Volunteer

Volunteers are the cornerstone of ECCO’s ability to serve our neighbors. With over 400 active individuals, ECCO volunteers inspire hope and encourage transformation with compassion and dignity. Last year our volunteers dedicated 34,207 hours of service for a total value to the community of $1,266,185!
Below, you’ll find information on volunteer opportunities at ECCO, as well as a link to visit our GetConnected Volunteer website.
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Weekly Shifts
ECCO relies on dedicated volunteers to help provide essential services to our neighbors in their time of need. If you’d like to get involved on a regular basis, we have a variety of weekly opportunities that may fit your schedule. These opportunities include:
- Wellness Food Pantry
- Clothing Closet
- Medical & Dental Clinics
- Client Services
To get started, click below to fill out our Volunteer Inquiry Form.
To learn more about these volunteer opportunities, please click here to visit GetConnected.
Drop-In Opportunities
Short on time but still want to make a difference? ECCO offers flexible, drop-in volunteer opportunities—perfect for individuals, families, and groups looking to give back without a long-term commitment. These opportunities include:
- Wellness Food Pantry Sorting
- Clothing Closet Sorting
- Farmer’s Market
- And more!
To learn more and sign up for drop-in opportunities, please click here.
Special Projects
Looking for a meaningful way to give back? ECCO’s special project opportunities are perfect for individuals looking to give their time while utilizing their career experience, and skills.
Opportunities may include:
- Spanish-speaking opportunities
- Administration & Operations
- Event Support
- Volunteer Dentists
- And more!
To get started, please click below to complete the Volunteer Inquiry Form.
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First Saturday
This volunteer opportunity is a perfect chance for families or individuals to volunteer at our Wellness Food Pantry on Six Mile Road. Held on the first Saturday of each month, we kick off the morning with a tour of the food pantry to learn more about what we do and how to support the organization. Projects will include sorting donations, stocking shelves, cleaning, organizing, and much more.
This is ECCO’s most sought-after volunteer opportunity. If you’re not able to sign up in time, we are happy to add you to our waiting list.
If you’re interested in being part of this drop-in opportunity, please email volunteer@eccocharleston.org.
Community Service Hours
ECCO welcomes individuals who are required by a court or school to do community service. Due to the renovations at Six Mile Road, please note that ECCO cannot guarantee the fulfillment of community service hours and recommends those with more than 10 to seek alternate volunteer opportunities across the Lowcountry.
Student Service Hours:
For students looking to gain community service hours, please be aware that ECCO can only host those 18+ years old during our normal hours of operation. For those under the age of 18, we invite you to click the header below, named First Saturdays. ECCO also offers off-campus volunteer projects for students such as Food Drives and Hygiene Drives. We make it easy by providing all of the materials to make your drive a huge success and make a big impact at ECCO. Click here to learn more about hosting a drive!
Court-Ordered Hours:
We reserve the right to inquire about the nature of the offense and deny any individual in need of court-ordered community service hours the ability to volunteer with us based on the nature, type, and/or specifics of their offense. Individuals will be judged solely by their offense(s) and not by any other means, including, but not limited to age, race, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. ECCO will not accept a volunteer for court-ordered community service credit who is ‘being charged’, pleading guilty to, or having been found guilty of certain serious offenses including but not limited to: Violent/Abusive Offense, Theft/Breach of Trust/ Financial Fraud/Burglary, and Sexual Offense/ Abuse.
If you’re interested in learning more, please complete the Volunteer Inquiry Form below.
Drives (Food, Hygiene, Clothing)
Food/Hygiene Drives:
Each month, ECCO relies on donations from community members, civic organizations, businesses, churches, and neighborhoods. This year, ECCO has seen a large increase in the number of families utilizing our programs and services. With that increase in demand, we desperately need an increased supply. That’s where you come in!
- To sign up, simply email fooddrives@eccocharleston.org and let us know. We’ll provide everything that is needed including email communication, social media posts, flyers, and signage to spread the word in your neighborhood.
Clothing Drives:
ECCO’s Clothing Closet provides clothing, shoes, and household linens for adults and children – all at no cost to the client. This assistance is available to those living or working in East Cooper communities who meet ECCO’s income eligibility guidelines. To keep the shelves of our Clothing Closet filled, we rely on donations from the community. We accept donations of new or gently used clothing, bed linens, and towels.
- To sign up, simply email clothing@eccocharleston.org and let us know.
Looking to volunteer as a group? We love volunteer groups and welcome them to assist us at the Farmer’s Market, the Clothing Closet, and the Wellness Pantry. Email our Volunteer Manager at volunteer@eccocharleston.org to find out how your group to sign up today!

Questions? Please feel free to call us at 843-416-7111 or contact us via email at volunteer@eccocharleston.org.