Volunteering Opportunities in and Around Boston This Season
Throughout the year, and especially during the holiday season, there are thousands of people in need throughout the Greater Boston area. Many organizations exist in and around the city that are critical to meeting these needs, and many of them are accepting volunteers.
Below is a list of organizations accepting help that you can volunteer with this holiday season and beyond.
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP)
You can volunteer at BHCHP by becoming a patient navigator escorting patients to outside appointments, assisting in the waiting room and reminding patients of their appointments, or becoming an AA/NA group assistant conducting support groups. Learn more and apply to volunteer here.
Rosie’s Place
Rosie’s Place was founded in 1974 as the first women’s shelter in the United States. This season, you can volunteer by hosting a holiday gift drive, sending holiday cards/gifts, honoring someone special, catering a meal, stocking their food pantry, showing your support with a digital fundraiser, creating care packages for guests, and/or making your own donation. Learn more here.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston
Boys and Girls Clubs of America empowers children to excel in school and lead healthy, productive lives. The Boston chapter has plenty of opportunities to help drive operations for BGCB. Learn more here.
Cradles to Crayons Boston
Cradles to Crayons provides essential items to children in need throughout the Boston area. Through the Giving Factory @ Home initiative, you can collect and sort donations from the comfort of your own home before returning them to the organization. Learn more about the Giving Factory @ Home here. If you’re interested in in-person volunteer opportunities at Cradles to Crayons, click here.
Greater Boston Food Bank
You can sort and distribute food through the GBFB through food pantries, community meal programs, and other food assistance providers through nine counties and 190 towns and cities throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Learn how to volunteer here.
MSPCA Boston
You can volunteer at the MSPCA in Boston by helping in an array of roles: advocacy/legislative affairs, daily hospital operations, or adoption center volunteering. Learn how to get involved here.
Salvation Army (Massachusetts)
You can volunteer in a variety of sectors across Massachusetts with the Salvation Army. Explore available state-wide volunteer opportunities at the Salvation Army volunteer portal here. You can also call 617-542-5420 to connect directly with the Boston Salvation Army Food Distribution Center and learn how you can help sort toys and deliver baskets.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is in urgent need of volunteers. Their most-needed positions include blood transportation specialists, blood donor ambassadors and disaster action team (DAT) members. Click here for more information.
Nearby homeless shelters or food banks
There are several homeless shelters, food pantries, food banks and soup kitchens in the Greater Boston area in need of volunteers. Click here to access a directory of organizations