Volunteer Opportunities
See the highlights of current volunteer opportunities in the Rochester area below!
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities in the Rochester and Monroe County area. There are additional opportunities listed on other community websites, including Volunteer United by the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes and the Community Wishbook. You can learn more here.
St. Peter's Kitchen - Christmas Meal
On Friday, December 22nd, from noon to 1 pm, we will serve a feast with all the fixins’ to all you come to the Kitchen. Eat in or carry out. Another great volunteer opportunity. If you are interested in a fulfilling way to spend Christmas please contact us about volunteering.
Christmas Basket Distribution - Rochester Family Mission
Shifts are available on December 21 from 9am-12pm (arrive 8:30am) and 12pm-4pm (arrive 11:30am) at 180 Raines Park, Rochester, NY 14613. In first shift, volunteers will be responsible for unloading food trucks, organizing food, and preparing for holiday basket distribution. In second shift, volunteers will manage the flow of clients to enter the parking lot, load boxes into the client's vehicle, manage the flow of clients exiting the parking lot, and clean up parking lot and gym.
Christmas Toy Distribution - Salvation Army
The Salvation Army of Greater Rochester sets up a Toy Shop every holiday season. Volunteers are needed to help families who come in by touring them through the shop and helping them pick out toys. Volunteers also assist at the check-in table, by restocking toys in the shop and by gifting each family with the right free food bag for their household size. Shifts are available December -18-21. Please see the United Way’s Volunteers United website for registration.
Toy Shop Setup - Salvation Army
An important step in helping the most people at Christmas time is preparation for events that occur during the weeks prior. To prepare for upcoming "shopping" tours, volunteers will decorate/set up the large warehouse area as a shopping space for parents. Volunteers will also arrange and group toys by age and interest. This allows for order and functionality when families come to “gift shop” for their children. Volunteers need to be able bodied as it is physical work with the set up of the Toy Shop. Shifts are available December 11-14. Please visit the United Way’s Volunteer United website for registration.
The 16th Annual Gynecologic Cancers 5k
Help us raise awareness, celebrate and honor the lives of women and families impacted by these cancers.
Want to join the fun and support the cause, but running's not your thing? Be a Race Volunteer!
The Arc Ontario's Annual Cruisin' for a Cause
Mark your calendars for our agency’s largest signature event, the 31st Annual Cruisin' for a Cause - set to take place on Thursday, August 17, 2023! This fun, casual event hosts over 300 guests each year and will showcase a tasting trail featuring local wineries, breweries, and distilleries, complimentary beverages, a lively dance party, the tastes of summer, and fun ways to support The Arc Ontario. Volunteers are a critical part of the event and we are hoping to have as many enthusiastic volunteers as we can to help out this year!
The event is 6:00 - 9:30 PM and is held at Sonnenberg Gardens, 250 Gibson Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Over 30 volunteers are needed to make this event a success. Volunteers are needed for set up, to be live auction and cash call spotters, sell Auction Board Squares, monitoring the tasting trail, operate iPads, and more.
If you are interested in volunteering or want to learn more about the event, please email Eden Thomas, Special Events Coordinator at ethomas@TheArcOntario.org.
We ask volunteers to give at least an hour to an hour and a half of their time and are welcome to stay and enjoy the event after their shift(s), including a meal at the event. Volunteers are more than welcome to bring a friend to volunteer with them – please just let Eden know their name(s) and contact information so they can stay in the loop about developments pertaining to the event.
Tour de Cure - American Diabetes Association
The Tour de Cure is Rochester's largest fundraising event; an event for people of all ages and abilities. It’s a day packed with excitement and energy where participants join forces in the fight to stop diabetes and raise critical funds for diabetes research, education and advocacy.
Your donation of time is so valuable and needed. To learn more visit: https://signup.com/go/FLX2023
Name: Julie DeMersman
Email: jdemersman@diabetes.org
Phone: 585-705-1012
Golf Tournament FORE! Kids 2023 - The Salvation Army of Greater Rochester
Support The Salvation Army of Greater Rochester's annual fundraiser for local kids while enjoying a morning/afternoon at Irondequoit Country Club!
Volunteer Landscaping - Mount Hope Cemetary
Join us every second Saturday of each month, from April to October, to help beautify Mount Hope Cemetery. Activities include raking leaves, weed, mulch and perform other general landscape maintenance. Events are held rain or shine, so please dress appropriately.
Please use the North Entrance at 791 Mt. Hope Avenue in front of the Gatehouse (across from Robinson Drive).
To sign up, please visit: https://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx...
Mini Clean-Sweep - House of Mercy
The second clean sweep of the neighborhood. The goal is to get to know our community partners and help beautify the neighborhood. The mini-clean sweep will begin at House of Mercy ( 285 Ormond St. ) and end at 8 Oregon St. (cleaning multiple blocks throughout the neighborhood).
ROCovery Fitness Volunteer Orientation
Want to be a volunteer at ROCovery? We are in constant need of volunteers to keep our mission moving forward. If you have time, energy and enthusiasm for our mission or a skillset that could help the organization, maybe just looking to get more involved in the community, please complete the form on this link https://www.rocoveryfitness.org/volunteer-application.html
Some volunteer opportunities include
Front Desk Volunteer
Fitness Instructor/ Coach
Special Events Volunteer
We ask for a minimum of a 1 month commitment for most volunteer positions
Once you have your application filled out your next step is to attend our volunteer orientation! This is where you will learn about volunteer opportunities, how you can get involved, and learn a little more about ROCovery.
All our classes and events are free and open to anyone with at least 48-hours of continuous sobriety. First time participants, please fill out a membership questionnaire here: https://www.rocoveryfitness.org/membership.html
Urban Farm Volunteer Night
Volunteer nights are open to anyone in the community to come share space, get their hands dirty and learn soft gardening skills from others.
Please bring water and gardening gloves if you have them.
GROC Genesee Regional Off-Road Cyclists - Tryon Park - Weekly Volunteer Dig Series
Put your time in, and boost you trail karma! A weekly volunteer opportunity to give back to your local trails @ Dryer Road Park. Meet in the Parking Lot, postponed if raining.�
Mandatory PPE: work boots + gloves
Optional:
- Safety glasses
- Digging / landscaping tools
- Water + snacks
_________________________________
If you love great trails, support them by become a member of GROC today:
http://www.myGROC.com�
*** All participants required to fill out waiver.
GROC Genesee Regional Off-Road Cyclists - Tryon Park - Weekly Volunteer Dig Series
Put your time in, and boost you trail karma! A weekly volunteer opportunity to give back to your local trails @ Tryon Park. Meet in the Parking Lot, postponed if raining.
Mandatory PPE: work boots + gloves
Optional:
- Safety glasses
- Digging / landscaping tools
- Water + snacks
A Free beer + 1/2 off food @ K2 Bros. Brewing after each session
_________________________________
If you love great trails, support them by become a member of GROC today:
http://www.myGROC.com
***All participants required to fill out waiver.
Volunteer Landscaping Event
Volunteers welcome every second Saturday of each month, from April to October, to help beautify Mount Hope Cemetery. Activities include raking leaves, weed, mulch and perform other general landscape maintenance. Events are held rain or shine, so please dress appropriately.
Please use the North Entrance at 791 Mt. Hope Avenue in front of the Gatehouse (across from Robinson Drive).
To sign up, please visit: https://www.cityofrochester.gov/article.aspx...
ROCovery Fitness - Spring Cleaning Day!
It's Spring cleaning season! ROCovery is going to get some freshening up for the warmer weather and we want your help. If you like cleaning, organizing, projects, community, and shenanigans then this will be the perfect afternoon for you.
Volunteer for a few hours and bring your friends along. There might even be impromptu dance parties and singing as we clean, oh yeah and snacks, we will have snacks!
Tasks include (but are not limited to)...
Dusting
Organizing equipment
Washing all things from the floor to the ceiling
Cleaning the little nooks and crannies of a historic fire house
Polishing windows
And so much more!
Only requirements for participation at ROCovery events are at least 48 hours of continuous sobriety and first time participants filling out our membership questionnaire here; https://www.rocoveryfitness.org/membership.html
Point in Time Count - Partners Ending Homelessness
The Point In Time (PIT) count brings funding to Monroe County by providing an accurate, reliable count and survey of unsheltered homeless people at a particular point in time. The snapshot gets reported to HUD, providing the ability to see our needs as a community and assess the population’s characteristics to fund best-practice interventions in response to those characteristics.
Volunteer Interest Meeting - 540 West Main
If you're looking for remote volunteer work with 540, this session is for you! We are always looking for dedicated community members to volunteer their time and energy to sustain our various community programs.
Currently, we are looking for individuals to help with remote data entry and computer-based admin tasks. In this 1-hour infosession, you'll have the opportunity to meet with the 540Team and learn more about how you can help.
Christmas Basket Delivery - Brighton Food Cupboard
Volunteers will pick up food baskets at: 220 Idlewood Road Door #16 Rochester, NY 14618. Delivery includes driving to locations around Monroe County. Upon signing up, you will receive further instructions.
*Baskets may weigh up to 40 lbs.
Christmas Toy Distribution - The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army Of Greater Rochester sets up a Toy Shop every holiday season. Volunteers are needed to help families who come in by touring them through the shop and helping them pick out toys.
Channukah Basket Delivery - Brighton Food Cupboard
Volunteers will pick up food baskets at: 220 Idlewood Road Door #16 Rochester, NY 14618. Delivery includes driving to locations around Monroe County. Upon signing up, you will receive further instructions.
*Baskets may weigh up to 40 lbs.
MobilePack 2022 - Feed My Starving Children
Feed My Starving Children MobilePack is back again (Dec 2 & 3), and this year we will surpass 2 MILLION meals packed at Lakeshore since we started partnering with FMSC!
Registration opens Sunday, October 23 at https://lakeshorechurch.org/fmsc. You can also sign up in person at Next Steps.
Thanksgiving Basket Delivery - Brighton Food Cupboard
Volunteers will pick up food baskets at: Temple B'rith Kodesh’ back parking lot (located at 2131 Elmwood Ave 14618). Delivery includes driving to locations around Monroe County. Upon signing up, you will receive further instructions.
*Baskets may weigh up to 40 lbs.
Thanksgiving Giveaway - Agape Haven of Abundance
Agape Haven of Abundance’s annual Thanksgiving giveaway provides community members with access to food for thanksgiving. The giveaway will consist of free turkeys and the all the fixings. We will need additional hands on deck to support us in this area.
Str(ON)ger (ON)tario 5k- The Community Support Center
If you're in the helping mood, we sure do need volunteers for our upcoming 5k: A Str(ON)ger (ON)tario!
Volunteers (anyone ages 12+) are needed who would be willing to help with 5k set up at 7am the day of, during the race, and for clean up after the race at 11:00 am.
Any and all help will be so very appreciated.
The link to sign up to volunteer is below. It contains further details and instructions on how to sign up.
Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10C0F4DA4AA23AAFDC43...
Family Volunteering Connection Event - Happy Birthday Cha Cha Cha
Give the gift of time by volunteering to wrap gifts, decorate cards, and stuff birthday bags. By supporting Happy Birthday Cha Cha Cha, you are helping to bring birthday joy to children in need across Rochester, Rome & Buffalo, NY School Districts.
Family friendly - all ages welcome! Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Only 15 people can sign up for each slot, so if bringing family members, be sure to sign them up too. Thank you!
Sign up for a shift here: tinyurl.com/PVFall2022
Book Festival - Rochester Area Children's Writers & Illustrators
Join as a volunteer where you will be a part of it all, interacting with both the authors and illustrators who bring the words to life, and with those who love and appreciate their creations.
Feed the Village, N. Clinton Edition - Community Justice Initiative
The Community Justice Initiative serves the streets every 2 weeks right on the block.
Please join in to volunteer!
2nd Annual Willow Way Summit Volunteers - Willow Domestic Violence Center
The 2nd Annual Willow Way Summit will be held Tuesday, October 25 starting at 9 a.m. at Temple Beth El. Volunteers needed to help with set up, clean up, tabling, serving, and other summit related tasks.