Join us on Saturday November 14, 2026 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm from the 2026-2027 Emergency Shelter Volunteer Training. We will discuss the 2026-2027 Shelter Season, provide operational updates, review our new platform Bloomerang, and connect with one another.

Register Today!

MAKE AN

IMPACT

ECHOS was started in 2016 to address homelessness in Elizabethtown and has grown into a nonprofit serving over 400 households annually across Northwest Lancaster County. Through housing programs, eviction prevention, and emergency shelter, we empower families facing housing instability.

Volunteers are essential to our mission. Whether helping in shelters, supporting programs, or assisting at events, your time makes a real difference.

Join us in building a stronger community.

The ECHOS Emergency Shelter opens on Monday December 7, 2026 and provides support to our neighbors through April 2, 2027. Volunteers are essential to our shelter, extending its capacity by helping with meals, cleaning, intake, and more.

Emergency Shelter

  • Morning Shelter Support Volunteers play a vital role in creating a positive start to the day for our shelter guests. Volunteers assist staff in the kitchen and dining area, help with morning routines, and support the process of transitioning guests out of the shelter for the day.

  • Evening Safety Volunteers play a key role in creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for shelter guests. They assist with the evening check-in process to ensure all guests are accounted for and that shelter safety policies are followed.

  • Sharing a meal is about more than food, it’s about care, dignity, and community. As a member of the Meal Service Crew, you will help nourish our shelter guests by serving evening meals in a welcoming and respectful way. Your presence helps create a warm environment where everyone feels valued.

  • Guest Support Volunteers help new shelter guests feel welcomed, comfortable, and supported during their first nights in shelter. This role focuses on assisting individuals who may need extra guidance with the check-in process, accessing basic supplies, and adjusting to the shelter environment.

  • Overnight Shelter Volunteers spend the night at the shelter, alternating sleep and monitoring with an ECHOS Staff Member.

  • The Shelter Cleaning and Organization Volunteers play a vital role in creating a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for shelter guests. By helping maintain cleanliness and order, this volunteer supports the dignity and well-being of individuals and families staying at the shelter.

  • The Kitchen Coordinator Volunteer supports the ECHOS Staff in ensuring the shelter kitchen and pantry are well-stocked, organized, and operating smoothly to meet the needs of guests and volunteers. This role is key in helping maintain safe food practices and ensuring meals run efficiently.

  • Community Meal Partners may prepare meals off-site or use the ECHOS kitchen to cook and serve meals on-site. This role is ideal for individuals, families, community groups, congregations, or businesses who want to make a tangible impact through food and fellowship.

Enrichment Center

The ECHOS Enrichment Center operates year‑round on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. When the Emergency Shelter is closed, it expands services for housed and unhoused neighbors. Volunteers provide hygiene assistance and prepare, serve, and deliver meals.

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Community Meal Partners play a vital role in feeding guests at ECHOS Shelter and Hygiene Support.

  • During Shelter Season, partners prepare and deliver a hot, nutritious meal each night.

  • For the rest of the year, partners provide bagged lunches every Friday.

This opportunity is perfect for individuals, families, community groups, congregations, or businesses who want to make a direct, meaningful contribution through food and fellowship. ECHOS uses Meal Train to make it simple: volunteers can view open dates, sign up, and share details about the meal they’ll provide.

Community Meal Partner

ECHOS Meal Train Sign Up

To ensure the safety and well-being of the children and vulnerable individuals served by ECHOS, volunteers who have direct contact with program participants are required to complete Pennsylvania background clearances before serving. These clearances include:

Please note that obtaining all required clearances can take approximately 4–6 weeks, so prospective volunteers are encouraged to begin the process as early as possible.

Completed clearances can be submitted to ECHOS by

  1. Updating your profile directly in Bloomerang

  2. Emailing copies to volunteer@echoslancaster.org

  3. Mailing copies to the ECHOS office

ECHOS Volunteer Clearance Requirements

Printable Volunteer Clearance Instructions

Volunteer feedback is essential to ECHOS’ work. Hearing from volunteers helps us identify opportunities to refine our processes, strengthen volunteer support, and create simpler pathways for people to help our neighbors.

ECHOS Volunteer Feedback

Volunteer Feedback form

Bloomerang is ECHO’s volunteer system for signing up, scheduling, and tracking hours. It stores volunteer profiles and contact history so staff can match you with shifts, send messages, and keep records. The system also helps with recruitment, onboarding, background checks, and automated reminders to make volunteering easier and more organized.

ECHOS Volunteer System Bloomerang

Bloomerang Support Resources

Do I already have an Account?
How do I create an Account?
Bloomernag Volunteer Training Videos

ECHOS Bloomerang Volunteer Pages

ECHOS Organization Page
ECHOS Emergency Shelter Page
ECHOS Enrichment Center Page
Volunteer Direct Login

Mission Possible

Join the mailing list for our volunteer newsletter today!

Read about the clients you impact, fellow volunteers, and upcoming volunteer opportunities or events.

This newsletter is released monthly from December to April when our Emergency Shelter is open. Additionally, you’ll get updates during the months our Emergency Shelter is closed in July and October.