Twin Cities March 2023 Family Volunteer Opportunities

Flavors of our Community Pantry Packs

Greater Twin Cities United Way
 
Date/Time(s): Completed pantry packs can be dropped off at the Bremer Bank locations listed below during open business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) starting Wednesday, March 1–Friday, April 7.
 
Location(s): Completed packs can be dropped off at the following locations. Completed packs can be dropped off at the following Bremer bank locations. There will be a collection box for items inside the lobby.
  • Brooklyn Center: 5540 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Center.
  • Eagan: 1995 RahnCliff Court, Eagan.
  • Edina: 6900 France Ave S, Edina.
  • Lake Elmo (Service Center): 8555 Eagle Point Blvd, Lake Elmo.
  • Plymouth: 3415 Vicksburg Ln N, Plymouth.
  • Roseville: 1715 County Road B2 West, Roseville.
  • St. Paul: 423 Snelling Ave N, St Paul.
If you are not able to drop off your pantry packs at a Bremer Bank location, you can schedule a drop-off at the Greater Twin Cities United Way office by selecting “Schedule a drop-off at United Way” when you register. A member of the Volunteer United team will reach out to you to coordinate a drop-off at the United Way office at 404 S 8th St, Minneapolis.
 
Ages: Everyone can help.
 
Time Commitment: Varies.
 
Flavors of Our Community is a food initiative focused on increasing access to culturally specific food items at local food shelves. Our community is home to many cultures with a variety of meaningful foods and flavors. It is important that our neighbors experiencing food insecurity have access to foods and spices that are familiar and significant to their culture. Your family can help by purchasing and assembling Flavors of Our Community Packs. Learn more here.
 
Contact: Registration is available online.
 
 

Warm Feet for Warriors

Soldier’s Angels
 
Date/Time: The sock collection will run from February 1–March 31. Don’t worry if your socks arrive a little after March 31. We anticipate that most people will end their collections on March 31 and that the socks will arrive in the two–three weeks following.
 
Location: Please email [email protected] for a shipping address.
 
Ages: Everyone can participate.
 
Time Commitment: Varies.
 
One of the items that are most requested from service members and veterans is socks! Just think of how nice a brand-new pair of socks feel when you pull them on! Soldiers’ Angels wants to help keep our troops and veterans’ toes feeling toasty, and you can help! Start a sock collection drive, and send us new socks in all colors and sizes in their original packaging. We will distribute the socks to veterans in VA Hospitals and include them in our care packages for deployed service members. We have service members and veterans of all sizes and genders, so as long as they are adult socks, we’ll find the right person for the sock after we have them! As you will see on our Amazon Wish List, black is preferred, but really any color is fine! These socks are not meant to be used as uniform socks by our deployed service members. The military has pretty strict regulations when it comes to military uniforms and every branch is different. These socks will be used by the military for time out of uniform. For veterans in hospitals, the color doesn’t matter at all, but hospitals require that patients have non-skid socks. Check out the Soldiers Angels’ Warm Feet for Warriors page for more information about how to participate.
 
 
 
 

Young Athletes

Special Olympics Minnesota
 
Date/Time(s): Thursdays starting March 9 through April 20. Shifts are from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
 
Location: Minnetonka Community Education Center, 4584 Vine Hill Rd, Excelsior.
 
Ages: Families with children two–seven years old are welcome, and parents can volunteer while their children participate.
 
Time Commitment: Volunteers are asked to commit to at least four of the eight session dates.
 
Young Athletes is an innovative sports play program that introduces children ages two–seven years old with and without intellectual disabilities to the world of sports. We believe there is no better way to welcome these young athletes to the Special Olympics family than through a program like Young Athletes, which fosters inclusion in a fun and engaging setting for all.
 
Contact: Jasara Rosendahl, [email protected], 612.760.7138. Registration is available online.
 
 

Fleece Tie Blankets

Kids In Need Foundation Teacher Resource Center
 
Date/Time: Ongoing.
 
Location: Completed projects can be dropped off at the Kids In Need Foundation Teacher Resource Center Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. You can drive around to the back of the building (look for the blue awning), call 612.465.0135, and a member of our team will be happy to meet you! Or, you can mail them to us via our partnership with Zappos for Good (shipping is free if the boxes mailed are under 50 lbs).
Kids In Need Teacher Resource Center
2719 Patton Rd
Roseville, MN 55113
 
Ages: Everyone can help.
 
Time Commitment: Varies.
 
The Kids In Need Foundation Teacher Resource Center is looking for offsite volunteers to purchase and make fleece tie blankets for children pre-K through high school age. This opportunity is ongoing as the need for teachers to provide these items for their students has increased. Our Teacher Resource Center serves Minnesota teachers through a variety of distribution channels. For teachers located within the Twin Cities area, we offer an in-store shopping experience at our location in Roseville. We also support teachers who are located outside of the Twin Cities through extended services to ensure supplies make their way into the hands of under-resourced teachers and students who need them most. Blankets can be any size and design. Click here to learn how to make fleece blankets or here for video instructions.
 
Contact: [email protected], 612.465.0135.
 
 

At-Home Service Projects

Neighbors, Inc.
 
Date/Time: Drop-off can be done during business hours from Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Please drop off items at our lower-level volunteer and staff entrance next to the garage door and attach the volunteer service log to the outside of your donation.
 
Location: 222 Grand Avenue West, South Saint Paul, MN 55075
 
Ages: Everyone can help.
 
Time Commitment: Varies.
 
Neighbors, Inc. is a non-profit, social-service agency providing emergency assistance and supportive assistance programs to low-income community members in the northern Dakota County communities. Some of the most popular items in the food shelf are everyday essentials such as laundry soap, dishwasher soap, dryer sheets, diapers, and feminine products. We are always in need of these items, and assembling packages is a quick and easy way to support Neighbors and make a difference in your community. Click here for details.
 
Contact: Sherry Patterson, [email protected], 651.272.1133.
 
 

Assemble Dream Kits and Help Deliver Beds

My Very Own Bed
 
Date/Time: Deliveries are made from 9 a.m.–noon on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
 
Location: 34 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis
 
Ages: Families with children five years old and older are welcome to help us deliver beds and dream kits to kids in our community.
 
Time Commitment: Three hours
 
My Very Own Bed’s mission is to provide new beds and linens to children of families that have recently secured stable housing. The beds provide a comfortable space for each child to sleep well and dream big. Volunteers help assemble dream kits (sheets, a blanket, a pillow, a stuffed animal, and books) for each child receiving a bed and then follow our van to families’ homes to deliver beds and dream kits. We offer the option of helping families set up the beds while we are there, and we require all volunteers to wear face masks while we are in families’ homes. We ask that bed delivery groups be kept to a maximum of four people. You can find more info in our Bed Delivery Volunteer Guide.
 
Contact: For more information and to schedule dates, contact [email protected]. Registration is available online.
 
 

Welcome Baskets

Clare Housing
 
Date/Time: Please contact Debbie Wyman to schedule a delivery time.
 
Location: Bloom Lake Flats, 3020 16th. Ave. S., Minneapolis
 
Ages: Everyone can help. This project is suitable for families.
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Clare Housing provides a continuum of affordable and supportive housing options that create healing communities and optimize the health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Many people living in our affordable-housing units have a tough time meeting all of their basic needs. Help give our residents the dignity they deserve by providing a welcome basket so they don’t have to move into an empty apartment. We are currently working to set up the units in our newest building, Bloom Lake Flats, and we have both studio and one-bedroom apartments to furnish with Welcome Baskets. Click here for a list of Welcome Basket items needed. On average, the items for each basket will cost about $450–$500. This would be a great project for your family to do with a group of friends!
 
Contact[email protected]. Please contact Debbie prior to beginning your Welcome Basket. She will let you know whether to shop for studio or one-bedroom apartment items. 
 
 

Volunteer for Family Pathways Thrift Stores and Food Shelves

Family Pathways
 
Date/Time(s): Times will vary depending on the location.
 
Location: Click here for a map of our thrift stores, food shelves, and program locations. We have thrift stores in Forest Lake, Ham Lake, Cambridge, Lindstrom, Wyoming, North Branch, Pine City, and Princeton. Our food shelves are located in Onamia, Sandstone Pine City, Cambridge, North Branch, Forest Lake, Chisago, St Croix Falls, and Frederic, WI.
 
Ages: Families with children seven years old and older are welcome to participate. Volunteers 16 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
 
Time Commitment: Varies
 
Family Pathways has been committed to standing by the side of our neighbors since 1978. We’ve done this by working together with partners, individuals, businesses, organizations, and faith communities who are passionate about their communities. Over the past four decades, we’ve adapted to the needs of the communities we serve in the City of Forest Lake; Carlton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine Counties in Minnesota and Polk County in Wisconsin. Family Pathways’ support services provide healthy food access, domestic and sexual violence prevention and victim services, supervised visitation, and services for older adults and caregivers.
  • Food shelf volunteers help with stocking, cleaning, shopping with clients, and checking food safety. We also have a mobile food truck in Cambridge where volunteers help pack boxes. 
  • Thrift Store volunteers help with stocking, organizing, putting away clothes, or cleaning.
  • Doorstep Delivery and Sunshine Calls volunteers help pick up food from food shelves and deliver it to clients. Sunshine Calls volunteers also call clients and check in on them.
  • Shelter volunteers help with tasks like lawn care or baking cookies. 
  • We also have remote volunteer opportunities like making birthday bags, and kindness cards, or hosting food and fund drives.
Contact: Fill out an application at www.familypathways.org/volunteer or contact [email protected] with questions.
 

Thrift Store Volunteers

Arc’s Value Village Thrift Stores
 
Date/Time: Volunteer shifts are available every day: 10 a.m.–noon, 1–4 p.m., and 4–6 p.m.
 
Location: Arc’s Value Village has locations in Bloomington, New Hope, and Richfield.
 
Ages: Families with children eight years old and older are welcome to volunteer.
 
Time Commitment: Volunteer shifts are two or three hours. You can volunteer one time or on an ongoing basis.
 
Make a difference in your community by volunteering at Arc’s Value Village thrift stores. Unpack, sort, and price great donations, or stock and beautify the sales floor. Volunteering at Arc’s Value Village benefits The Arc Minnesota and its mission of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. You will also learn how your efforts support our mission and our community! Volunteer opportunities are available at our store locations in Bloomington, New Hope, and Richfield! Wearing face masks or shields is optional for Arc’s Value Village volunteers.
 
Contact: Michelle, 952.920.0855, [email protected]. Registration is available online. No walk-ins are allowed; all volunteers must sign up ahead of time. Questions? Send an email to the volunteer department at [email protected] or call 952.915.3670.
 
 

2023 Regional Metro Swimming Competitions

Special Olympics Minnesota
 
Date/Time(s): 
  • Edina, Sunday, April 16, 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
  • St. Paul, Sunday, April 23. Most shifts are from 8:30 a.m.–1 pm.
Location(s): 
  • Edina: South View Middle School, 4725 South View Ln., Edina.
  • St. Paul: Washington Tech Magnet School, 1495 Rice St, St. Paul.
Ages: Families with children 12–14 years old are welcome to volunteer and must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone. Youths 15 years old and older can volunteer by themselves. Children 11 years old and younger are not given volunteer assignments, but they are welcomed and encouraged to be cheerleaders as long as they are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone. Please do not register children 11 years old and younger for any position.
 
Time Commitment: Approximately four hours.
 
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Special Olympics Minnesota’s Regional Metro Swimming competitions are being held on April 16 and 23, and we are looking for volunteers to help make the day happen. We hope to see you there!
 
Contact: Jasara Rosendahl, [email protected], 612.760.7138. Registration is available online. Click the date you’d like to volunteer below and follow the instructions.
 

2023 Regional Metro Basketball (White Bear Lake)

Special Olympics Minnesota
 
Date/Time: Saturday, April 22. There are morning and afternoon shifts.
 
Location: White Bear Lake High School – South Campus, 3551 McKnight Rd N, White Bear Lake.
 
Ages: Families with children 12–14 years old are welcome to volunteer and must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone. Youths 15 years old and older can volunteer by themselves. Children 11 years old and younger are not given volunteer assignments, but they are welcomed and encouraged to be cheerleaders as long as they are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone. Please do not register children 11 years old and younger for any position.
 
Time Commitment: Shifts run between two and five hours.
 
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Special Olympics Minnesota’s Regional Metro Basketball competition is being held on April 22, and we are looking for volunteers to help make the day happen. We hope to see you there!
 
Contact: Jasara Rosendahl, [email protected], 612.760.7138. Registration is available online.
 
 

2023 Regional Metro Track and Field (Minneapolis)

Special Olympics Minnesota
 
Date/Time: Saturday, May 13. Most shifts are 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
 
Location: Roosevelt High School, 4029 S 28th Ave., Minneapolis.
 
Ages: Families with children 12–14 years old are welcome to volunteer and must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone. Youths 15 years old and older can volunteer by themselves. Children 11 years old and younger are not given volunteer assignments, but they are welcomed and encouraged to be cheerleaders as long as they are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone. Please do not register children 11 years old and younger for any position.
 
Time Commitment: Approximately five hours.
 
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Special Olympics Minnesota’s Regional Metro Track and Field competition is being held on May 13, and we are looking for volunteers to help make the day happen. We hope to see you there!
 
Contact: Jasara Rosendahl, [email protected], 612.760.7138. Registration is available online.
 

Help Fight Hunger in Your Community

Food and Fund Drives
 
Food insecurity is one way we measure how many people can’t afford food. The USDA defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a family or can last a long time. More than 34 million people, including 9 million children experience food insecurity in the United States. In 2021, 53 million people turned to food banks and community programs for help putting food on the table. The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign is the largest grassroots food and fund drive in the state, bringing together organizations, businesses, faith communities, and individuals to help stock and support the capacity of nearly 300 food shelves. Your family can join people across the state in a concerted effort to stock food shelves during the March Food Drive. Many children and families living in America are facing hunger and food insecurity every day. Many food banks are struggling to keep up with the increased demand and continue to need extra donors and volunteers to accomplish their goals of feeding our neighbors who are facing hunger. Your family can help fight this crisis in a number of ways:
  • Reach out to a local food bank or food shelf and ask what support/donations they need this year.
  • Start a collection drive of specific items (canned goods, etc.) and deliver them to your food bank or pantry.
  • Make a donation to your local food shelf or pantry.
Check out the following list of local food shelves, and reach out to see how your family can help. You can also search for a food shelf near you at https://www.hungersolutions.org/find-help/.
 
Food Banks:
Food Shelves:

This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org). 

When calling or emailing to volunteer for any of the opportunities listed above, please let the coordinator know you found it through this listing. You are encouraged to ask any questions you may have of the sponsoring organization before committing to a project.
 
Disclaimer: This list is provided as a service to families. Inclusion of organizations in this listing does not imply affiliation, endorsement, or quality assurance on the part of Doing Good Together™. Doing Good Together™ bears no responsibility whatsoever for the activities and actions of the listed organizations.

 

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