Here are ten ways you can get involved during National Volunteer Month and beyond:

1. Support a Local Food Bank: Food insecurity remains a significant issue in many communities. Help sort donations, pack food boxes, or distribute meals through organizations such as Cornerstone Assistance Network, Northside Inter-Community Agency, and Tarrant Area Food Bank.

2. Become a Mentor: Offer guidance and support to young individuals by becoming a mentor. Programs like Tarrant To & Through Partnership, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Girls Inc. provide opportunities to make a positive impact on the lives of local youth.

3. Host a Clothing Drive: Organize a clothing drive where your family collects new or gently used clothing from friends and neighbors to donate to organizations such as SafeHaven of Tarrant County and The Ladder Alliance.

4. Get Your Hands Dirty at a Community Garden: Community gardens like Southside Community Gardens, Unity Unlimited, INC, and HSC Community Gardens promote sustainable food production, fight food insecurity and foster a sense of community. Volunteer by planting, weeding, or harvesting fresh, nutritious produce.

5. Assist at an Animal Rescue: Assist with caring for animals in need by volunteering at a local animal shelter or rescue organization. The Humane Society of North Texas, Don’t Forget to Feed Me, and Buster’s Friends are just a few organizations that rely on volunteers to help with feeding, socializing and walking animals.

6. Serve on a Board: Nonprofits need strong boards to provide guidance, oversight, and support for their mission and operations. BoardBuild offers online, self-paced training to prepare volunteers for serving on a nonprofit board.

7. Support Senior Citizens: Organizations such as Meals on Wheels, James L. West Center for Dementia Care, and Sixty and Better provide opportunities to volunteer with seniors. Whether it’s through companionship visits, grocery shopping assistance, or technology tutoring, your support can make a meaningful difference.

8. Join a Cleanup Crew: Take part in initiatives to protect and preserve the environment by volunteering for clean-up events. Join efforts to remove litter, restore habitats, and promote sustainability through organizations like Trinity Regional Water District, Trinity Coalition, and River Legacy.

9. Volunteer at a Shelter: Homeless shelters not only provide warm meals and protection from the elements, but they also provide supportive services to end the cycle of homelessness. Presbyterian Night Shelter, Union Gospel Mission, and DRC Solutions rely on volunteers to serve meals, organize donations, assist with building maintenance, or provide enrichment activities to those experiencing homelessness.

10. Offer Your Professional Skills: Volunteer your skills to help nonprofits deliver critical services to communities nationwide. Digital platforms like Catchafire connect nonprofits to volunteers providing pro–bono services, such as graphic design, language translation, strategic planning and more.

The post 10 Ways to Make a Difference During National Volunteer Month appeared first on North Texas Community Foundation.

ACH Child and Family Services 

ACH Child and Family Services has served families through a continuum of 18 residential and community-based services that foster safety and hope. Volunteers needed for youth mentorship, Supper Club, the In-Kind Drive as well as the holiday’s Cookie Cutter’s Club. Groups can complete campus cleanups, Safe Place Site Reviews, and other service projects. Learn more through ACHservices.org/volunteer or by email Volunteers@ACHservices.org. 

Arlington Museum of Art 

The Arlington Museum of Art is a thriving visual arts museum, dedicated to art education, community engagement, and impactful art experiences, especially for children. Volunteering offers the opportunity to meet and work with fellow art lovers and get a close-up view of our exhibitions. To volunteer, contact Shelby Carson at shelby@arlingtonmuseum.org or call 817-275-4600 .  

BarbaraCares 

BarbaraCares provides support services to breast cancer patients and caregivers in Texas through free mammogram screenings and addressing late-stage breast cancer incidents and mortality rates. Volunteer to help in several ways at the December Caring Conversation in Fort Worth. Visit www.barbaracaresforyou.org/volunteer.html to learn more.  

Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth 

RMHFW programs reduce stress and financial burden for families by providing lodging and meals with space for 57 families at a time. Volunteer through “Meals from the Heart” by providing meals or as a house volunteer by offering office assistance, staffing special events, cleaning and stocking the kitchen or assisting with mailings. To sign up to volunteer, visit https://rmhfw.org/getinvolved/volunteer/.  

Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County 

For 135 years, UGM-TC has tackled poverty at its core, providing transitional housing, clinical counseling, spiritual development, and children’s enrichment to transform lives. Volunteers needed for tutoring, kitchen and dining service, and sorting and organizing the warehouse where residents can “shop” for items they need. For more information, visit https://www.ugm-tc.org/volunteer/. 

Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter 

The Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter houses and cares for over 6,500 animals each year.  Unlike most shelters with dogs and cats, they also house cows, pigs, chickens, and horses. They are currently recruiting for two volunteer positions on the animal care team and the customer care team. For more information, contact Emily Williams by email ewilliams@weatherfordtx.gov  or 817-598-4111.  

Cuisine for Healing 

Cuisine for Healing is committed to promoting the healing power of food by cooking nutritious organic meals that are readily available to people combating life threatening diseases, and offering educational resources to empower individuals to make food choices that benefit their well-being and long-term health.  They currently serve an average of 45 clients per week – which averages 600 meals a week!  They are seeking volunteers for delivery drivers on Thursday mornings as well as kitchen assistants.  If you would like to learn more, please contact Cuisine for Healing at lynngreen@cuisineforhealing.org or call 817.921.2377. 

Questions? 

For more volunteer opportunities, please contact your fund steward or email connect@northtexascf.org.

The post The Gift Of Time – Holiday Volunteer Opportunities appeared first on North Texas Community Foundation.

Allie’s Haven Animal Rescue 

Allie’s Haven promotes proper pet ownership through community education to achieve their vision of a Texas without animal abuse and neglect. 

Volunteers are needed to assist with social media and fundraising. 

Contact: Robin Hamilton, info@allieshaven.org or 817-229-0995 

Camp Summit, Inc. 

Camp Summit provides barrier-free outdoor experiences for individuals with disabilities. By offering traditional camp fun in a community-based setting, campers get a unique opportunity to interact and socialize with peers. 

Volunteers are needed to assist with camp activities, facilities and administrative needs. 

Contact: Lisa Braziel, l.braziel@campsummittx.org or 972-528-7829 

Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition

FWDPC strives to engage the whole family in water safety education and provide multiple layers of protection, so you are equipped and empowered to enjoy the water safely. 

In Water Volunteers Instructors are needed for their Swim Safe Program  

Contact: Tara Reed, fwdpcvolunteers@gmail.com  

Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge 

FWNC&R helps make North Texas a successful model for other nature centers across the country by preserving and protecting the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge for future generations. 

Volunteers are needed to assist with trail work, planting native plants, and other conservation needs plus volunteers to help with member events. 

Contact: Haily Summerford, haily@naturecenterfriends.org or 817-999-2883 

Southside Community Gardens 

Southside Community Gardens builds local garden beds to increase the consumption of healthy food and combat the system of food apartheid that has been imposed upon residents. 

Volunteers are needed to assist with Garden Partners, volunteer gardeners, composting, answering emails, administrative, media communications, and website design. 

Contact: Patrice Jones, info@southsidefw.org or 817 706-7081 

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County 

BCGTC enables young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens through a world-class Club Experience that ensures that success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors. 

Volunteers are needed for supervising and encouraging teens during special events, event set-up, serving food and storage room cleanup. 

To volunteer please contact: Chelsea Tibbitts, https://bgcgtc.org/volunteer/ or 817-834-4711 ext. 203 

Cornerstone Assistance Network 

CCFW exists to end poverty by creating meaningful interventions to help those in need through a unique combination of comprehensive case management designed to help people escape poverty permanently by focusing on a person’s unique strengths and goals. 

Volunteers are needed for Holiday Meals, Sorting, Landscaping, Food Drive, and a Welcome Center Receptionist. 

To volunteer please contact: Susan Derstine, sderstine@canetwork.org or 817-632-6038 

The National Vietnam War Museum 

The National Vietnam War Museum is designed to bridge the gap of knowledge between generational understanding of the Vietnam War Era by placing real Vietnam veterans in front of different youth groups while also providing a healing opportunity for other veterans.  

Volunteers are needed for Educators, ESL teachers, program coordinators, and docents. 

To volunteer please contact: Ean Tillett, tillett@nationalvnwarmuseum.org or 682-229-8294 

Questions? 

For more comprehensive volunteer opportunities, please contact: 

Jemimah Walulya, Donor Services Administrator 

817.877.0702  |   connect@northtexascf.org

The post Building Community Through Service appeared first on North Texas Community Foundation.

On any given day, about 1,200 people experience homelessness in Tarrant County. Organizations across our community are working to ensure none of our neighbors go without housing. These nonprofits rely heavily on volunteers to assist in providing our neighbors resources ranging from eviction prevention, emergency services, and day-to-day operations to make this goal a reality.

DRC Solutions

DRC Solutions provides critical services of essential, evidence-based solutions that house people experiencing homelessness, set the stage for housing, or satisfy unmet needs in the community.

Volunteers are needed to assist with food pantry distribution at two permanent supportive housing complexes, provide essential needs to newly-housed families and individuals, and assist each month with Lancaster Live!.

Click here to learn more >>

Presbyterian Night Shelter

PNS provides access to critical services and resources and positions guests so they are able to successfully transition to a safe, stable, and independent lifestyle.

Volunteers are needed to help serve meals, organize the warehouse, assist with administrative work, coordinate children’s enrichment activities, and help with interior/exterior beautification.

Click here to learn more >>

Questions?

For more comprehensive volunteer opportunities, please contact:

Jemimah Walulya, Philanthropic Services Administrator

817.877.0702 | connect@northtexascf.org

If you wish to recommend a grant to local nonprofits doing important work in the community, view our list of Good Grants on our Explore Opportunities page.

The post From Homeless to Housed: Volunteer Opportunities appeared first on North Texas Community Foundation.

As the weather warms and flowers bloom, the beauty of North Texas is everywhere you look. It takes many hands to preserve the natural state of the community around us. This Spring, consider volunteering with a conservation-focused organization to play a part in the preservation of our planet and community.

Here are a few organizations focused on conservation across North Texas to choose from:

> Botanical Research Institute of Texas & Fort Worth Botanical Garden

> Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

> Trinity River Water District

> Texas Wildlife Association Foundation

Questions?

For more comprehensive volunteer opportunities, please contact:

Jemimah Walulya, Philanthropic Services Administrator

817.877.0702 | connect@northtexascf.org

If you wish to recommend a grant to local nonprofits doing important work in the community, view our list of Good Grants on our Explore Opportunities page.

The post Serve and Conserve This Spring! appeared first on North Texas Community Foundation.

It’s always a good time to give back to the community, and the holiday season is no exception.

Each year, nonprofits see an increase in services during the holidays. Many organizations rely on volunteers to help spread cheer and prepare our most vulnerable neighbors for the cold months ahead. Donating your time is a great way to develop a spirit of giving, gratitude and empathy while making a difference in the lives of others.

There are countless ways to lend a helping hand this season. Here are a few organizations currently seeking volunteers:

> Grapevine Relief And Community Exchange

> James L. West Center for Dementia Care

> NewDay Services for Children & Families

> World Relief

For a complete list of volunteer opportunities, contact Jemimah Walulya at 817.877.0702 or connect@northtexascf.org

If you wish to recommend a grant to local nonprofits doing important work in the community, view our list of Good Grants on our Explore Opportunities page.

The post The More Hands The Merrier – Holiday Volunteer Opportunities appeared first on North Texas Community Foundation.