C3 Volunteering is a local Chattanooga ministry to connect Churches to trusted Charities so Christians can help meet needs, grow in faith, and point people to Jesus.

Our mission is to share the Gospel in our community through volunteering, demonstrating the love of Christ in ways people can see and experience.

We do the research, coordination, and connections so serving our community doesn’t feel overwhelming. We identify needs, connect people, and support churches & charities in their specific community outreach mission to make volunteering easier.

C3 provides free resources to help serve Chattanooga neighbors… making our lives and our community better by sharing the Gospel through volunteering:

• Provide Churches with resources to help support community outreach mission, charity partners, and congregation enablement

• Provide Charities with Christian volunteers, church partners, and processes to improve outcomes to meet goals and objectives

• Provide Christians with volunteering opportunities and help them use their spiritual gifts, abilities, and experiences to follow Jesus' example and teachings by serving our community and growing in faith.

We believe the Gospel is the reason C3 Volunteering exist and has directed us to serve others in need; that our faith in action improves our life, others’ lives, and strengthens the church and our community.

We believe everyone is qualified to volunteer. God has reserved a space in our heart to serve and that we all have access to something God can use for others, but nothing is usable unless we make it available.

We believe God multiplies what we are willing to surrender and our time & energy are the most valuable gifts we can offer.  When our ‘Free Will’ intersects with ‘God’s Will’, His Plan and our Purpose is demonstrated.

  • Churches desire to serve the community…

  • Charities need reliable volunteers …

  • Christians want to help …

C3 bridges that gap by helping Churches, Charities, and Christians work together to meet real needs and create lasting impact through volunteering.

 FAQs

  • No, there is no financial obligation to any group working with C3 Volunteering. All services are at no charge.

  • No, there is no legal obligation to any group working with C3 Volunteering. Participation is non-exclusive and may be discontinued at any time.

    • Clearly define volunteer roles, needs, and expectations

    • Provide appropriate supervision, training, or orientation

    • Communicate scheduling, safety requirements, and policies

    • Treat all volunteers with respect and professionalism

    • Encourage and promote community volunteer opportunities with the congregation

    • Designate a primary point of contact for community outreach coordination

    • Prepare volunteers to serve respectfully, reliably, and on time

    • Support a church volunteer program or event, at its discretion, with C3 volunteering

Our Story

We’re Jeff and Tanya Prater, local Chattanoogans that love our Lord, Our Neighbors, Our City and for years we’ve had a front‑row seat to the needs—and the beauty—of Chattanooga. We’ve served at church, volunteered with local ministries, and walked with people through seasons of crisis and hope. Over time, we noticed similar patterns: incredible churches, passionate volunteers, and faithful charities… all working hard to help the community but often working alone or not having the resources to make the impact desired.

We felt called to change that.

C3 grew out of our desire to help the Body of Christ serve together in our community. Once we retired, after decades of working for big technology companies, we utilized our gifts, abilities, and experiences to create C3. Jeff’s background in leadership, organization, and community outreach, paired with Tanya’s gift for hospitality, communication, and love for our neighbors, shaped a ministry built on connection. Our hope is to equip Churches, Charities, and Christians to help meet the needs of our city, for volunteers to grow in faith, and point people to Jesus: demonstrating the love of Christ in ways people can see and experience.

We believe every Church can serve the community confidently, every Christian volunteer can make a difference, and every Charity can feel supported to meet their mission. C3 is our way of helping that happen.