Local Volunteer Opportunities
To submit local volunteer opportunties for students please submit the information on the volunteer request form.
Queen City Hospice
Our mission is to provide the best hospice care in Cincinnati, Ohio. We are locally owned and operated, and have a passion for helping members of this amazing area. We believe that quality care is determined by the wishes and needs of patients and their families. This care includes our commitment to keeping our patients wherever they call home through their journey with us. To achieve this, we work to support not only our patients but the expert team serving them.
Volunteer tasks include: Sitting with patients, playing music for them, companionship
Dates: Any time that is available for the volunteer.
Contact: Karen Wittmer at karen.wittmer@queencityhospice.com
College Hill Academy
College Hill Academy is a elementary school within the Cincinnati Public school district, offering an Expeditionary Learning (EL) program that provides opportunities for students to gain skills and knowledge through real-world experiences rooted in rigorous project-based learning, field work and case studies. The EL program was selected by our school community because of its student-driven learning experiences, service focus, professional support and proven impact on academic success.
We are looking for volunteers to tutor different grade levels of students, ranging from Kindergarten through 6th grade in various subjects throughout the academic school year. Tutoring would take place on any given day between Monday through Thursday. Services will be scheduled during our hours of operation, 7:30 am - 2:30 pm.
Dates: Monday-Thursday October through April
Contact: Cortnee Smith -Resource Coordinator at smitcor@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Inner City Youth Opportunities
The mission of ICYO is to educate and mentor low income Cincinnati inner-city youth year - round by providing a safe environment and programs to prepare them for a successful future.
Afterschool Homework Assistance and Individual Academic Tutoring for our students in grades K - 12.
Dates: Mondays & Wednesdays: Grades K - 4, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Up to 8 volunteer tutors per day to assist with afterschool homework and extra academic tutoring for our students in grades K - 12
Dates: Mon. & Wed. for grades K - 4, 5:30 - 7:00 pm; Tues. & Thurs. for grades 5 - 12, 5:30-7:00 pm
Contact: Jeanne Bell at jeanne@icyocincinnati.org
Last Mile Food Rescue
Dates: Ongoing
Last Mile is a Greater Cincinnati food rescue organization on a mission to save good food and get it to those who need it most. We empower local change-makers like you to make a critical difference in the lives of our neighbors fighting food insecurity. By using the power of volunteers fueled by technology, we connect Food Donors with nonprofits who serve the region's food insecure, fighting food waste and helping to end the hunger that's closest to home.
We need volunteer drivers to pick up otherwise would-be-wasted food and deliver instead to non-profits serving the food insecure in Cincinnati. To get started, just download the app and claim a rescue near you! Most rescues take under 90 minutes. www.lastmilefood.org/volunteer
Contact: Olivia Cook at olivia@lastmilefood.org
Supports to Encourage Low-Income Families (SELF)
Dates: Everyday, 9am to 4pm
SELF's Mission: to enhance the quality of life for Butler County residents by impacting the causes of poverty and empowering individuals to achieve, sustain and advocate self-sufficiency.
SELF helps low-income Butler County homeowners with free home repairs and mobility modifications. We help senior citizens, people with disabilities and families with young children who were physically and financially unable to do the work themselves. We are seeking volunteers as we are a volunteer based program. We would love to work with college age students and staff members to help us meet our goals and work with our clients in Butler County.
Contact: Maria Lowry at mlowry@selfhelps.org
Price Hill Arts Connection
Dates: Week before, during, and after December 4th and 5th. Flexible times.
The Price Hill Arts Connection is a program of Price Hill Will, a 501c3 nonprofit. The purpose is to grow and share the arts community in Price Hill.
The 2nd annual "Holiday Glow Up" is a drive-through Christmas display at Dunham Recreation Center. It was very successful last year, as 300+ cars drove through. We need volunteers to: Set up Christmas lights the week before December 4th and 5th. Direct traffic and collect monetary donations during the event. Take down lights the week after the event.
Contact: Ben Klayer at benklayer@gmail.com
OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence
Dates: Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. We request volunteers to work a minimum 2 hour shift
OneSource Center is Greater Cincinnati s only nonprofit resource center providing services, products and connections to strengthen the impact of nonprofits in our region.
Treasure Hunter/Merchandise Assistant. Put your treasure hunting skills to good use and help our community in the process. We receive regular shipments from major national retail chains of merchandise that has been returned or discarded. Items need to be unloaded, sorted, organized and priced. Be surprised by what you find! Donated products are made available to nonprofits and their clients. Past shipments include electronics, office furniture & supplies, homeless shelter necessities and more.
Contact: Connie Hinitz, Manager, Volunteer Services at chinitz@onesourcecenter.org
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Date: Thursdays-Saturdays 10-1 or1-4, Sundays 12-4. After training you sign up for available shifts.
The Harriet Beecher Stowe House is a historic site located at Gilbert Ave. and MLK Drive. Our mission is to sustain the legacy of Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Beecher family home in Cincinnati, Ohio. We commit ourselves to: Facilitating historical exploration, Raising awareness and stirring passion for positive change, Supporting dialogue about social issues related to that legacy.
Are you a modern day abolitionist? Do you love to share your love of history. Become a volunteer tour guide at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. Use your own Power of Voice to share the stories of Harriet and her ongoing legacy. We will train you to be a docent, then you can decide on frequency. Shifts are typically 3-4 hours Thursday-Sunday. Free parking on site. You also have the opportunity to attend our lectures and discussion groups.
Contact: Christina Hartlieb at friends@stowehousecincy.org
YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
Date: August 18-August 22, times vary from 9 am to 8 pm
The Wellness Experience has partnered with the YMCA as the official Festival Volunteer Partner. Two days of live music, celebrity-led workouts and cooking demonstrations, mental wellness talks, beauty demonstrations, panel discussions, a food expo and family-friendly activities are coming to Cincinnati! More than 600 volunteers are needed to help make this festival a success. For more info: https://cincinnatiymca.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/696
Contact: Stephanie Togneri, volunteering@myy.org
Dress for Success Cincinnati
Date: Ongoing, M-Th 10am-5pm, select Saturdays
Dress for Success empowers women to change their lives by providing, free of charge, work appropriate attire as well as career coaching.
We are in need of volunteer donation sorters and client stylists
Contact: Courtney Shannon, Volunteer Manager, cshannon@dfscincy.org
Louie's Legacy Animal Rescue
Date: Ongoing
Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue is one of the nation’s largest foster based animal rescue organizations, with major bases of operation in both Ohio and New York City, serving a large section of the midwest and northeast. As a professional 501c3 rescue organization we collaborate with volunteers, fosters, animal welfare partners, and shelters to rescue animals in need and place them in our temporary foster care. We place a high priority on the quality of care, including both medical and behavioral support, for all of our animals. We also value and honor the contributions of the hundreds of wonderful people and organizations who support Louie’s Legacy in our lifesaving work.
We offer the following opportunities:
1) Medical Volunteer - Assisting with caring for our animals (primarily dogs and cats) from intake to final adoption. You would ultimately report to our Intake and Medical Manager. Since we are not shelter-based, the locations would vary. We ask that you volunteer 1-2 hours per day as needed.
2) Photographer - Take pictures of pets and edit them on your schedule to expedite their adoptions. You would do so at various locations.
3) Transport Volunteer - Using your own vehicle, you would transport animals and pet-related supplies. The hours would vary depending on the length of travel.
4) Donor research - Help us to maintain information about donors on our new fundraising database. You would work remotely. We prefer someone who is familiar with Excel and/or Google Docs.
Contact: Michael Schaefer
Natural Resource Defense Council
Date: Ongoing
The Natural Resources Defense Council's "Stop Flushing Our Forests" campaign is looking for motivated students to help us protect our forests. In 2019. our toilet paper shouldn't worsen the climate crisis and destroy pristine forests. We're calling on Procter & Gamble to stop the tree-to-toilet pipeline by making Charmin toilet paper with recycled and alternative materials instead of 100% forest fiber. Over the next several weeks, we will be organizing campus events, working with the media, collecting petition signatures, and building a broad coalition of campus groups to protect our forests.
Contact:
Civic Garden Center
Date: Ongoing
Forest Restoration (Treeforestation) - Volunteers will work with the CGC's volunteer coordinator to restore local Cincinnati forest ecosystems by removing invasive plants and vines, replanting native plants and trees, and building trails. Each workday is different depending on the time of year and the site location. While this work can be physically demanding, it is meant to be educational with the hope volunteers learn the wide range of ecological threats facing our local forests and how they can take action.
OR
Community Garden Workday - Spend a few hours working on one of Cincinnati's local community gardens. Under the direction of the Garden Coordinator, volunteers will be asked to weed, plant, move mulch, harvest, mend fencing, or address any other needs the garden has.
Contact:
https://www.civicgardencenter.org/
volunteer@civicgardencenter.org
Save The Animals Foundation (STAF)
Date: Ongoing
Looking for volunteers to work with our dogs throughout the week, and especially on Wednesday morning, though participation on any day would be most appreciated. We house approximately 50 dogs. Volunteers learn to feed, walk, play with the dogs and clean kennel areas. Available shifts typically begin a little before 7am for the morning and 5pm for the evening. Shifts are typically 5 hours long, but many volunteers come for 2 or 3 hours as their schedules allow. No experience is necessary, but willingness to learn and desire to work with dogs in a positive and supportive environment is required.
Contact:
www.staf.org
hausmanlouise@gmail.com
CABVI (Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired)
Date: Ongoing
CABVI offers several ongoing opportunities for you to share your time and talents.
Broadcast volunteers come to our studios at CABVI and read print material that is transmitted through a radio receiver. Volunteers may read local and national newspapers, grocery ads, and magazines. Readers provide vital information to our listeners they would not be able to access.
The Personalized Talking Print program is an opportunity to volunteer from home. Our volunteers read print material such as newspapers, grocery ads, and magazines into a voicemail system and listeners can call and retrieve it at their convenience.
One On One volunteers are matched with individual clients and read print materials in their home. Some volunteers provide transportation and shopping assistance at the grocery store.
Contact:
www.cincyblind.org
jennifer.holladay@cincyblind.org
MYCincinnati
Date: Ongoing Monday-Thursday; 6-7PM
A free, after school orchestra program for youth living in Price Hill; we are part of the Community Development Corporation called Price Hill Will. MYCincinnati has a free Homework Tutoring program and we are currently seeking volunteer Homework Tutors to come in once a week to work on homework and reading skills with our students.
Contact:
https://www.mycincinnatiorchestra.org/
annie@pricehillwill.org
Inner City Youth Opportunities
Date: Ongoing; Once a week Mon - Thurs 5:30 - 7:15 (Biggest need Tuesday/Thurs)
ICYO Volunteer Opportunities:
1. After School Homework Assistance & Academic Tutoring (Reading, Reading Comprehension, Language Arts, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Computer Research Skills)
2.Saturday field trip chaperone volunteers
3.Cooking Classes
4.Financial Literacy Education for Grades 9 - 12
Contact:
icyocincinnati.org
Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI)
Date: Ongoing
We have various volunteer opportunities such as reading newspapers, magazines, store ads, etc. for our Radio Reading Services; reading magazines, newspapers, etc. into a phone system for our clients to listen to 24/7 through our voicemail system and volunteering one on one for our clients by reading their mail, helping them to get organized, etc.
Contact:
jennifer.holladay@cincyblind.org
The Institute of Youth Development and Excellence
Date: Ongoing
The Institute of Youth Development and Excellence is a mentoring organization that supports youth in the community to be the very best version of themselves. We strive to do this by recruiting and training mentors to be paired with a mentee in the community. By combining the best of mentoring, character development, individual and group activities, we help rebuild relevance in the lives of the youth.
Contact:
martinez13mari@gmail.com
St. Margaret Hall
St. Margaret Hall has been in Cincinnati since 1963 and provides three levels of care for the Aged & Infirm. Long and short term care. WE are guided by our Mission to the elderly as well as our core values of Hospitality, compassion, the sanctity of life and shared commitment.
Date: Ongoing
Assisting in Activities which deals directly with individual Residents and may consist of taking Resident to and from various group Activities. May be assisting in a craft, game or other project related to the needs of the Resident.
Gifted artists, musicians, and other talents can be used as well. It may be visiting a person and being a friend.
Contact:
https://www.stmargarethall.com
sreulaliae@stmargarethall.com
Bethany House Services
Bethany House Services empowers homeless and at-risk families with solutions to achieve housing stability and long-term self-sufficiency.
Date: Ongoing
Child Care is Monday through Thursday from 6:30-8:15 P.M. at our main Fairmount shelter located at 1836 Fairmount and Bond Hill location at 1629 Joseph Street. While parents are attending classes in the evening, we need volunteers to provide childcare. During your visit to Bethany House, childcare provides you time to build a connection and relationship with the children who are staying in our shelters. Our moms who are at the shelter are in life skill classes during this time, thus, we need individuals to come and interact/play with our guests.
Contact:
gwoolley@bhsinc.org
https://bethanyhouseservices.org/mission-vision-values/
Lighthouse Youth & Family Services
The mission of Lighthouse Youth & Family Services is to empower young people and families to succeed through a continuum of care that promotes healing and growth. The agency provides early childhood services; behavioral health and psychiatric services; home-based services to families; services to youth engaged with the juvenile justice system; community residential treatment facilities; foster care and adoption; independent living services; and opportunities through education.
Date: Ongoing
Our Street Outreach Team helps runaway and homeless youth find safety and stability by connecting them to basic needs supplies and resources. You will accompany staff as they talk to youth on the streets; distributing food, hygiene supplies, and harm reduction supplies. Your primary responsibility will be to support staff on outreach. Street outreach breaks with tradition by taking services to youth, rather than expecting them to come to the organization.
Volunteers must be 18 or older and commit to volunteering at least six months.
Contact:
tbarnard@lys.org
Cincinnati Art Museum
Date: Ongoing Tuesday- Sunday
Volunteers are needed to collect visitor feedback regarding their overall art museum experience, gallery visits, and other art museum special programs.
Contact:
https://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/visit/
kate.law@cincyart.org