We are proud to work with Doing Good Together – Twin Cities to bring you these Twin Cities volunteer opportunities every month.
Volunteering in the Twin Cities with your kids can be a great way to spend quality time together while instilling important values such as empathy and giving back to your local community. It can also help your children develop essential teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. Additionally, volunteering can provide opportunities for your family to learn about different cultures and lifestyles, and can help to broaden your children’s perspectives.
Check out these opportunities for September 2023:
Virtual Festival of Giving
Doing Good Together (DGT)
Date/Time:
Parent Webinar
Wednesday, October 11
12:00 PM Central Time
Live-streamed parent webinar by Rebecca Rolland, Harvard professor and author of The Art of Talking with Children.
Children’s Kindness Event
Sunday, October 15
2:00 PM Central Time
Live-streamed children’s kindness event featuring Maria Dismondy, co-author of the family-friendly book, Buddy the Bucket Filler: Daily Choices for Happiness. This event features an author reading, kindness activities, and fun!
Location: Virtual events hosted via Zoom.
Ages: The parent webinar will be useful for parents of kids of all ages. All ages are welcome to participate in the Children’s Kindness Event; especially appropriate for children 4–10 years old and their families.
Time Commitment: Both virtual events will be one hour.
Doing Good Together is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2024! We will be celebrating all year long with events, kicking off with the 2023 Virtual Festival of Giving! Join us for these amazing sessions! Registration is FREE!
Contact: Registration is open now for both the Parent Webinar with Rebecca Rolland and the Children’s Kindness Event with Maria Dismondy. For more information or if you’d like to sponsor this unique event, contact Leah@doinggoodtogether.org.
Food Pantry Volunteer
VEAP
Date/Time: Shifts run every weekday at 8:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., or 2:15 p.m.
Location: 9600 Aldrich Avenue South, Bloomington.
Ages: Families with children nine years old and older are welcome to volunteer together. Children 9–11 years old must be accompanied by an adult guardian. Youth 12 years old and older can volunteer independently.
Time Commitment: Shifts are typically three hours. We do not require you to sign up for a minimum number of shifts in order to volunteer.
VEAP is a basic needs and social services organization whose programs promote access to healthy foods, stable housing, and other supportive services. Your family can help your community by volunteering at VEAP! Our opportunities welcome everyone, don’t require experience, and are fun! Volunteers learn new skills, make a difference, and see their impact firsthand, as well as gain insight into how food and housing insecurity affects their community. Within our pantry, volunteers have the opportunity to:
- Ensure that only the finest and freshest items are placed on our pantry’s shelves by carefully sorting through food donations.
- Contribute to our indoor shopping model (Monday to Thursday) by warmly welcoming participants, providing them with a clear understanding of our process, addressing any questions they might have, and ultimately fostering a positive shopping experience.
- Play a vital role in our drive-through operations (Fridays only) by efficiently checking in visitors, assisting them in placing their food orders, and facilitating the loading of their groceries into their vehicles.
Contact: volunteerdept@veap.org, 952.955.8323. Adult volunteers are required to first attend an orientation prior to joining us. Youth can select up to five shifts within our pantry right away. Fill out our application at http://veap.org/become-a-volunteer/.
Minneapolis Storm Drain Stenciling Program
City of Minneapolis
Date/Time: Anytime from now through November.
Location: In your neighborhood.
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Your family can help improve your local waterways by stenciling storm drains in your neighborhood. Stormwater flows directly to creeks, lakes, and the Mississippi River, acting as a conduit for trash and organic pollutants. Storm drains are gateways that allow pollutants in stormwater to flow untreated from your street to our waters. Oil, grease, solids, antifreeze, cigarette butts, yard waste, plastic, and many different kinds of waste from streets, parking lots, and your driveway pollute downstream waters These pollutants increase phosphorus levels, reduce oxygen levels, and impair aquatic habitat for fish and other organisms as well as drinking water. Many people believe that storm drains discharge to water treatment plants. The City of Minneapolis will provide everything you need, free of charge, to paint educational messages near storm drains by you, including:
- Custom GIS map showing storm drains pipes and outlets to local waterbodies in your neighborhood.
- Stencils (specific to where your area drains to) and paint.
- Wire brush, broom, and dustpan.
- Adopt-a-Drain trash bags and gloves.
- Safety cones, vests, and glasses.
- Educational door hangers.
- Also, consider adopting a storm drain near you! Sign up at https://adopt-a-drain.org/.
Anyone is welcome to participate, but storm drain stenciling activities must happen within the boundaries of the City of Minneapolis.
Contact: Lane Christianson, Adopt-A-Drain & Storm Drain Stenciling Programs Manager, lane.christianson@minneapolismn.gov, 612.280.1956.
Family Care Packages
Solid Ground
Date/Time: Ongoing.
Location: Solid Ground, 3521 Century Ave N, White Bear Lake.
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies.
The mission of Solid Ground is to prevent and end homelessness for families with children in the communities we serve through housing, resources, and opportunity. Volunteers are needed to assemble packages of everyday essential items tailored to our families’ most urgent needs. Items could be purchased in bulk at discount stores or collected via a donation drive. On average, a group of five volunteers can assemble 50–100 packages in under 20 minutes!
Here’s how it works:
- Select a project that best fits your group size, availability, and interest.
- Gather materials to supply at least three of the suggested items per package.
- Assemble packages as a group, labeling the contents on each package.
- Arrange for delivery to Solid Ground at 3521 Century Ave N, White Bear Lake, MN 55110.
Care Package Ideas:
- Personal Care Pack: suggested items include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, toothbrush, and toothpaste.
- Healthy Snack Pack: suggested items include granola bars, applesauce, Goldfish crackers, a juice box, and fruit snacks.
- Cleaning Supply Starter Kit: suggested items include a small waste basket, an all-purpose cleaner, paper towels, trash bags, and a spray bottle.
Contact: Dylan at DMcDonough@solidgroundmn.org for more details.
Mentor a Child
Kids ‘n Kinship
Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity.
Location: Your home or the community.
Ages: Mentors are families, couples, or individuals over 21 years old.
Time Commitment: One to four hours per week, on average. Scheduling is very flexible; weekends, evenings, or after-school times are available.
Mentoring Makes a Difference! Kids ‘N Kinship is in need of mentors as we currently have 41 youth on a waitlist waiting for a mentor. Would you consider stepping in to help us fill this need? We are based in Dakota County, and we serve families in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville, and Rosemount. Kids ‘n Kinship matches volunteer mentors as families, couples, and individuals with youth ages 5–16 years old in need of additional positive role models. We have three opportunities to mentor: community mentoring, school-based mentoring, and serving as a pen pal for a child currently on our waitlist. Matches are made based on compatible personalities, ages, and interests, as well as the preferences of both the volunteer family and the youth with their parent/guardian. Our mentoring families say that mentoring together ensures they have weekly family time and that it’s easy to include another child in the family activity, whether it’s a board game, sledding, a trip to a park, or going to the zoo or a museum. Kids ‘n Kinship offers passes to area attractions to make activities more affordable. Additionally, we provide continuous support and training for our mentors, starting with a 45-minute information session and a two-hour training session. We ask mentors and mentees to commit to one year together in order to build their relationship; however, many of our matches become lifelong friends, and our average match is about two to three years. Please consider being a mentor to a child. It is one of the most life-changing and rewarding ways to volunteer your time. Learn more at www.kidsnkinship.org.
Contact: Kerry Stok, projects@kidsnkinship.org.
Celebrate National Public Lands Day at Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Great River Greening
Date/Time: Sunday, September 23, 9 a.m.–noon.
Location: 860 Cliff Road, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan. Participants will receive a detailed map of the exact location.
Ages: This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend.
Time Commitment: Three hours.
Join Great River Greening and Dakota County Parks as we come together to celebrate National Public Lands Day at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Together, we will plant and seed native prairie grasses and wildflowers, furthering restoration efforts throughout this beautiful park. Goat browsing has been used in this park to control buckthorn and the goats will be with us during the event. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how we use goats in invasive control and meet some goats as well.
National Public Lands Day has been celebrated by the National Forest Service for 25 years, and Great River Greening is proud to partner with Dakota County in promoting stewardship at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. It is a day where huge impacts are made by volunteers all across the country to improve and enjoy forests and grasslands. These volunteer contributions are incredibly valuable to public lands. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary; we will provide the tools and training required.
Volunteers will get free lunch, thanks to Dakota County! There will also be light snacks and extra water available, however, please bring your own reusable water bottle and any additional snacks or lunch items you may need.
Are you an adult interested in helping Great River Greening as a volunteer supervisor for their upcoming events? If so, please reach out to Jessica for more information.
Contact: Jessica Drummond, at jdrummond@greatrivergreening.org. Registration is required and is available online.
2023 Twin Cities Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota North Dakota Chapter
Date/Time: Saturday, September 30, 7 a.m.–noon.
Location: Target Field, Minneapolis.
Ages: All ages are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Time Commitment: Most volunteer positions will last between three and five hours.
Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. The Twin Cities Walk to End Alzheimer’s takes place on a one and three-mile path on the streets around Target Field. There are various volunteer positions that are a fit for both adults and children. Volunteers help with event setup, registration, water stations, cheerleading, and more! Check out this link to learn more about the available positions and to sign up.
Contact: Sign up online or email Rebecca Ayaz at rayaz@alz.org.
Meal Delivery
Open Arms of Minnesota (Background check and Mandatory Vaccination Requirement)
Date/Time(s): Weekdays, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Monday–Wednesday deliveries serve the greater West Metro area and are labeled MPLS. These routes pick up meals at our Minneapolis location.
- Thursday and Friday deliveries serve the greater East Metro area and are labeled STP. These routes pick up meals at our St. Paul location.
Location(s):
- MPLS: 2500 Bloomington Ave S, Minneapolis.
- STP: 380 E Lafayette Frontage Rd, St. Paul.
Ages: Families with children of all ages are welcome to volunteer. The driver must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license.
Time Commitment: One to two hours per shift. After you’ve attended a new volunteer orientation or completed our online orientation and completed a background check (driver only), you may sign up to volunteer. There is no minimum time commitment. You can volunteer once, on a regular basis, or as often as you are available.
Volunteer to deliver meals to our clients and help Open Arms bring nourishment to people who need it most. Open Arms delivers homemade food to approximately 1,200 clients every week across the Twin Cities, using healthy ingredients, free of charge. Pick the delivery route that suits you and your family best. Because of Covid, we do drive-up contactless delivery. You drive up, and we load your car. You do not need to exit your vehicle at all. When delivering to the client, we enforce a drop, wait, and wave policy. We do not enter any homes; however, we do enter apartment buildings. Masks are required. We supply masks if needed and hand sanitizer between routes.
Contact: Questions? Contact us at volunteer@openarmsmn.org. Follow this link to get started: https://openarmsmn.volunteerhub.com/.
Meal Prep and Packaging (Kitchen and Bakery)
Open Arms of Minnesota
Date/Time: There are a variety of shifts Monday–Saturday from 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
Location(s):
- 2500 Bloomington Ave. S, Minneapolis.
- 380 E. Lafayette Frontage Rd., St. Paul.
Ages: Families with children ages eight years old and older are welcome to volunteer. Click here for more information on age requirements and adult-to-youth ratio.
Time Commitment: Two hours per shift.
Youth are welcome to help us in the kitchen with scooping cookie dough, making Jell-O, and packaging cookies for our clients’ weekly meal deliveries. Submit online applications for each adult and youth interested in volunteering. After attending orientation, you may sign up for kitchen shifts as often as you’d like. Learn more about us at www.openarmsmn.org.
Contact: Questions? Contact us at volunteer@openarmsmn.org. Follow this link to get started: https://openarmsmn.volunteerhub.com/.
Assemble and Donate Needed Kits
Agate Housing and Services (formerly St. Stephen’s/House of Charity)
Date/Time: Ongoing need.
Location: To drop off items, reach out to Abigail Abele at 612.715.0449 (text or call) or by email at abigail.abele@agatemn.org.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Agate is committed to helping every person and family have a stable place to live and their basic human needs met. Programs offered by Agate include:
- Street outreach.
- Temporary and permanent housing.
- Free public meals.
- Free public showers.
- Representative payee services.
- Birth certificate and ID support.
Your family can help by purchasing items, assembling kits, and donating them to Agate.
Summer Weather Protection Kits. These kits help our clients and unsheltered neighbors stay safe in Minnesota’s unruly spring weather. Items in these kits can include water, tents, tarps, ponchos, and many other weather protection items.
Snack Packs. We use these packs a lot! They are given to people who stop into our Welcome Center and are given by our Street Outreach team as well. These kits are usually assembled in gallon-sized bags and include non-perishable foods and water.
Welcome Home Baskets. When our neighbors transition from being unhoused or leaving a shelter, they usually don’t have the supplies needed to care for their new home. That’s what these baskets are for! Baskets include items like soap, garbage bags, and towels.
Don’t have the time to assemble kits? You can check out our Amazon wishlist and have supplies shipped directly to Agate.
Contact: Abigail Abele (Volunteer and In-kind Coordinator) at abigail.abele@agatemn.org or 612.715.0449 with any questions or to schedule a drop-off directly.
Packout for Delivery/Packout for Shipping
Open Arms of Minnesota
Date/Time: There are a variety of shifts available.
Location(s):
- 2500 Bloomington Ave. S, Minneapolis.
- 380 E. Lafayette Frontage Rd., St. Paul.
Ages: Families with children ages eight years old and older are welcome to volunteer. Click here for more information on age requirements and adult-to-youth ratio.
Time Commitment: Two hours per shift.
Youth are welcome to help us in the kitchen with scooping cookie dough, making Jell-O, and packaging cookies for our clients’ weekly meal deliveries. Submit online applications for each adult and youth interested in volunteering. After attending orientation, you may sign up for kitchen shifts as often as you’d like. Learn more about us at www.openarmsmn.org.
Contact: Questions? Contact us at volunteer@openarmsmn.org. Follow this link to get started: https://openarmsmn.volunteerhub.com/.
Grow and Give from your Garden
Every Meal
Date/Time: Produce is accepted June 26–October 10 on Mondays from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and Tuesdays from 9 a.m.–noon. Please email our Program Team at program@everymeal.org with a brief donation description to coordinate your drop-off.
Location: 2723 Patton Road, Roseville.
Ages: Everyone can help by donating produce from their home garden.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Every Meal’s Grow & Give Program brings together produce from our garden, community garden partners, and you to expand access to fresh produce. Each week during the summer growing season, the collected vegetables and fruits are distributed to children and families in our community. Your family can help by donating produce from your own garden! Below is a list of our most desired produce, but additional types of produce are welcome.
- Broccoli.
- Cabbage.
- Carrots.
- Cucumbers.
- Eggplant.
- Herbs (mint, cilantro, parsley, basil, etc.).
- Green beans.
- Leafy greens (kale, chard, lettuce, etc.).
- Peppers (spicy and sweet varieties).
- Potatoes.
- Radishes.
- Tomatoes (large and small varieties).
- Squash.
- Zucchini.
Please harvest fruits and vegetables in a safe manner to minimize the risk of foodborne illness. For example, always wash your hands before harvesting and wear clean gloves. Do not harvest if you are sick (coughing, sneezing, have a fever, etc.). If you are ill and worried about your produce spoiling, please ask a friend or neighbor to help harvest. We kindly ask that herbicides, insecticides, and chemical fertilizers not be used in the growing of produce donated. Organic fertilizers and pest control should be used when needed. Do not donate food that is overripe, has mold, bruising, or insect damage Wipe as much dirt/mud off of the produce as possible, but do not rinse. Learn more here.
Contact: program@everymeal.org.
Donate a Meal
HOPE 4 Youth
Date/Time: Dinner meal donations need to be received for prep by 4 p.m. or earlier. Our youth dinner service starts at 4:30 p.m.
Location: HOPE 4 Youth Drop-In Center is located at 2665 4th Ave, Suite #40, Anoka.
Ages: All ages can help prepare meals in a licensed kitchen to be dropped off at HOPE 4 Youth. Multiple meals can be prepared in advance and brought in to be kept in our freezer for future meal service.
Time Commitment: Varies by the meal prepared.
Volunteers are needed to provide a meal that can serve 14–16 total youth. Per food safety guidelines, all meals brought into HOPE 4 Youth need to be prepared in a licensed kitchen. There are three options:
- Prepare a meal off-site in a licensed community kitchen (church, school, etc).
- Purchase retail foods and then prepare them on-site. Must be unopened and labeled (ex: take and bake lasagna; retail meal items like Costco or Simek’s; Cub foods deli items). Sandwiches can be prepared and put together on-site if you bring in the ingredients needed.
- Bring in food from a restaurant.
This is a great option for families and a fun team-building opportunity for companies and service organizations. Multiple meals can be prepared in advance and brought in to be kept in our freezer for future meal service.
Contact: Mari Dahlke, mdahlke@HOPE4YouthMN.org, 763.323.2066 ext. 118
Host a Donation Drive
HOPE 4 Youth
Date/Time(s): This opportunity offers flexibility in terms of timing and dates.
Location: Deliver donations to HOPE 4 Youth Drop-In Center located at 2665 4th Ave, Suite #40, Anoka.
Ages: Everyone can help support a donation drive.
Time Commitment: Varies.
A donation drive is a great way to support HOPE 4 Youth and can be very flexible in how the drive is organized and when it occurs. Many people choose to host a drive in their neighborhood, in their family, at their local faith-based organization, through sports groups, and more! Simply contact Mari Dahlke to share that you are interested and we have all the materials you need for what to collect and how to spread the word. Don’t have enough time to run a donation drive? We also have virtual drive lists at Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
Contact: Mari Dahlke, mdahlke@HOPE4YouthMN.org, 763.323.2066 ext. 118
Get Involved with The Family Partnership!
The Family Partnership
Date/Time: Ongoing need. People can leave donations with the front desk Monday through Friday between 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. with a note that they’re to be directed to Harper Wicklund.
Location: Our drop-off location is 1527 E Lake Street, Minneapolis, 55407.
Ages: Everyone can participate.
Time Commitment: Varies, depending on the project.
The mission of The Family Partnership is to build strong families, vital communities, and better futures for children. You and your family can donate to one of these six projects to help The Family Partnership’s clients:
Essential supplies for infants and toddlers of families experiencing deep poverty.
Household care packages to help families keep their homes clean and healthy.
Snack bags for children coming to therapy directly from school.
Play-doh, flubber, or stress balls for the littlest learners to develop finger strength and dexterity.
Personal care packages for teens and women who are healing from sexual exploitation.
Journals for children, pre-teens, and teens accessing mental health programs.
Contact: Harper Wicklund, HWicklund@thefamilypartnership.org. Please contact Harper prior to starting your project.
Volunteer for Family Pathways Thrift Stores/Food Shelves
Family Pathways
Date/Time: Times will vary depending on the location.
Location: Click here for a map of our thrift store, 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 7 years old and older are welcome. An adult must accompany volunteers 16 years old or younger.
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.
- Our volunteers help at our food shelves 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. No cashiering or pricing is needed.
- Doorstep Delivery and Sunshine Calls volunteers help pick up food at the food shelves and deliver it to our clients. Sunshine Calls volunteers also call our clients and check in on them.
- Shelter volunteers help with lawn care service or baking cookies/donations for the clients.
- Remote Opportunities include making birthday bags, kindness cards, or running a food and fund drive.
Contact: Fill out an application at www.familypathways.org/volunteer or contact volunteer@familypathways.org with questions.
Hygiene Kits Needed!
Agate Housing and Services (formerly St. Stephen’s/House of Charity)
Date/Time: Ongoing need.
Location: To drop off items, reach out to Abigail Abele at 612.715.0449 (text or call) or by email at abigail.abele@agatemn.org.
Ages: Everyone can help.
Time Commitment: Varies.
Agate is totally out of hygiene kits and they need your help to ensure our neighbors have supplies to stay healthy! Your family can help support participants of our shelters, street outreach, free public showers, and supportive housing programs by providing them with the essential personal care items they need. Assembling kits and packs is a great way to engage your family in caring for our community. Volunteers purchase materials, assemble kits, and drop them off at our main office by appointment. Here’s what you need to create hygiene kits:
Choose four to five of the first-priority items and then include however many second-priority items you would like.
First priority items:
- Bar soap.
- Shampoo (all accepted but shampoo options for textured/curly hair is our highest need).
- Conditioner (all accepted but shampoo options for textured/curly hair is our highest need).
- Toothpaste and toothbrush.
- Deodorant.
- Razor and shaving cream.
- Lotion.
- Body wash.
Second priority items:
- Shower shoes.
- Non-alcohol-based mouthwash.
- Washcloth.
- Comb or brush.
All products included in hygiene kits must be new and unopened. If you would like to add any notecards/messages, or items that are not listed above, you must text/call/or email Abby (contact information below) to ensure that the Donation Center is able to accept them. We also accept and greatly appreciate individual donations of each of these listed items. Don’t have the time to assemble kits? You can check out our Amazon wishlist and have the supplies shipped directly to Agate.
Contact: Abigail Abele (Volunteer and In-kind Coordinator) at abigail.abele@agatemn.org or 612.715.0449 with any questions, or to schedule a drop-off directly.
This list was compiled by Doing Good Together™ (www.doinggoodtogether.org).
When calling or emailing to volunteer for any of the Twin Cities volunteer 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.
Visit Doing Good Together for more ideas, Twin Cities volunteer opportunities and activities.
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