How you can help

The Inspired volunteer calendar offers many opportunities to make a difference.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 4, 2024 at 8:59AM
Dentist examining patient teeth with a mouth mirror and dental excavator. Close-up view on the woman's face
Ready, Set, Smile is looking for volunteers among dental health professionals. (Getty Images/iStock)

DENTAL HEALTH

Through education programs and preventive services, Ready, Set, Smile works to make sure children care for their oral health. Dental health professionals (dentists, assistants, hygienists, etc.) needed. readysetsmile.org

SKATING

Join the team at New Directions Youth Ministry to bring the sports of hockey and figure skating to north Minneapolis. Coaches, teachers, drivers, equipment managers and team managers are needed. newdirectionsyouth.com

INVASIVE SPECIES

True Friends works with children and adults with disabilities through camp, respite, retreats, horseback riding and other programs. Help with removal (garlic mustard and buckthorn) on their grounds. Great group opportunity. truefriends.org

WHEELCHAIR ASSISTANT

Help residents at Lyngblomsten in St. Paul attend in-house worship services Sunday morning or Wednesday afternoon. Push residents in wheelchairs to and from the services. Help with bulletins or with assistive listening devices. lyngblomsten.org

FOOD SHELF

Work from home to assist Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners in the west metro to assemble kits for the food shelf. Secure or purchase your own items and assemble them into kits (examples: beverages, hygiene, healthy snack, laundry and pet food. iocp.org

GALA ASSISTANT

Help Reach for Resources with the Ghostly Gala on Oct. 25 in Brooklyn Park. Assist with costume contest, running games, distributing prizes, etc. reachforresources.org

COMPUTER CLASS

Assist Neighborhood House in St. Paul. Help with the computer class that helps participants gain skills such as typing, internet searching, staying connected with family, searching for jobs and more. Must be at least 18. Advanced computer skill is not required. neighborhoodhousemn.org

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

Trying to find opportunities suitable for young children? Doing Good Together helps people raise compassionate and socially conscious children through family volunteerism. doinggoodtogether.org

MENTOR

MBMentors works with small and startup businesses to foster success and growth. Provide mentoring and coaching to entrepreneurs and small business owners through a variety of programs, 10-15 hours a month. mbmentors.org

DRIVER

Assist Community Emergency Service with Meals on Wheels over 21 routes in south and north Minneapolis. Pick up meals between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Deliver to five to eight seniors. Most routes take one hour or less. cesmn.org

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Padoc Area Scholars Society assists youth living in South Sudan through a college scholarship program. Staff is 100% volunteer. St. Paul office. southsudanpass.org

SCHOOL ASSISTANT

SparkPath (formerly Success Beyond the Classroom) works to ignite curiosity and learning among students through various events and conferences. Examples: Knowledge Bowl, Young Authors Conference and Creativity Festival. Wide range of opportunities available. sparkpath.org

BOOK DRIVE

Help Little Free Libraries with its mission to share books across the community. Hold a book drive at work, faith community, building or group. Staff assists in identifying Little Free Libraries in your area. littlefreelibrary.org

DONATE BLOOD

Blood donors needed at one of Memorial Blood Center’s donor centers, 1½ hours each time. Must meet eligibility requirements. Call 651-332-7000 to determine eligibility. Minimum age is 16. mbc.org

PET THERAPY

Bring joy, comfort and companionship of your registered therapy pet to brighten someone’s day at Saint Therese. Visit seniors and their families in individual or group settings. Must be registered with a nationally recognized pet therapy organization. Communities in New Hope, Brooklyn Park, Shoreview and Woodbury. sainttherese.org

Find more

Visit the HandsOn Twin Cities website at handsontwincities.org.

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