Join Us

10 Ways to Get Your Group Involved

Welcome to Doorways, where your mission meets our mission. Bring your care, passion, and dedication. We’ll bring the opportunities to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Since Doorways’ founding in 1978, community members have come together as critical partners in our mission to create pathways out of homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault leading to safe, stable, and empowered lives. There are many opportunities for your group to learn more about the issues and offer support to the adults, youth and children at Doorways, and to join our cause. Below are 10 ways you can get your group involved, including youth and kids!

What We Offer

  • Service opportunities connected to your goals and passions
  • Educational opportunities to learn about issues impacting your members, neighbors and community
  • Volunteer opportunities for group members to participate in meaningful ways
  • And more!

What You Offer

  • Financial donations that make our critical work possible
  • In-kind donations to support clients in our programs
  • Awareness and advocacy to help make Doorways’ services readily available
  • And more!

To learn more about these opportunities or to discuss building a partnership between Doorways and your group, please contact Linley Beckbridge at LBeckbridge@DoorwaysVA.org or (703) 504-9283.

1. Host an Introduction

Introduce your group to Doorways and our mission, providing an opportunity for your members to learn how your group’s support impacts the lives of Doorways’ clients and receive important updates on our programs and services. We can share Doorways’ mission, client stories and ways to get involved during a meeting, special event, or other opportunities where your members gather for learning and fun.

2. Pay it Forward for Doorways

Does your group take up membership fees, meeting fees, or other monetary collections? Consider dedicating a specific day, month or another meaningful event to Doorways by donating part of the collection to Doorways. We also encourage you to combine activities on this list; for example, your group could designate part of a meeting day’s luncheon fees to Doorways, and then host a “tour on the road” at that meeting.

3. Host a Collection Drive

Collect gift cards or direct group members to purchase items from Doorways’ Amazon Wishlist. Learn more.

5. Designate Doorways As a Beneficiary of Your Event

Hosting a community meeting, concert, or other events? Consider making Doorways a beneficiary by collecting donations as part of the occasion. For example, admission to a concert could be an item from Doorways’ urgent needs list, or, if you do ticket sales, a portion of proceeds could go to Doorways. You can also set up a collection jar for Doorways at the event and encourage people to give.

5. Raise Awareness

By participating in awareness-building campaigns and activities, you can demonstrate support for survivors within and beyond your group and help raise awareness among your neighbors about homelessness and abuse.

Awareness days include the following:

  • Wear purple on Purple Out during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, share photos via email or to your social media pages and tag Doorways
  • Wear teal on Teal Out during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, share photos via email or to your social media pages and tag Doorways
  • Commit to start by believing when survivors of sexual assault disclose the violence they’ve experienced on Start By Believing Day during Sexual Assault  Awareness Month, and share photos with “We Start By Believing” signs via email or to your social media pages and tag Doorways

6. Host “Homelessness 101” for Kids

Did you know that more than half of Doorways’ clients are kids? Host a “Homelessness 101” session to help children in your group learn about homelessness through an age-appropriate activity during group meetings, special events, or other opportunities.

Visit our Kids’ Corner for more ways to get youth and children involved!

Parents, teachers, club leaders and other caregivers often ask how kids can support Doorways’ mission. Young people are a very important part of our community, and there are several ways they can volunteer their time to help their neighbors.

7. Attend an Event

We welcome your members to attend events hosted by and benefiting Doorways throughout the year. You can add these events to your group’s activities calendar and attend individually or as a group.

View calendar

8. Share Doorways’ Resources

Groups like yours provide an important gathering place for members of our community. By sharing Doorways’ resources, you can help your members access any help they may need, and empower them with information to share with their friends, family, colleagues and neighbors.

Doorways provides shelter and services to individuals and families in Arlington, Virginia. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse in our community, call Arlington’s 24-hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline 703-237-0881 for information and support. Please call 911 if you are experiencing a life-threatening situation. Not in Arlington? Please see alternative resources here. Specially trained advocates are always available to support you as well as your loved one.

Additional resources on this site include the following:

9. Join Our Online Community

Join us our email list and follow us on social media for important updates, news, information, resources and more:

Email Subscribe to our email list

Facebook Like us on Facebook

Twitter Follow us on Twitter

 Follow us on Instagram

Share our social media posts with your followers to help educate our community about the issues of family homelessness, domestic violence and sexual assault and how to address these issues through events, awareness days and donations to Doorways.

10. Volunteer in Our Programs

Volunteers are critical at Doorways! Volunteers can and do train to work in virtually all of Doorways’ programs. Doorways offers volunteer experiences that range from positions for individuals interested in volunteering on a regular basis to opportunities for corporate or church groups interested in community service projects. Learn more about volunteering at Doorways.