How you can help

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

The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 11, 2024 at 8:59AM
The diner hour is a busy time for volunteers. On the menu, Philly steak on a bun with a green salad and zucchini from the kitchen's gardens. ] Loaves and Fishes is on track to serve a record 1 million meals this year. That's one-third more than last year. Minnesotans visited food shelves a record 3.4 million times in 2017, more often than even during the recession. Richard Tsong-Taatarii•rtsongtaatarii@startribune.com
Volunteers prepared a meal for Loaves & Fishes. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

MEAL ASSISTANT

Help Loaves & Fishes in the metro area (several locations) to serve those in need by cooking and serving a meal. Site coordinators help during meal preparation and serving. Volunteers as young as 8 can help with proper supervision. loavesandfishesmn.org

DATA ENTRY

Assist the Salvation Army at the Burnsville location 4-20 hours a week, flexible. Utilize Salvation Army database. One-year commitment requested. Must have basic computer proficiency. salvationarmynorth.org

ASSISTANT

Northeast Contemporary Services works with adults and seniors who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Opportunities include activity assistant, job coach, community outings, talent-sharing and more. northeastcontemporaryservices.org

YOUTH MENTORING

Kids ‘n Kinship is a mentoring program for children ages 5-16 living in Dakota County who need a positive role model. They connect volunteers (individual adults, couples or families) with children and spend 1-4 hours a week with a child, doing low-cost but fun and enriching activities. Ongoing support and training provided. One-year commitment requested. kidsnkinship.org

FOOD ASSISTANT

Appetite for Change focuses on making fresh food available and accessible for those in north Minneapolis. Youth and workforce development programs, meal boxes, urban agriculture and cooking workshops. afcmn.org

HANDY PERSON

Work with the maintenance team on various handyperson projects for Avivo. Touch up paint, hang cabinets, change light bulbs and more. Basic maintenance skills a plus. Must be able to lift 25 pounds and climb stairs. avivomn.org

MENTOR

Help FamilyWise Services with their Bright Beginnings Program. Mentors, age 25 and older, are paired with teen moms to provide support and stability as young mothers journey from pregnancy to motherhood. Two to 6 hours a month. familywiseservices.org

CLASSROOM SUPPORT

The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation partners with St. Paul Public Schools on Achievement Plus, a classroom support program at Bruce Vento Elementary. Seeking volunteers for students K-5 to assist classroom teachers. Must be at least 18. Training provided. Background check required. wilder.org

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

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

Find more

Visit the HandsOn Twin Cities website at handsontwincities.org.

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