Volunteer Role Descriptions

Colorful fresh vegetables including yellow and red bell peppers, eggplants, broccoli, and a head of lettuce on a kitchen counter with a stainless steel pot in the background.

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll meet at the kitchen to prep, cook, and pack the meal for the night. Your work behind the scenes is essential to nourishing our friends—providing the fuel that makes our outreach possible. Though you won’t be going downtown, your role is a crucial part of the team.

    Arrival Info
    Please meet at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) by 3:00pm and head to the kitchen. Here is where you will enter the building - we have to leave the door locked, but you can knock & we will let you in. 

    You’re welcome to park in either the church parking lot or the Dollar Tree parking lot. If you park at the church, just follow the sidewalk between Dollar Tree and the church to find the entrance.    

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot! 

People serving and receiving food at a kitchen team event indoors, with a sign indicating 3:00 PM schedule, preparing and serving meals.

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll start the evening in the kitchen—prepping, cooking, and packing the meal for our friends downtown. Your work helps make sure everyone is served a warm, nourishing meal and sets the tone for the night.

    Once kitchen prep is finished, you’ll join the rest of the team at HQ to participate in the 6:00 PM volunteer huddle before heading downtown to serve. You’ll receive a separate email with all the details for the downtown team you signed up for.

    Arrival Info
    Please meet at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) by 3:00pm and head to the kitchen. Here is where you will enter the building - we have to leave the door locked, but you can knock & we will let you in. 

    You’re welcome to park in either the church parking lot or the Dollar Tree parking lot. If you park at the church, just follow the sidewalk between Dollar Tree and the church to find the entrance.

    After the huddle, we’ll all head to Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river) together.Once downtown, check in with your team lead before you start serving! 

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able!

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot! 

A sign on a sidewalk at night reads 'People Loving Nashville,' with symbols of a person, a heart, and a cityscape. The overlaid text states 'Pre-Downtown Set Up Team (5:30 pm - 6:45 pm).' People are seen around the area, with some standing and working, and the background shows tables and chairs.

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help unload vehicles and set up tables, supplies, and stations before outreach begins. Your work behind the scenes creates the foundation for a smooth, welcoming night—making sure everything is ready so our friends feel cared for.

    Arrival Info
    Please meet downtown by 5:30pm at Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river) and check in with Teresa.

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able! 

    Join the Pre-Downtown Team GroupMe to stay up to date on weekly communications.

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot! 

A person with a dark skin tone is receiving a red shaved ice dessert in a white styrofoam cup from another person wearing white gloves at an outdoor event.

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help care for our friends by offering seasonal refreshments—like cold water and popsicles in the summer or warm drinks in the winter—before outreach officially begins. Your presence helps create a calming, welcoming environment that can ease tension and build trust before the night even starts.

    Arrival Info
    Please meet downtown by 5:45pm at Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river) and check in with Teresa.

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able! 

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot! 

People wearing gloves and handing out food containers in a food distribution event

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help serve a meal to our friends downtown in a way that honors their dignity and humanity. Whether you're scooping, smiling, or saying hello, your role brings nourishment, connection, and care to the heart of what we do.

    📍 Arrival Info
    Please meet at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) at one of the following times:

    • 5:00 PM if you’d like to help pack the meal

    • 5:45 PM to join us for the 6:00 PM volunteer huddle

    You’re welcome to park in either the church parking lot or the Dollar Tree parking lot. If you park at the church, just follow the sidewalk between Dollar Tree and the church to find the entrance.   

    It’s really important that everyone starts at HQ—meeting downtown should be the exception, not the norm for this team! 

    After the huddle, we’ll all head to Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river) together.Once downtown, check in with your team lead before you start serving! 

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able!

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot! 

A group of women at an outdoor clothing donation event in the evening, with tables of clothes, a truck, and string lights in the background.

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help meet a basic need by offering clothing in a way that affirms dignity and beauty. Your care in helping each woman feel seen and valued makes a big difference.

    📍 Arrival Info
    Meet directly downtown at 6:15 PM Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river)

    Check in with your team lead at the women’s clothing tables for a quick team huddle. It’s really important to be on time—if you're running late, please message the team in the Women’s Clothing Team GroupMe.

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    Closed-toed shoes
    Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able!

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot

A women's clothing team at an outdoor gathering, with women working around tables and a truck in the background, illuminated by string lights at dusk.

Post

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help guide the flow of the line, making sure everything stays organized and moves smoothly. You’ll warmly direct people to the next available team member, keep a general count of those who’ve come through, and help create an environment where everyone feels respected, seen, and cared for.

    📍 Arrival Info
    Meet directly downtown at 6:15 PM Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river)
    Check in with your team lead at the women’s clothing tables for a quick team huddle. It’s really important to be on time—if you're running late, please message the team in the Women’s Clothing Team GroupMe.

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able.

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot!

A group of men outdoors at a park, shaking hands and talking, with a banner reading 'Men's Clothing Team' in the foreground.

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help meet a basic need by offering clothing in a way that affirms dignity. Your care in helping each man feel seen and valued makes a big difference.

    📍 Arrival Info
    Meet directly downtown at 6:15 PM- Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river)- Check in with your team lead at the men’s clothing tables for a quick team huddle. It’s really important to be on time—if you're running late, please message the team in the Men’s Clothing Team GroupMe.

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    Loose-fitting, modest clothing Closed-toed shoes
    Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able!

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot!

Four men, representing a men's clothing team, engaged in conversation outdoors with lush green trees in the background, one of them wearing a large black hat and a green T-shirt with a colorful graphic.

Post

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll stand at the front of the line to help keep things organized and flowing smoothly. Your role is to warmly direct people to the team member who’s ready to serve clothing, keep track of how many people have gone through the line, and make sure things run efficiently—all while helping everyone feel respected and cared for.

    📍 Arrival Info
    Meet directly downtown at 6:15 PM Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river)
    Check in with your team lead at the women’s clothing tables for a quick team huddle. It’s really important to be on time—if you're running late, please message the team in the Women’s Clothing Team GroupMe.

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able.

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot!

People participating in a cleanup event on a city street, collecting trash and packing it into bags, with a truck loading away the waste, greenery and trees in the background.

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help care for the city by picking up trash and checking in with our friends downtown. Your presence helps us leave the space better than we found it—and shows love through both service and connection.

     📍 Arrival Info
    Please meet at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) at one of the following times:

    • 5:00 PM if you’d like to help pack the meal

    • 5:45 PM to join us for the 6:00 PM volunteer huddle

    You’re welcome to park in either the church parking lot or the Dollar Tree parking lot. If you park at the church, just follow the sidewalk between Dollar Tree and the church to find the entrance.               

    It’s really important that everyone starts at HQ—meeting downtown should be the exception, not the norm for this team! 

    After the huddle, we’ll all head to Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river) together.

    Once downtown, check in with your team lead before you start serving.

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able!

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot! 

Two young men sitting on steps outdoors, smiling at the camera, with a third person partially visible on the right. Text overlay reads 'Community Engagement Team!'

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help make sure no one feels overlooked by intentionally engaging with our friends downtown. Whether it’s through a conversation, a smile, or simply being present, your role is to help each person feel seen, loved, and valued.

    📍 Arrival Info
    Please meet at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) at one of the following times:

    • 5:00 PM if you’d like to help pack the meal

    • 5:45 PM to join us for the 6:00 PM volunteer huddle

    You’re welcome to park in either the church parking lot or the Dollar Tree parking lot. If you park at the church, just follow the sidewalk between Dollar Tree and the church to find the entrance.    

    It’s really important that everyone starts at HQ—meeting downtown should be the exception, not the norm for this team! 

    After the huddle, we’ll all head to Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river) together.Once downtown, check in with your team lead before you start serving! 

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able!

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot!

A person wearing a yellow safety vest and a baseball cap is directing traffic with an arm extended. Several other people are walking along the sidewalk in the background, carrying bags. A gray SUV with its brake lights on is stopped on the road, with trees and a bridge overhead in the background. Text overlay reads "EARLY SHIFT PARKING TEAM (5:00pm-6:00pm)".

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help manage volunteer parking downtown between 5:00–6:00 PM, making sure early volunteers park in a way that allows us to fit everyone as more cars arrive. Your role is key to keeping things organized and efficient—helping the night start off with ease and intention.

    📍 Arrival Info
    Please meet downtown by 5:00pm at Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river) and check in with Teresa.

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able!

    Join the Parking Team GroupMe to stay up to date on weekly communications.

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot!

A man wearing a gray cap, sunglasses, and a bright green vest with the text 'Everyone Deserves Love + Dignity' stands near a parked silver SUV, with construction equipment and fencing in the background.

  • What You’ll Be Doing
    You’ll help manage parking downtown between 6:00–7:00 PM as the majority of volunteers arrive. Your role is crucial in making sure cars are parked efficiently and safely so we can fit everyone. Your presence helps keep things flowing smoothly and allows volunteers to get plugged in without confusion or delay.

    Arrival Info
    Please meet downtown by 6:00pm at Gay Street & 1st Ave (by the river) and check in with Teresa.

    What to Wear
    We aim to create an environment of safety, dignity, and respect.

    Please wear:
    - Loose-fitting, modest clothing
    - Closed-toed shoes
    - Avoid flashy, tight, cropped, or revealing items

    After Outreach
    After our 8:15 PM downtown huddle, we’d love your help back at PLN HQ (3511 Gallatin Pike) to unload vehicles and clean up dishes—join us if you’re able!

    Join the Parking Team GroupMe to stay up to date on weekly communications.

    If your plans change and you can’t make it, please take yourself off the schedule as soon as possible so we can fill your spot!