Looking to get your kids involved in volunteering? Want to instill a sense of community pride? Community service is a great way to give back and serve. Below is a list of organizations you may want to consider. Some volunteer opportunities are more involved than others, but all help to make our corner of the world a little brighter.
- What: Organization making care packages for children in need throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.
- When: Year round. Giving factory volunteer slots are Tuesday evenings, weekday mornings/afternoon, and Saturdays. You must submit an inquiry and be approved before arriving.
- Where: 4700 Wissahickon Ave Suite 142, Philadelphia, PA 19144
- Volunteers provide: sorting of donations
- Kid Friendly Options: Kids ages 5+ can volunteer with an adult to help sort and organize. Teens can join the leadership program.
- More Information
- What: Organization that provides struggling families with the necessities of life while leading them on a journey toward health and wellness.
- When: year round. Four major volunteer events as well as some additional sporadic opportunities
- Where: Norristown Montgomery County
- Volunteers Provide: Assistance organizing, collecting items and running events
- Kid Friendly Options: No minimum age requirements, but minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
- Email: info@cutloosecares.org to ask about upcoming volunteer opportunities
Daily Bread Community Food Pantry
- What: provides food assistance to those in the community
- When: Year round. Weekday and weekend opportunities
- Where: Collegeville
- Volunteers Provide: Stocking shelves, food distribution to those in need (Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings), pick ups from grocery store partners, store front coverage for drop offs, and event assistance.
- Kid Friendly: Children 13+ are able to volunteer with stocking and distribution.
- More Info: Volunteer portal
- What: Non-profit helping foster families through foster-share closet, transition assistance for children entering foster care as well as those who have recently aged out, support programs, and a variety of other resources. .
- When: year round. Volunteers for shopping assistance are Saturdays other volunteer opportunities have flexible hours.
- Where: Foster-Share Closet located at 3277 W. Ridge Pike, C301, Pottstown or Church of the Loving Shepherd, 1066 S New St, West Chester
- Volunteers Provide: Inventory and organization support, shopping assistance during "store" hours, donation pick ups and drop offs, host collection drives and more.
- Kid Friendly tasks are available. Sign up here
- More Info
- What: Offers weekly meal and free clothes to those in need.
- When: year round
- Where: Emmanuel Lutheran Church 150 N Hanover St, Pottstown
- Volunteers Provide: Assistance serving a meal and distributing items to those who come Monday evenings.
- Kid Friendly? Yes, children and their parents/guardians are welcome to volunteer.
- More Info: email tbreggae@gmail.com
Illumination Community Outreach
- What: Inter-faith organization. "Our programs focus on hunger relief, clothing security, and community empowerment."
- When: year round
- Where: Royersford
- Volunteers Provide: clothing security and hungry relief program assistance as well as special events and fundraisers throughout the year
- Kid Friendly. yes, kids are welcome to volunteer with a parent/guardian
- More info
- What: Non-profit dedicated to providing footwear to those in need within the United States and around the world.
- When: Year round
- Where: Pottstown, PA (North Coventry)
- Volunteers Provide: Assistance cleaning, processing and sorting shoe donations at the "shoebox" warehouse. Normal volunteer hours are Monday and Tuesday evenings from 5:30 TO 8:30
- Kid Friendly Options: Child volunteers must be accompanied.
- More Info, Email info@iniansboots.org
- What: Organization that provides critical items to families and individuals in crisis 9clothing, toiletries, school supplies, etc). They also run a diaper bank, period supply program, and teen leadership program.
- When: Year Round. Volunteer as an individual or group. Must submit a volunteer inquiry; due to high demand, it's recommended to plan 6 weeks in advance.
- Where: Norristown
- Volunteers Provide: assistance in the warehouse: sorting, organizing, etc.
- Kid Friendly Options: Kids ages 6+ are welcome to volunteer with a parent/guardian. Internships and teen ambassador programs for college and high school students.
- More Info
- What: Religious group with rotating monthly kindness project. Each month a different organization is chosen to support
- When: once a month, year round
- Where: Trappe
- Volunteer Provide: creation of donation bags/items
- Kid Friendly Options: kids and families are welcome. There is also a "crafting for Kindness" monthly program just for kids.
- For more info email: Staff@PillarsofLightandLove.org
- What: warming center for people experiencing homelessness.
- When: November- May
- Where: Pottstown. The warming center rotates locations between churches every 30 days.
- Volunteers Provide: assistance with meals, cleaning, driving guests, and organizing of donations.
- Kid Friendly Options: Meals can be made at home by the whole family and then dropped off. Teens may also help the organization move locations throughout the winter.
- More information and sign up
- What: "Project Purpose exists to share with low-income students and families of Pottstown, PA Christ's unique purpose for their lives by providing educational resources and mentoring relationships."
- When: Summer (garden) or school year (tutoring)
- Where: Pottstown
- Volunteers Provide: help in the community garden (all ages). Tutoring support three nights a week,
- Kid Friendly Options: kids and families are welcome to work in the garden any evening throughout the summer
- More info: Inquiry Form
Sebastian's Therapeutic Riding Stables
- What: stables offering theraputic riding to help improve lives of those with physical or mental disabilities.
- When: year round
- Where: Collegeville
- Volunteers Provide: Horse Care, Stable maintenance and clean up, rider assistance and more
- Kid Friendly Options: Responsible volunteers 14 years and up may contact Kendra@sebastianriding.org. Also, check out the volunteer youth program
- More info: volunteer form
- What: Animal (dog) Rescue Organization
- When: year round. Youth program meets monthly
- Where: Kimberton
- Volunteers Provide: A wide variety of assistance. Most of the opportunities for kids are in the Mini Paws Junior Volunteers program
- More Info
