Each month at the Urban Purpose Compound day shelter, hundreds of men and women arrive weary, hungry and hurting. Because of partners like you, they receive essential support - meals, hot showers, laundry facilities, and something more meaningful:
Dignity - Compassion - The Love of Christ!
We invite you to prayerfully consider becoming a Monthly Partner with Urban Purpose. Your Monthly Contribution provides stability - allowing us to plan, respond, and serve with excellence. It ensures that every person who walks through our doors is reminded that they are seen, valued and not alone. Your Commitment today strengthens our ability to minister to Birmingham’s homeless and hurting in a deeper and more impactful way in the future.
Volunteer at the Compound
Join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays at our day shelter downtown, where we welcome and serve our homeless friends with dignity and love.
Volunteers help with everything from distributing snacks and clothing to simply showing up in conversation and fellowship. No special skills required — just a willing heart and a little time and consistency.
Whether you’re great at organizing, listening, or just offering a warm smile, there's a place for you here. Come be the hands and feet of Jesus with us.
Click below to catch up with the latest news at Urban Purpose
Urban Purpose Newsletter
Give & Gobble Winter Supplies Drive
We are in need of crucial winter supplies to help our homeless friends make it through winter. It would help so much if you can bring any of the items on this list to our turkey sale pickup location on Tuesday, Nov. 25th!
❄️ Hand warmers
❄️ Hot chocolate & apple cider packets
❄️ Heavy winter coats (no lightweight jackets)
❄️ Blankets
❄️ Long johns/thermals
❄️ Men's underwear
❄️ Women's XL underwear
❄️ Ladies socks and sports bras
❄️ Men's scarves
❄️ Men's sneakers (size 9-14)
❄️ Deodorant (men's and women's)
❄️ Bath wipes
❄️ Toothpaste
❄️ Lotion/ Vaseline
❄️ Hand sanitizer
❄️ Hotel-sized bar soap
❄️ Laundry pods
Any little bit you can bring truly goes a long way in helping the homeless and hurting of Birmingham!
A Seat at the Table
We’re setting our sights on breaking last year’s record for Birmingham’s Biggest Dinner Table, lives impacted, AND funds raised for our homeless neighbors!
This special evening brings our community together around a shared table and a shared mission: offering dignity, hope, and the love of Christ to our homeless and hurting neighbors. Every seat filled and every dollar raised helps provide critical resources, and real relationships, for the people we serve every day. Get your ticket now to enjoy a delicious meal from Bob Sykes BBQ and live music by Act of Congress, brought to you by Division 4 Solutions!
Tuesdays at the Compound
Looking for a way to make a real difference? Join us at the Compound, our downtown day shelter where we welcome and serve our homeless neighbors with dignity and love.
![[Spark Experience] UAB Baseball Game](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/644feb9e881cd85888e0d213/1743020649717-BJ72VWFPL1PAOABPWRXF/Screenshot+2025-03-26+at+16.24.04.png)
[Spark Experience] UAB Baseball Game
We’re taking our homeless neighbors to enjoy an afternoon enjoying America’s favorite pastime! Our volunteer signups will be open soon!
LiftUP Spring Fling
Join us for a carnival-themed soirée filled with fun, fellowship, and purpose. Enjoy the chance to win exciting prizes and savor delicious heavy hors d'oeuvres while making a meaningful impact in the lives of our homeless neighbors.
Bring your friends along and help us create hope and change, one life at a time! Click here to purchase your tickets.
Dawson Chapel Jazz Band at the Compound
Join us for a special lunch at the Compound featuring the Dawson Chapel Jazz Band. This is a great opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we fellowship with the homeless and hurting at our day shelter downtown over live music.
NCAA Final Four Watch Party
Join Shades Mountain Baptist Church to serve our homeless neighbors at the Compound as we enjoy the big game! Volunteers will serve a light dinner and engage the community with gospel conversation around the 5:15 basketball game. Click here to sign up as a volunteer.
For more information, please email Brandon Bailey at bbailey@shades.org.
The minimum age for this opportunity is 15 years old.
Spark Experience Volunteer Opportunity
Help serve lunch to our homeless neighbors and make the experience extra special! Click here to see all the ways you can support this “fancy” Italian lunch experience.
Spring Fern Fundraiser
Your spring landscaping can have a positive impact on your city! Your purchase will directly impact our ministry, allowing us to continue serving those who need it most in our community.