Needs From: United Way of Central Massachusetts

This project is for the Monday following Day of Action, September 15th. 

Worcester Housing has a variety of projects that need to be completed on Monday and we are looking for teams to complete them. 

Hadwen Arboretum Volunteer Day
Hosted by Clark University | UNITED WAY DAY OF ACTION

Date: Friday September 12th
Time: 9:00-12:00

Location: Hadwen Arboretum 215 Lovell Street Worcester MA 01603

Parking: Park on the left side of Lovell Drive. Please do NOT park in front of the main gate entrance

Meeting Point: At the main gate on Lovell Street, directly across from Lovell Drive

What To Expect:

Volunteers will be divided into groups and led by Clark University students, this session will be a hands-on day with tasks including: trail clearing and maintenance and removing invasive species.

What to Bring/Wear:

Closed-toe shoes or boots

Water Bottle

Sunscreen

Work gloves (optional - we’ll have extras)

Clothes you can get dirty

Long sleeves and pants (recommended for scratch protection)

Study these plants!

Poison ivy - Three leaves vine, can give rash if touched but it can be avoided: watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oyoDRHpQK0 How To Never Have A Serious Poison Ivy Rash Again.

Burning bush - Common invasive we will be removing during the sessions.

Bittersweet vine - Invasive vine that climbs and strangles trees, we will be removing these too.

Poison Ivy

Burning bush

Bittersweet vine

Why It Matters:
Hadwen Arboretum is a public green space stewarded by Clark University students, faculty, and community members. Your help keeps the trails safe, the forest healthy, and the native species growing for all to enjoy.

Questions? Contact: 

Owen Chase - ochase@clarku.edu 774-633-6940

Website: www.clarku.edu/arboretum Instagram: ClarkHadwenArboretum

Thank you for helping grow a greener Worcester!

This volunteer opportunity begins 9/11 and runs until 9/14. Please check link to sign up for a volunteer shift. 

Did you know that people who volunteer to help with the Family Festival have even more fun than Festival attendees? It's true - just ask any of the hundreds of volunteers who make our Festival a success.  Your help is needed for the many events we have going on during the weekend of September 12 - 14, 2025

We create short shifts (about 2 1/2 hours each) with the hope that they will better fit into the busy schedules we all have...but shorter shifts mean a greater number of shifts in order to staff the entire weekend. We are in great need for many more volunteers to help out this weekend and we are hoping that we can pull together as a parish family to fill these open spots!

Come be part of an unforgettable experience, meet new friends, and contribute to our community. You can register online below.   Sign up to volunteer today!

Visit https://stmarysparish.org/volunteer to see the different areas and times.

For the United Way, Day of Action Project SMOC would like to ask for help in cleaning and painting our shelters. 

This is for a women's shelter. Volunteers must be all female for this project.

For the United Way, Day of Action Project SMOC would like to ask for help in cleaning and painting our shelters. 

Make a Difference in Your Community—Right from Home!

Are you passionate about your local community and want to help others discover how to give back? We're looking for seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help us update and enrich local pages on Ways to Connect, our national directory of volunteer sites.

Ways to Connect is a crowdsourced platform designed to boost traffic and engagement to local volunteer websites—like this one! With just a bit of online research and your enthusiasm, you can help neighbors easily find volunteer opportunity platforms, service clubs, mutual aid groups, and more—making it simpler than ever for everyone to make an impact locally.

What You'll Do:

Conduct quick, simple online research to identify active service clubs, mutual aid groups, and upcoming volunteer events in your community.

Enhance your community's page on Ways to Connect by ensuring the information is current, accurate, and inviting for potential volunteers.

Optional: Promote your community’s page on social media to help friends and family find a path to service.

Why Volunteer with Inspiring Service?

Easy and flexible: Volunteer remotely at your convenience.

Immediate community impact: Help your neighbors discover meaningful ways to contribute.

Small commitment: Volunteer for as little as 2 hours, or as much as you'd like.

Growth opportunities: Volunteers can explore deeper involvement through our Ambassador program.

Ready to help your community thrive? Join us today and make volunteering more accessible for everyone.

Help with general yardwork at the Knights of Columbus facility that is adjacent to the sports field

Volunteer with us at our Worcester ReStore processing donations, stocking shelves and helping customers.  Profits from our ReStore go towards building houses for those in need.  Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older.

The Benefit Street garden is most in-need of heavy-duty weeding around it's perimeter. It's fenced in and there are many invasive weeds, vines, etc. that grow up and along the fence. This is also true out front which is street-facing and visible by neighbors and passers-by.

The REC's address is: 42 Lagrange St, Rear, Worcester, MA. but for GPS purpose, you can enter 108 Beacon St, Worcester, MA. 

There will be a short walk to the garden which is located at: 19 Benefit St, Worcester, MA.

Painting and refreshing the Hector Reyes House.

Supplies will be provided. 

Join us in giving the railings at Lincoln Street a fresh, clean look with a new coat of paint. This project will help protect the railings from wear while improving the appearance of the space. Wear clothing you don’t mind getting paint on. Your help will keep Lincoln Street looking its best for the whole community.

Help us bring new life to the outdoor spaces at 425 with fresh plantings to create a welcoming environment for all to enjoy. Wear comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. We’ll provide the plants, tools, gloves, and guidance. Your participation will make a lasting difference in brightening our community.

Join us for a morning of purpose and paint! We need a group of enthusiastic volunteers to help prime the YWCA’s wall on Francis McGrath Boulevard in preparation for a powerful new mural honoring Worcester women—past and present—who have shaped our community. No painting experience necessary—just a willingness to roll up your sleeves and help history come to life!

Join us as we work together to enhance the outdoor spaces at Wellington/Murray. We’ll be Planting and Painting the metal fence to restore its fresh appearance.   Please bring comfortable clothing that can get paint on it, and your community spirit. Your time and effort will help create a cleaner and more beautiful space for everyone to enjoy.

Help us make LPT an even more welcoming place for residents and visitors. Our projects for the day include planting and painting. We’ll provide: All supplies, including paint, brushes, gloves, and plants. You bring: Comfortable clothes that can get a little messy, and a willingness to help. Together, we can create a cleaner, brighter, and more inviting space for the whole community.

We need help raking mulch that has been displaced by rain and children playing, and cleaning up our playground space at our Granite Street child care center!

Our child care center needs help to clean out and reorganize our gym/stage space!

The outdoor ramp at one of Open Sky's residential homes is in need of painting. All supplies will be provided.

We're giving our trellises at Addison St. a fabulous makeover — and we need your artistic-ish touch! Whether you're a master painter or just really good at coloring inside the lines, we’d love your help. Come dressed in your best “oops-I-got-paint-on-this” outfit and we’ll provide everything else: paint, brushes, gloves.

We are looking for 15-20 volunteers to perform various enhancement projects at our Great Brook Valley outreach site including moving mulch, painting in faded lines for hopscotch and four square, and cleaning and reorganizing our three program rooms. 

Seeking a group of about 3 - 4 people to paint 1 room in our Residential Recovery Program. We will prep and provide all supplies. 

Located at 20 Cedar Street in Worcester, the YOU, Inc./Seven Hills Worcester Family Resource Center (FRC) offers evidence-based parent education groups, information and referral, case management, and other opportunities for children and families in need, including children who the courts recognize as “Children Requiring Assistance”,  or those considered to be at risk of this designation. These youth are having serious problems at home and at school, including running away, truancy, and experiencing sexual exploitation. The Family Resource Center offers a wide range of parent support groups, recreational activities, holiday celebrations, and parent-child activities.   The Carriage House, located adjacent to the FRC, houses a variety of programming for children and their families, including Grief Support activities.  As part of the Seven Hills’ integrated behavioral health system, Seven Hills offers individual and family therapy, group counseling, and public events to support families who have experienced grief and loss

Through the 2025 UWCM Day of Action, a team of volunteers will help to weed, mulch, plant flowers, and clean up the front entrance to the Family Resource Center and the memory garden at the Carriage House. Come in your work clothes to give this space a much-needed facelift for the many children and families that use it.

The Seven Hills ASPiRE! Workforce Readiness and Employment Programassists individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, brain injury, vision and mobility impairment, communication and behavioral challenges, to prepare for, obtain, and maintain their highest level of competitive employment.  The ASPiRE! Workforce Readiness and Employment service models include Community-Based Day Supports (CBDS), Group Supported Employment (GSE), Individual Supported Employment (ISE), Competitive Integrated Employment Services (CIES), and Statewide Employment Services (SES).

Supports and services offered within these models include soft-skills development, vocational assessments, career planning, resume development, interviewing skills, job-specific training and placement, on-site job coaching, functional money management skills, and benefits education and coordination. ASPiRE! Workforce Readiness and Employment Program sites are located in Hopedale, Worcester, and Devens and serve as HUBS for on-site and in-community activities. 

Additionally, the program provides participants with internship tracks in café management, community gardening, facilities maintenance, landscaping, and hospitality, which are provided through Seven Hills’ integrated community-based employment site at the historic Stearns Tavern located at 140 Mill Street in Worcester.  

Through the 2025 UWCM Day of Action, a team of volunteers will help to weed and clean up the community garden space at Stearns Tavern.  Come in your work clothes and enjoy working alongside ASPIRE participants to spruce up this beloved space.

We need your help to expand an urban garden and transform and under-utilized corner into a beautiful and fruitful space for education. At 18 Chestnut St, a dozen nonprofits serve Worcester residents in a collaborative hub. The former smoking-area is a remanent of a bygone era, and already our partner, Southeast Asian Coalition, has started the process to beautify this area with a garden. Continuing on their trajectory, Ascentria's raised-bed, urban garden space will be designed by our SNAP-Education team for longevity and will become an extended classroom where our clients including refugee families, teen parents, older adults, and individuals with addressing barriers can gather, learn, and grow together.

We’re looking for volunteers who want to get their hands dirty and help lay the groundwork for this project. Whether you’ve gardened for years or have never picked up a shovel, we welcome your support.

What You’ll Do:

Weed and clear the area to prepare the space for raised beds and future plantings

Help level the ground by hand, making it safer and more accessible

Lay landscape fabric to prevent future weed overgrowth

Assemble raised garden beds, including a donated, accessible tabletop-style bed that will allow clients with mobility challenges to garden comfortably

Bag and dispose of yard waste or assist with on-site composting (we’ll have a dumpster if needed)

Help create a welcoming, beautiful entryway for clients and community members visiting 18 Chestnut Street

What You’ll Be Part Of:

A project that builds community pride and connection

A new educational space for English learners, youth, and elders to grow vegetables and herbs

A model for inclusive, urban greening in the heart of Worcester

A garden that reflects the resilience and contributions of the diverse individuals Ascentria serves many of whom bring deep agricultural knowledge from their home countries

We are looking for two teams to help keep our spaces welcoming and practical for everyone who uses them. The first team would be helping clean out storage spaces, including an attic, at our family shelter. The second would help us clean up the outdoor space at our flagship neighborhood center at 36 Wall Street.

Volunteers will work alongside our knowledgeable Horticulture staff to assist with outdoor garden projects such as planting flowers, trees, and plants, weeding, sweeping, raking, dead-heading, potting, and pruning. All volunteers should bring a reusable water bottle (we have filling stations onsite) and wear closed-toed shoes and dress appropriately for the weather that day.

We are looking for volunteers to help us on the farm and in the garden to help us fight food insecurity and support Central Mass food pantries. Volunteers will mulch, spread compost, weed, harvest and prep fresh produce for distribution and other things as needed. We encourage volunteers to bring a lunch and enjoy the view after volunteering. 

As we gear up for the new school year, Planting the Seed Foundation is proud to revamp our annual Back to School Drive to meet the real and rising needs of students and families in Worcester. This year, it’s more than just notebooks and pencils. Thanks to our continued partnership with WPS Wraparound Coordinators, we've identified critical areas where our local students need extra support.

Our 2025 drive Amazon Wishlist will now focus on:

Organize preschool curriculum paperwork

Clean up the Center’s outside playground and parking lot

Hunger Doesn’t Go On Vacation! Would you consider dropping in and bringing a friend (or three)? We offer a great environment working with exceptional people.

Monday through Saturday from 9am to noon. Just three hours will be spent helping us to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to those in our community seeking hunger relief services. You will be surprised at the impact you can make in just one morning.

We invite you to come out and bring a friend! Please sign up today! "https://community-harvest.org/volunteer/"

We are looking to get weeding done at our parking lot vegetable garden. We are also looking to put down a tarp to prevent any further weeds. 

This free, family-friendly event celebrates the power of joyful play and its importance in early learning. It will take place on Saturday, September 13, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Elm Park in Worcester (rain date: Sunday, September 14).

Volunteer opportunities include helping with event setup and breakdown, assisting at activity stations, guiding families, and more. Available shifts are: 8:00–10:30 AM, 10:00 AM–12:30 PM, 12:30–3:00 PM, 2:00–4:30 PM, or all day. 

We’re happy to provide documentation of volunteer hours for students or anyone who may need it.

If interested, we ask that volunteers complete a short Volunteer Application by August 15.

Tidy up the grassy area and the garden. 

Join the Worcester Green Corps in cleaning and greening Worcester one piece of litter at a time! 

We will be meeting at University Park for a neighborhood cleanup, meet us at the corner of Gates and Main Street. We look forward to seeing you there!

Help us get the uniforms ready for our community-based programs - can be sewn on or ironed on using Badge Magic. 

We need the fascia replaced on multiple windows.  We will supply all materials for this project.  Thanks!  

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS & COMMUNITY GROUPS! 

Sully’s Veteran Food & Baby Pantry at Project New Hope Inc. is looking for dedicated volunteers and service groups to help us serve those who served.

We need extra hands to:

We need extra hands to:

For Day of Action (id: 13416)

Join Catholic Charities Worcester County for a day of service, compassion, and community at our Emergency Services Worcester Area Office! Volunteers will work together to support our neighbors in need by organizing and distributing essential items such as food, clothing, and hygiene products. Whether you're stocking shelves, assembling care packages, or welcoming guests, your time and effort will help bring hope and dignity to individuals and families facing crisis.

This is a meaningful opportunity to give back, connect with others, and make a lasting impact right here in Worcester County.

Important Information for Volunteers:

All volunteers are required to submit a completed CORI form, a copy of a government-issued photo ID, and a signed media release form prior to the volunteer date.

Forms should be emailed to Megan Dickie at mdickie@ccworc.org and must be clearly labeled as part of the United Way event.

Yanairys Cruz will be the on-site supervisor and will direct all volunteers on the day of the event.

Parking is available in the upper lot.

Please enter through the lower portion of the building where the pantry is located.

Volunteers should wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe footwear, as some tasks may require lifting or standing for extended periods.

Thank you for helping us serve with compassion and care!

The Veterans Inc. Holiday Harvest provides Thanksgiving meal supplies to over 700 Veterans families including turkeys, trimmings, stuffing, and fresh produce.

We are always grateful for volunteers who can donate their time to assist with setup & breakdown, line assistants, cart runners, security, assistant shoppers, mini market food stations, to-go box distributors, and food runners. 

On Tuesday November 11th from 8:30 -11 am. Veterans Inc. hosts the Annual Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast at our Historic Armory and headquarters in Worcester, MA. located at 69 Grove Street. The pancake breakfast is a special occasion to honor over 300 Veterans and their families.

We seek volunteers to serve as kitchen staff, servers, food runners, greeters, children's corner assistants, setup & breakdown support, as well as marketing support.

We are looking for volunteers to assist us at our Annual Run4Veterans 5K Walk/Run at Polar Park! 
Volunteer duties include but are not limited to Finish Line Crew, Water Station Crew, Cheering Team/Greeters, Runner Bags, Mile Markers, & Event Preparation the week before. 

Help us give the YWCA's confidential, emergency shelter a fresh, welcoming feel with seasonal cleaning and light home improvement projects. Volunteers will assist with interior painting, washing windows and floorboards, cleaning rugs, and hanging pictures. We’ll also organize the food pantry and supply closet, and, if weather allows, tackle some much-needed yard clean-up. Your support will help create a more comfortable and uplifting space for survivors and their families as they begin their journey toward healing.

Volunteers will meet at 8:30 AM at the YWCA, 1 Salem Square, and will carpool over to shelter location. 

We are looking to re-paint boards and clean up debris from the benches and around the rink.

During the day, the group will help with a variety of facility improvement projects including painting, yard work, and other tasks.  

The Playspace Program at Horizons for Homeless Children is looking for volunteers to play with children experiencing homelessness in Worcester for just two hours each week. Whether you're passionate about arts and crafts, storytelling, or building community, there's a place for you in Playspace! Your commitment will directly contribute to fostering moments of joy, laughter, and fun for children experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts. To learn more or apply visit horizonschildren.org/playspace or reach out to us by email at mnally@horizonschildren.org.

We are looking for community members who want to build relationships with refugee teens at our Friday Pick Up Soccer Program. Ideally, you enjoy soccer too! At this program, refugee teens from all over Worcester come out to play scrimmages for 2 hours every Friday. The goal is to be active and have fun in a safe and positive environment and to build relationships between our volunteers and our teens in order to be positive role models and to encourage them as they adjust to life in a new country. 

We are looking for volunteers who are interested in teaching driving to newly arrived refugees, especially to women. Refugee women have often lacked the opportunity to learn to drive and find it difficult to learn even after they have arrived in the United States. Learning to drive is important for a family's sustainability as well as the empowerment of disenfranchised women. 

At our facility, we have a number of areas that have old and worn carpets.  We're looking to have a volunteer install updated vinyl plank flooring.  

Amazon Gift List

Back-to-school shopping is often a favorite time of year for many children who look forward to a new year of learning, fun with friends, and new supplies and clothes. That is not usually the case for the children we serve whose lives are unstable and inconsistent within the child welfare system. Our CASA volunteers are consistent and reliable adults in the lives of the children we serve, and they will be delivering another year’s worth of new supplies to the children on their cases. Help us bring a positive, hopeful outlook to the children we serve for this upcoming academic year!

Can children experiencing homelessness count on you? 

The Playspace Program is looking for volunteers to play with children experiencing homelessness in your community for just two hours each week. Whether you're passionate about arts and crafts, storytelling, or building community, there's a place for you in Playspace! Your commitment will directly contribute to fostering moments of joy, laughter, and fun for children experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts.

Please visit our website for more information

Select window of time to drop off and set up at Worcester Area Mission Society: *December 4: 9am-1pmDecember 4: 1pm-5pmDecember 4: 5pm-9pmIf there are concerns with this timeframe, please email bgcwfot@gmail.com

Thank you for considering a donation to support patients at Family Health Center of Worcester. Many of our patients face challenging circumstances that make even basic necessities difficult to obtain. We will gladly accept donations of any of the following items:

GSCWM brings Girl Scout programming to girls in schools and community-based programs throughout Central Massachusetts. Help support this work with a gift that will provide supplies for the programs such as arts/crafts materials, books, LEGOs, and more. Gift cards from C.C. Lowell, Target, Amazon, Walmart much appreciated.

Anyone 16 and over can volunteer to help us Tuesdays through Saturdays during business hours (10 am to 5 pm) at the ReStore in Leominster 637 Lancaster Street (Route 117). No experience is required and there are many different ways to help out at the store.

Volunteer opportunities at the ReStore include:

TerraCorps is an environmental nonprofit working at the intersection of the land conservation, sustainable farming, food justice, and community resilience movements. Our role in the conservation sector is to nurture the network of front-line local and regional nonprofits by helping them gain access to the AmeriCorps national service model to build their staff and volunteer capacity.

Functionally, we manage the bureaucracy that comes with securing government funding and running a compliant federal program.Succinctly, we do the heavy lifting so our partners can focus on doing their best community work, their own way.

Our vision is to create a future where land is the foundation for health and well-being for ALL people in EVERY community.

TerraCorps operates in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. At this time we are seeking new members for the TerraCorps Board of Directors. We’re looking for civically minded people who care about their community and want to serve with a nonprofit Board. Board members serve a term of 3 years.

Last year, people like you helped to provide Thanksgiving dinner baskets and Christmas presents for vulnerable families. Because of this generosity, 360 families received all the fixing to make a Thanksgiving meal and the children of 400 families awoke to gifts on Christmas morning.    Please consider helping.  Find out more information here: https://tinyurl.com/pernetholiday24

We need your help to keep great books accessible to communities 24/7. Visit Little Free Libraries in your community to distribute books! 

We can suggest where to look for free or inexpensive books, or if you already have some, you can share those too. You can find book-sharing boxes near you using our world map or free mobile app. 

Register on our website to get started. Once you sign up, you will get access to tips & resources. Our Little Free Library staff can answer your questions. You can share books whenever it works for you.  

Purpose: By keeping Little Free Libraries full of books, you are helping to build community, inspire readers, and expand book access. 

Responsibilities:

Time required: You set your own schedule. It could be a one-time project or a regular book distribution schedule.

How we can support you: We'll help you start with some online training, and we will suggest sources for books.

Qualifications:

Questions: You can contact the Community Engagement Manager to ask questions. We also offer virtual Q&A sessions where you can ask questions.

Communities are hungry for books! Help Little Free Library fulfill its mission of book access for everyone by coordinating a local book drive. You can lead a book drive and distributed the collected books to local Little Free Libraries. Little Free Library staff can answer your questions along the way. 

This is a flexible volunteer opportunity. You can coordinate your book drive during the times that work best for you and your community. 

How to get started: Sign up on our website. After you register, we will send you a guide about how to coordinate a book drive. 

Purpose: By keeping Little Free Libraries filled with books, you are helping to build community, inspire readers, and expand book access. 

Responsibilities:

Time Required: A typical book drive lasts about two weeks to one month, plus time beforehand to plan and promote the drive. 

Training & Resources Available: We will help you get to know our organization and share our tips for planning a successful book drive. 

Qualifications:

Benefits: Experience the satisfaction of getting more books into the hands of readers while connecting with your community. Volunteers in the US and Canada will get a free Little Free Library t-shirt after you record your impact here in the Team LFL online hub. 

Supervision & Support: You can connect with the Community Engagement Manager to ask questions. We also offer virtual Q&A sessions for volunteers. 

Make a Difference in a Student’s Life

Join EnCorps’ STEMx Tutors program to virtually tutor math to middle school students who are under-performing in Foundational Math, Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1. 

Do you have a green thumb and a little bit of time to volunteer?  We're looking for someone to volunteer a few hours a month to help with yard work and landscaping.  We are also building a few raised garden beds that will need some love and attention.  

Can children experiencing homelessness count on you? 

The Playspace Program is looking for volunteers to play with children experiencing homelessness in your community for just two hours each week. Whether you're passionate about arts and crafts, storytelling, or building community, there's a place for you in Playspace! Your commitment will directly contribute to fostering moments of joy, laughter, and fun for children experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts.

Please visit our website to learn more and apply.

We are looking for daily volunteers to assist in our food pantry as well as our programs area. This would be assisting our clients with food, personal care items and anything else that we may be providing that day. This is flexible and in shifts. 9:00-1:00, 12:00-4:00 and 3:00-7:00

We are looking for volunteers in our warehouse. This would include helping restock shelves, breakdown boxes, assist with incoming deliveries etc

Each Monday morning, we pick up thousands of pounds of food from the Worcester County Food Bank.  Once we arrive back to our facility, we need help unloading the truck, stocking shelves, and prepping food bags for distribution.  We ask that volunteers commit to helping at least 8 different days

Each Monday morning, we pick up thousands of pounds of food from the Worcester County Food Bank in Shrewsbury.  Simply put, we could use an extra hand or two.  This is a repeat opportunity and we ask that volunteers commit to helping a minimum of 8 times. 

Please consider supporting the United Way's Diaper Fund, so that we are able to provide diapers to families in need who are caring for their infants and toddlers. The United Way of Central Massachusetts is committed to financially supporting and coordinating this effort. We will work in collaboration with organizations in Worcester who have a proven track record of coordinating relief and support services for those in need in our community.  

The Playspace Program at Horizons for Homeless Children is looking for volunteers to play with children experiencing homelessness in Worcester for just two hours each week. Whether you're passionate about arts and crafts, storytelling, or building community, there's a place for you in Playspace! Your commitment will directly contribute to fostering moments of joy, laughter, and fun for children experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts. To learn more or apply visit horizonschildren.org/playspace or reach out to us by email at mnally@horizonschildren.org.

In Kind Donations - Donations are accepted at the Front Door of the Queen st Shelter, 25 Queen st Worcester, Ma. The shelter is 24/7, always open for donations. We are always in need of these items for clients (below), especially in a variety of clothing sizes. We are typically in need of Men's XXL+ sizes. Sweatshirts and pants are always needed.

Blankets

Sheets

Winter items (hats, gloves, handwarmers)

Shoes/Boots

Backpacks

Pants

Shirts

Sweatshirts/Coats

Socks

Underwear

Toothbrushes

Shampoo/conditioner

Soap

razors

Toothpaste

Feminine hygiene products

First aid items

cleaning supplies 

If inclined to help from afar, we have an Amazon Wish List below- 

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/39C7IUNDM274U?ref_=wl_share

Thank you!

We need assistance with the unloading of food received from the Worcester County Food Bank and Restaurant Depo.  We also need assistance with the staging of the food to be ready for distribution to the community.  We need people on hand to also distribute the food and restock as needed.

Always in need of backpacks and school supplies for children in grades K-12.

The core of our program has two volunteer slots each day. The Evening Volunteer comes in at 5:30 and stays until 8:30. We encourage the Evening Volunteer to bring or prepare their own dinner as families prepare, serve, and clean up after themselves.  Evening Volunteers may plan activities, help with homework, assist with a particular need, be present in the house and provide program consistency and communication. The Evening Volunteer is relieved by the Overnight Volunteer, who does just that-spends the overnight.  Overnight Volunteers provide support and assistance to the families; they socialize with them, help older children with homework, and are available in case of an emergency. They are relieved at 6:30am Monday through Friday or at 8:30am on Saturday and Sunday by Shelter Staff. Sometime we need short notice coverage for these opportunities, some volunteers choose a monthly commitment, and some volunteers form a whole team of coworkers/friends/families and cover these slots for an entire week.

Only 3% of high-performing, under-resourced students end up in a great first career experience. On our social platform, professionals like you can help change that.

Here's how:

1. Sign up via your computer at my.backrs.com or by downloading the Backrs mobile app from the Apple App or Google Play Stores.

2. Tell us a little about your background and experiences by completing your profile. This takes 5 mins. (Up to 15 if you'd like to give students more details about your hobbies and interests.)

3. We add you to identity-based, regional, university, and career-path Affinity Networks where you can connect with students you're well-positioned to support.

4. In Networks, you can answer students' questions, post resources or job/internship opportunities, and share insights into your college and career journey by responding to Backstage Pass posts. Though each of these actions takes a few minutes, they all have meaningful impacts on young people.

5. If you'd like to play a more involved role in a student's journey, you can join their panel of backrs. This enables you to view their goals, post on their personal feed, schedule Zoom check-ins, and even contribute to their Flourish Fund. It's a great choice for those looking to offer low-lift, relationship-driven support.

Best way to see how convenient and rewarding being a backr really is? Give it a try, commitment-free:

Sign up on your computer: my.backrs.com

Or get the Backrs mobile app: Apple App Store or Google Play Store

Research shows that cross-class relationships are the biggest predictors of social mobility. And financial margin increases the odds of college persistence four-fold.

We partner with schools and youth organizations to recruit committed high school and college students into our community. Then, by removing the barriers the keep well-resourced adults from connecting with under-resourced young people, our technology builds bridges across socioeconomic strata, enabling people like you to empower students like Diego R.

Diego R. joined Backrs so he could pursue his dream of becoming a biomedical engineer. Thanks to his talent, hard work, and the support he's received from his backrs, he's well on his way to making that dream a reality. As he explained:

"My brother was born with Chronic Kidney Disease. He’s the man who gives me the strength to pursue Biomedical Engineering and become an accomplished technician. I strive to make the lives of those who suffer like him better. I want to be the change he needs to be healthy."

All of the students in our community are driven to build a better world; when they're given the resources to do so, everyone around them benefits.

Watch this video to learn more about the difference Backrs makes for students: Kaothara's Experience

Being a great backr isn’t about grand gestures or having all the answers. It’s about the small things: sharing a word of encouragement. Passing along a helpful resource. Making an introduction. These actions make a big difference--take it from some of our current backrs: 

"As a backr, I love the opportunity to support and mentor my three proteges as they grow and develop. I feel grateful to be able to guide and shape their future in a positive way. Through Backrs, I have been able to watch them grow into confident and capable individuals, and it has given me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that I can't put into words. It's made a tremendous difference in my life to see them achieve their goals and know that I played a role in helping them get there."

- Ahmed Dawood, Marketer at Apple

"Backrs gives me an opportunity to utilize my expertise to provide mentoring and support to students. Even though my students are a couple time zones away, I have the flexibility to connect with them on my time and have been dedicated to checking my app weekly at minimum to engage in conversations and answer questions. Its exciting to celebrate their wins and talk about future plans. Mentoring was very impactful in my life so it gives me joy to give back in this way."

- Lori Hunt, College Provost

Sign up for backrs today!

Volunteer drivers to pick up food from donors and deliver it to agencies that feed the hungry

Please submit a video reading your favorite book for us to add to our YouTube channel and to play for our members!

To learn more about this opportunity please email Leah Motsis at lmotsis@bgcworcester.org

Seeking volunteers to help distribute food in our emergency food pantry and assist our guests in applying for community services if need be. The ability to walk up and down a flight of stairs and carry 25+ lbs. is very helpful, but accomidations can be made for those who are unable. 

Do you love to paint?  Here at Pernet, we are conducting a facility-wide upgrade and need help painting walls, ceilings, and trim and we could use your help!  

Volunteer once or on a more consistent basis.  Come by yourself on with a small group.

Thanks! 

Maintenance at Pernet Family Health

Come once or be a regular volunteer.

Can include painting, landscaping and more!

Join us in supporting a supply chain from farms to families in Massachusetts! We organize volunteer projects to harvest, sort, and pack fresh produce from local farms for distribution to families facing food insecurity. No experience is necessary-only a willingness and ability to lend a hand in physical, active work. 

To Register: Visit our website (www.bostonareagleaners.org) and click "Get Involved," then follow the links to register. Once you registered your name, we will email you whenever there are volunteer opportunities. You can check our upcoming projects via the Volunteer page on our website, and can sign up for any project that fits your schedule.

Volunteer projects may take place at the Gleaners' headquarters at Stonefield Farm (91 Martin St. in Acton) or at partner farms throughout Eastern Massachusetts. We may be harvesting, sorting produce, or packing food boxes for distribution. Be sure to register on our website to stay in the loop about goings-on!

The Worcester Refugee Assistance Project (WRAP) is looking for kind and compassionate individuals who can provide rides for our after-school /summer school programming at the Ascentria Care Alliance office on Mondays at 5.30 pm and for return trips at 7.30 pm.

If interested, you may be teamed up with a family and have the opportunity to take the kids to the library to pick up their summer reading books etc.  All volunteer drivers will be CORI checked prior to engagement.   For more information on WRAP, please go to our website https://www.worcesterrefugees.org/

CASA Volunteers come from many different places and all walks of life. Whether you are a captain of industry or a quietly concerned community member, whatever your schooling or own life experiences, you can be a successful volunteer. All you need is the shared passion and commitment to advocate for children!

There are three steps:

The course is offered quarterly and provides an overview of CASA Volunteer roles and responsibilities. The training includes the following topics:

Upon completion of the training course, you will receive your first case assignment. A staff case manager will assist you, guide you, and provide any resources you need. Administrative assistance is provided by the CASA office.

The average time commitment for a CASA Volunteer is 10-15 hours per month. We ask that volunteers commit to the case until it is closed. A typical case lasts 9 -15 months.

Meals On Wheels Volunteer Drivers deliver nutritious meals to homebound older adults in their community (not in the city of Worcester, but in the surrounding towns). This opportunity involves delivering meals, and also checking on the consumer to ensure their safety. Often times the driver is the only person the consumer may see throughout the day. Volunteer Drivers may commit to one or more days per week. Meals are delivered Monday – Friday between the hours of 10:00am – 2:00pm.

Applicants must have valid Massachusetts Driver’s License and reliable transportation.

A part of the National Senior Service Corps, the Senior Companion Program is sponsored locally by Seven Hills Foundation.

Senior Companions are volunteers 55 years of age and older who devote 15 – 40 hours per week providing individualized care and assistance to frail, often isolated, elders in the community.

They may go for walks, play games, or prepare a light meal for their clients. Other time spent might include reading together, reminiscing or just visiting.

Volunteers visit with clients at the clients' homes.  If interested in becoming a volunteer Senior Companion, please contact Family Services of Central MA/Seven Hills: 508-796-1805