Volunteer Opportunities
Matthew 25 Ministries
Volunteers play an essential role in this work. The donated goods we receive must be sorted, counted, packaged, and put on pallets ready for shipment to various parts of the world. There is a job for everyone!
Warehouse hours: Monday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm, Saturday 9 am – 3 pm, Closed Sundays
Volunteer Guidelines: Individuals may come to volunteer without an appointment any weekday between 9 am and 4 pm. In order to ensure the best volunteer experience for everyone, Saturday groups are scheduled in two-hour increments from 9 am – 11 am or 11 am – 1 pm. Walk-in volunteers are encouraged to come between 1 pm – 3 pm. We are closed on Sundays and some holiday weekends, so please check our website or call ahead to confirm our hours.
Groups of 4 or more must schedule their visit ahead of time. Please contact Anita Bowman to schedule a weekday volunteer group or contact Shelly Clos to schedule a Saturday volunteer group. Please do not consider your group officially scheduled until you receive personal confirmation from a volunteer coordinator.
Volunteer guidelines for children: There are many jobs in the warehouse that children of all ages can do. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Children are welcome under the following guidelines:
Children under 8: 1 adult for every child
Children 9-11: 1 adult for every 2 children
Children 12-16: 1 adult for every 3 children
16 & over: may work alone, but if in groups of more than 5 an adult must be present
Contact information:
Anita Bowman: anita@m25m.org
Weekday Volunteer Coordinator
Shelly Clos: shelly@m25m.org
Saturday Volunteer Coordinator
Please call us at 513-793-6256 to schedule your volunteer opportunity or visit our website at www.m25m.org for more information. Our address is: 11060 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.
Fairfield Community Connection Group
Help needed to update & repair broken links on the website. Also, help to coordinate oral history project.
Fairfield Community Connection Group is a collaboration of community stakeholders finding, researching, and developing solutions for the community needs for families, youth, and senior citizens in Fairfield and Fairfield Township. We need volunteer help to continue several projects. If interested, contact Howard Dirksen, Community Connection Group founder, and chairperson, at hdirksen@earthlink.net for more information
Need a person with WordPress web experience to update and fix broken links on existing websites that were developed for a Community Connection Group youth project. The site, www.teenplace,org, was developed to help students grow in developmental assets, perform better in school, and be more active in participation in school, church, and community. The interested web volunteer will communicate with the project director and be given new, needed, and important links to add to sites.
The Fairfield Community Connection group created an Oral History project to record and honor the information and experiences that Senior Citizens of Fairfield had and knew about the early days of Fairfield. Unique to this project was the intergenerational connection of high school students interviewing those senior citizens. So far we have digitally recorded about 20 of our seniors who had a significant role in the early days of Fairfield. This project is done is a collaboration with the Fairfield Lane Library. Interested persons who would want to help coordinate this project should have some connection to high school students and some knowledge of senior citizens who have an important story to tell.
Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Butler County
Be someone who matters to someone who matters. Adult mentors needed.
January is National Mentoring Month and our message this year is simple: be someone who matters to someone who matters. Spending one hour each week, whether it’s helping with homework, playing games, or just hanging out, helps a young person know he or she matters. We are currently looking for adult mentors for 150+ children on our waiting list.
Contact: Alicia Schwarm at 513-867-1227 or email her at alicia.schwarm@bbbsbutler.org to find out more. We also encourage you to visit our webpage www.bbbsbutler.organd like us on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/bigbrothersbigsistersbutlercounty
Shared Harvest Food Bank
Helping hands needed with several programs. We could use a hand with a few projects. They are in slots between 9-12 and 12-3 Monday through Friday.
Back Pack Program: provides nutritious, easy to prepare food to elementary students who are identified by school staff as being chronically hungry, to eat on weekends when other resources may not be available. This program was developed to meet basic needs of children who have been identified by school staff as being in a household that experiences food insecurity which contributes to behavior, attendance, and academic problems in the classroom.
The job description is to pack 11+ food items in a grocery bag and/or box packed bags in preparation for weekly orders. Volunteers must wear closed comfortable shoes and dress appropriate for moderate temperature control. Volunteers should be able to stand for long periods of time and lift up to 35 pounds.
Retail Rescue Program: rescues perishable, center of the plate, foods from retail grocers utilizing a food safety protocol developed by Kroger.
The job description is to perform quality checks on donated food and package variety boxes. A knowledgeable staff person will review the process of checking each donated food item for quality (date stamp and physical condition). Volunteers must be attentive to the given direction, wear closed comfortable shoes, and dress for moderate temperature control. Volunteers should be able to stand for long periods of time and lift up to 35 pounds repeatedly. Also, volunteers may want to bring work gloves for handling frozen foods.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program: is a federally funded nutrition program that provides a monthly allotment of 35 pounds of nutritious supplemental food for persons who are over 60 years old and whose income is at or below 130% of the poverty level. We distribute an average of 1,900 boxes each month containing 21 to 25 food items. This project’s average recipient is 73 years old and tries to live on $800 a month. They depend on this box of food to help them afford to live independently and with dignity.
The job description is to assemble boxes with 21+ food items in preparation for monthly orders. Volunteers must be attentive to the given direction, wear closed comfortable shoes, and dress appropriately for the day’s weather as they will be working in a warehouse with only moderate temperature control. Volunteers should be able to stand for long periods of time and lift up to 45 pounds repeatedly. Program months/hours: year-round.
Contact: Benjamin E. Powers, Volunteer Coordinator & BackPack Program Facilitator at 513-874-0114 or email at ben@sharedharvest.org.
Caring Partners International, Franklin
Medical volunteers needed. Medical professionals, from every background, are invited to volunteer their skill and knowledge during three regularly scheduled days each month as follows:
- the first Saturday of every month, from 10 am – 12 pm (also designated Family Day)
- the third Tuesday of every month, from 10 am – 12 pm
- the fourth Thursday of every month, from 6 pm – 8 pm
If you are not able to volunteer for the entire time, please feel free to come for as long as you can. During the winter months, our warehouse is a bit chilly. Please dress accordingly.
Contact: Call Jim at the CPI office at 937-743-2744 or email at j.kuhn@caringpartners.org. Our address is: 601 Shotwell Drive, Franklin, Ohio. In order to prepare our activities, it would be great if you could RSVP to let us know if you will be participating on any of these days.
American Red Cross, Butler County
Drivers for the American Red Cross Butler County Transportation Program.
YOU are the key to our success! We understand the necessity of transportation for people to medical appointments. We know that Red Cross Transportation Services is more than just a ride. This door-to-door service is specifically designed to provide affordable means of transportation, allowing individuals to lead a more fulfilling, self-sufficient lifestyle. This Red Cross program provides non-emergency medical transportation to individuals living in the cities of Middletown, Monroe, Trenton, and the townships of Madison and Lemon. Volunteer hours are flexible. You determine the day. We provide the automobile.
Contact: Christine Birhanzl at christine.birhanzl@redcross.org or call at 513-532-4930 or 513-240-7004.
Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Game On – Make a difference and volunteer at Game Night. You can help teens with disabilities learn social interaction skills and how to have fun playing games with new people. Game nights are scheduled from 4:00 – 6:00 pm on March 4th, April 1st, May 6th, June 3rd, July 1st, August 5th, September 2nd, October 7th, November 4th, and December 2nd. Sign up for as many as you want. You can also donate gently used games to families.
Contact: Scott Osterfeld at 513-785-2813 or email him at sdosterfeld@butlerdd.org.
PARACHUTE: Butler County CASA
You can make a difference in the life of a child with only about 8 hours a month of your time. Become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer to speak up for an abused child. Be that child’s voice in court!
Parachute: is a non-profit agency that recruits, trains, and supervises community members over the age of 21 to be CASAs. CASA training is required and is provided free of charge. Training is 30 hours and after successful completion of the training, a person is sworn in by a judge to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate. A CASA volunteer is assigned as an advocate for an abused or neglected child, ages birth – 18. Volunteer service is flexible and set up by the CASA volunteer. Children who are assigned to a CASA volunteer live in all parts of Butler County. CASA volunteer service takes about 8 hours a month. The purpose is to make sure the child is safe from further harm, to make sure the child ends up in a safe, permanent and loving home, and to make recommendations to the court regarding what’s in the child’s best interest.
Contact: Call 513-867-5010 or email casa@parachutecasa.org or visit our website at www.parachutecasa.org.
Supports To Encourage Low-Income Families (SELF)
This organization provides volunteer-driven, free home repairs and mobility improvements for more than 80 low-income homeowners throughout Butler County each year. The homeowners are senior citizens, people with disabilities, and families with young children who are both physically and financially unable to make the repairs themselves.
SELF is looking for volunteers of all ages and skill levels to help us transform homes and beautify neighborhoods. Volunteers are needed to help with interior home repairs. SELF hosts Second Saturday volunteer opportunities year-round as well as volunteer crews who work on jobs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 am – 3 pm.
SELF is also recruiting volunteers to serve on the Home Repair Coalition that will plan the Hamilton Group Workcamp Blitz Week this summer, where more than 50 volunteers will complete work on 50 homes!
Contact: Lauren Hall at 513-868-9300, extension 209 or email at lhall@selfhelps.org.
Fort Hamilton Hospital
Information desk & Concierge Volunteers can put their friendly personalities and warm smiles to good use as they are often the first faces our patients and visitors see when walking through the front door. These volunteers typically assist with questions, directions, and other queries and will kindly provide appropriate information while maintaining confidentiality and a professional attitude. Positions are available Monday through Friday, afternoons and evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons at the Main and North Wing Information Desks.
Gift Shop Volunteers at The Wishing Well Gift Shop have the opportunity to cheerfully interact with the public. This group of volunteers is part of the Auxiliary of Fort Hamilton Hospital, a service and fund development group within Volunteer Services. These volunteers provide friendly customer service to support the profitable operation of The Wishing Well. All proceeds from The Wishing Well are invested back into Fort Hamilton to fund various projects and improvements. Shifts are available all day Monday through Friday, as well as Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Evening volunteers are needed the most!
Contact: Mollie Young, Manager of Volunteer Services, at 513-887-2281. You may also apply to volunteer online at:
www.ketteringhealth.org/forthamilton.
St. Raphael
Provides crisis intervention services to individuals and families. The following volunteer opportunities are available from 11 am – 2 pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Food Choice Pantry: assist clients with selections.
Lunch Window: prepare sandwiches and lunch bags to pass out at the back window.
Intake Screening: basic eligibility screening and gathering information for data entry.
Clinic: clerical support, hours and days will vary. This may include: faxing, filing, general clerical duties, verifying client eligibility for assistance with medication costs, assisting patients with pharmacy applications, front desk support, greeting clients, answering and directing calls, check-in patients for their appointments.
Contact: B. Gail Emmons, Volunteer Coordinator, St. Raphael, 610 High Street, Hamilton, Ohio. You may call her at
513-981-4211 or email at bgemmons@health-partners.org.
Hamilton City School District
Looking for adults to help 1st, 2nd, & 3rd grade students strengthen their reading skills. Volunteers will be trained on how to work with students. Spend 30 minutes a week with one child to make a difference in the child’s reading abilities. Ideally, we would like volunteers to commit for two hours per week to work with four students.
Contact: Joni Copas, Director of Communications, at 513-868-4438 or email at jcopas@hcsdoh.org.
YWCA of Hamilton
The YWCA Hamilton Literacy Program needs volunteers to help tutor in after school programs for children. There is some training required. We are always in need of volunteers to help teach adults to read, Each One Teach One.
We also need volunteers to help with our computer program. We provide classes in Word, Internet, Email, and Basics. Volunteers need to be experienced in those programs in order to assist students during classes. There is a teacher.
We also have open labs and need volunteers to assist the instructor and students with questions they may have. Classes and labs are offered during the day.
Contact: Nancy Schwab at 513-856-9800 or email at nschwab@ywcahamilton.com.
Mercy Health St. Raphael Volunteer Clinic
St. Raphael’s Volunteer Clinic wants you to join our team of volunteers. We need volunteers to:
- greet clients
- answer and direct calls
- verify eligibility by interviewing patient and collecting medical history
- check-in patients for their appointments
- data entry
- perform preliminary blood pressure and weight check
- assist patients to complete pharmacy assistance applications
Medical professionals are needed as well as non-medical volunteers. We can accommodate almost any schedule. Monday – Friday, the days and hours for the clinic vary weekly.
Contact: B. Gail Emmons, Volunteer Coordinator, St. Raphael, 610 High Street, Hamilton, Ohio. You may call her at
513-981-4211 or email at bgemmons@health-partners.org.
Animal Friends Humane Society
Volunteers can help on their own time with NO SCHEDULE. Come out once a month, a week, etc. The more you help the better! We ask that you commit to a minimum of 4 hours per month. After being oriented, simply show up during our volunteer hours and make a difference in the lives of hundreds of animals! Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and attend training/orientation session. No exceptions to the age requirement. We do not allow children to assist parents with volunteer activities. Please print and bring volunteer application with you from www.animalfriendshs.org.
We are currently seeking:
Dog walkers: daily exercise and attention for dogs. This also encourages dogs to go potty outside.
Cat lovers: holding and brushing cats and kittens.
Dog Bathers: baths for certain dogs so they can be clean and comfortable while waiting for their forever home.
Pet Mobile: going out into the community with pet adoption trailer to public places to do pet adoptions.
Fostering: loving homes to care for cats/kittens and dogs/puppies until they are ready to be adopted.
Office workers: assist the front office with customer service and answering phones.
Transport: help take animals to adoption centers, Pet Smart, and veterinary clinics.
Clinic: help in our spay/neuter clinic.
Contact: Call our volunteer connection at 513-867-5727 to hear a recording of upcoming orientations. All sessions held
at the shelter at 1820 Princeton Road, Hamilton, Ohio.
Hospice of Hamilton
Provides compassionate care to those nearing the end of life and offers support to their loved ones. If you are at least 16 years of age and interested in providing physical and emotional help in ways that affirms life and supports choices in an environment of dignity and respect and you are willing to commit to two hours once a week for a year, then we would like to help train and qualify you to volunteer at HOH. Hospice of Hamilton has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities such as:
Home Care: volunteers help families with the day-to-day demands of caring for their loved ones by providing companionship, running errands, and giving caregivers respite.
Long Term Care: volunteers provide companionship and emotional support to patients in long term care and nursing facilities throughout our area.
In-Patient Care: volunteers assist with patient care, support patients and families, prepare and serve meals, and provide a warm and welcoming environment to all guests and visitors.
Friendly Visitor/Bedside Support: volunteers support the family and the patient simply by being present and available to assist with questions, special requests, and other support as necessary.
Vigil Volunteers: volunteers assist the patient and family when the patient is apprehensive, lonely, or just in need of the presence of a caring volunteer in inpatient and long term care facilities.
Holistic Care: under the guidance of our holistic staff, volunteer therapists and practitioners provide art, music, reiki, massage, healing touch, and pet therapy.
Bereavement: under the guidance of the Bereavement Coordinator, volunteers offer telephone support and encouragement to patients’ families during the year.
Community Outreach: working in partnership with the Marketing Department, volunteers help to provide information, heighten awareness of hospice care, and represent Hospice of Cincinnati and Hamilton at community events.
Teen Volunteers: younger volunteers typically assist with special projects and miscellaneous assignments at our inpatient care centers.
Clerical Work, Fund Raising, & Special Assignments: volunteers provide clerical support to various departments at Hospice of Cincinnati and Hamilton. They also provide support for fund-raising events and special assignments.
Multi-Purpose (Flex) Volunteering: these volunteers enjoy the variety associated with using their talents in more than one of the areas described above or are willing to contribute their time wherever the need is greatest on a given day.
Contact: Call 513-246-9168 or visit the website at www.hospiceofhamilton.org.