
  • Food Buyer Assistant: purchase foods at local stores as needed and deliver to ECHO.
  • Communications: write about ECHO for publications, plan special events, photograph ECHO events, manage online platforms, speak to groups about ECHO.
  • Grant Writer: Be part of a team of Grant Writers to support our efforts in securing funding to help our neighbors in need. A Grant Writer’s responsibilities include researching grant opportunities, writing compelling grant proposals to acquire funding, and working with the finance team to identify ECHO programs that could benefit from grant funding. Responsibilities: Identify grant funding opportunities; Write, submit and manage grant proposals; and Furnish prospective funders with supporting documents. Preferred Qualifications: Proven work experience as a Grant Writer or similar role, Proficient with measuring and reaching income goals, and Working knowledge of MS Office Word and Excel.
  • Social Media Coordinator Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Join us as a Social Media Coordinator volunteer at ECHO! We are dedicated to helping residents of Springfield and Burke, Virginia, with essential needs such as food, rent, utility bills, clothing, and housewares. Responsibilities: ● Create engaging and informative posts for our social media platforms, including Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. ● Upload captivating photos and videos to accompany posts and showcase our organization’s impact. ● Monitor and respond to messages, comments, and inquiries from our community members and supporters. ● Collaborate with our team to develop social media campaigns and promotions to raise awareness and drive engagement. ● Stay updated on social media trends and best practices to optimize our online presence. ● Attend occasional meetings or training sessions to align strategies and share insights with the team.  Qualifications: ● Strong communication skills and a passion for community service. ● Experience with social media platforms such as Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. ● Ability to create content, including text, images, and videos.       ● Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. ● Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with a team. ● Flexibility to dedicate 3-5 hours per week to fulfill the responsibilities of the role.  Benefits: ● Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of residents in need. ● Gain valuable experience in social media management and digital marketing. ● Collaborate with a supportive team dedicated to making a difference. ● Develop new skills and enhance your resume/portfolio. If you are ready to use your social media skills for a worthy cause and contribute to the well-being of our community, we would love to have you on board as a Social Media Coordinator volunteer at ECHO!

Tasks that are Seasonal and/or Temporary

Extra volunteers are needed for various seasonal ECHO activities:

• Yard Sale Workers: set up items for sale, set up and dismantle tables, serve as sale assistants and checkout clerks, clean up site at close of event.
• Holiday Programs: assemble boxes of fresh and non-perishable foods for Thanksgiving or Christmas baskets.
• Major Food Drives: assist with sorting and shelving non-perishable foods during major food drives such as Scouting for Food or letter carriers Stamp Out Hunger Drive.
• Drivers: pick up or deliver donations, yard sale items, or other materials using the ECHO van or the volunteer’s own vehicle as needed. This is not a regular task. Volunteers would be on a roster with other drivers. Some lifting required.
• School Supplies Program:  organize school supplies and assemble backpacks filled with grade-appropriate supplies.
• Collection Drives:  hold drives to collect new household goods, selected food items, athletic socks and underclothes for men, women, boys, and girls in all sizes; Please see our ECHO Donation Drive Guidelines page to help your group get started