There are tons of opportunities in the Tallahassee/Leon County area for people of all ages, backgrounds and interests to volunteer their time and talents to benefit our local community. Whether you're interested in helping children learn to read, cleaning up our environment, bringing joy to the elderly, tutoring a struggling student, caring for homeless animals, and so much more...there's sure to be a local organization eager to put your generosity and efforts to good use. Non-profit organizations are always delighted to receive financial contributions, but the survival of many depends largely on a strong and committed corps of volunteers. Training can range from extensive and technical, to simple/on-the-job, to none at all. Refer to the website of your organization of choice for training requirements, background checks and specific needs. Check out the ongoing opportunities below, and feel free to add to the list so we never run out of volunteer work in our town!
Boredom kills. Too much tedium can increase health dangers such as smoking and drinking too much. It can shorten your life span. So - volunteer, pursue artistic endeavors, turn off the tv, disconnect the cell phone, and take a class, engage in lively discussions, build trails, help a struggling student. Volunteers who tutored struggling students in reading and math improved brain plasticity and delayed adage- related neurological decline, according to a John Hopkins University study. Did you know that people who volunteer are 42 percent happier than those that don't? People who volunteer tend to experience fewer aches and pains. Ever heard of the Helper's High?
It has been widely studied and proven that volunteering time, talent and treasure affects our brain chemistry. People who volunteer often report feelings of euphoria, which psychologists have referred to as the "Helper's High".
*Need more rows or columns in this chart? Right click the table in edit mode. It lets you insert them anywhere, and you can even keep the list in alphabetical order!
| http://www.211bigbend.org/volunteer | crisis hotline counseling and referrals | |
| Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park | http://www.floridastateparks.org/maclaygardens/default.cfm |
greet visitors, conduct tours, assist with special events, help rangers maintain park |
| Alzheimer's Project of Tallahassee | http://www.alzheimersproject.org/VolunteerInformation.html |
in-home or facility-based respite care to allow caregivers a break, office work |
| America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend | http://www.fightinghunger.org/How-to-Help/Volunteer |
food delivery drivers, sort frozen meat donation in cooler, truck maintenance |
| American Cancer Society, Leon County | http://www.cancer.org/Involved/Volunteer/index?ssSourceSiteId=null | community education, direct assistance to patients/families, event planning, office work |
| http://www.lung.org/associations/states/florida/ |
community education, medical expertise, event planning, office work, fundraising |
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| American Red Cross, Capital Area Chapter | http://www.tallyredcross.org/volunteer/ | community education, disaster recovery, emergency services, events, fundraising, youth outreach, office work |
| Area Agency on Aging for North Florida | http://www.aaanf.org/howyoucanhelp.html | assist with health insurance questions/claims/paperwork, meal delivery, home visits/repairs/cleaning |
| Big Bend Cares | http://www.bigbendcares.org/volunteer.shtml |
social services, community education, event planning, speakers bureau, office work |
| Big Bend Homeless Coalition | http://www.bigbendhc.org/volemploy.htm | food preparation, conducting workshops, general maintenance, children's activities, office work, events, donations drive |
| Big Bend Hospice | http://www.bigbendhospice.org/career.html |
patient care/support, special projects, events, fundraising |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend | http://www.BigBrothers-BigSisters.org |
mentoring children in schools or within community |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend | http://www.bgcbb.org/make-a-difference/volunteer/ | homework-helpers, one-on-one mentors, special-topic instructors, office work |
| Boys Town of North Florida | http://www.boystown.org/get-involved | |
| http://www.capitalareahealthystart.org/how-you-can-help |
mentor girls, event planning, community education |
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| Capital City Youth Services | http://www.ccys.org/give2.html |
mentoring troubled youth, fundraising events, teaching crafts/instrument/etc., office work |
| Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida | http://ccnwfl.org/volunteer/ | disaster relief/recovery, infant foster care, transportation, office work, food distribution, maintenance, landscaping, events |
| Children's Home Society of Florida | http://www.chsfl.org/page.aspx?pid=450 |
mentoring teens, tutoring youth, event planning, community awareness |
| Companion Animal Rescue Endeavor (CARE) | http://www.careintallahassee.org | assist with puppy training and special events to help rescue animals find forever homes |
| Daymayan Garden Project | http://www.damayan.org/getinvolved/ |
assistance with events in gardens |
| Dick Howser Center for Childhood Services | http://www.goodwillbigbend.com/dick-howser-center/ways-to-give/ | |
| Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend | http://www.elcbigbend.org/Get-Involved/Volunteer | literacy education, celebrity readers, preschool helper, teacher resource development, childcare center makeovers, office work |
| http://www.echotally.org/how-can-i-help/ |
warehouse intake and sorting of items for distribution |
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| Elder Care Services | http://www.ecsbigbend.org/index.php/help/volunteer | meal delivery, transportation, elder day stay, events, emergency assistance, phone call check-ins, foster grandparents |
| First Presbyterian Preschool | http://firstprespreschool.net/volunteer-information.html |
assist teachers in classroom |
| Florida Baptist Children's Homes | http://www.fbchomes.org/volunteers |
tutor/mentor children, grounds keeper/maintenance, office work, events, conduct classes/activities |
| Florida Operation Lifesaver: Rail Safety Education | http://www.floridaol.org/VolunteerPage.html | assist at fairs/events, secure presentation locations, research legislative issues, conduct presentations |
| Friends of Wakulla Springs | http://wakullasprings.org/membership.html |
outreach, resource management, events, fundraising, tours, maintenance |
| FSU Child Development Programs | http://www.childcare.fsu.edu/For-Volunteers |
assist teachers in classrooms with children from birth to kindergarten |
| FSU Museum of Fine Arts | http://mofa.cvatd.fsu.edu/participate/volunteer/ | research, tours, outreach to schools/retirement communities, office work, assist with preparation for exhibitions |
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FSU Student Disability Resource Center
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http://www.disabilitycenter.fsu.edu/working.html | take notes in classroom, read tests for students, read textbooks on tape, pick up/return tests, proof-read papers, tutor students, assist students in computer lab/with research, office work |
| Girl Scouts of the Florida Panhandle | http://www.gscfp.org/volunteers.html | troop leader/co-Leader/advisor/committee member, events/projects, fundraising, cookie manager |
| Goodwill | http://www.goodwillbigbend.org/americorps/ | Teach Classes; Help develop online curriculum; Use the skills you already have to be a Subject Matter Expert and help others learn. Exciting opportunities for individuals wanting to use what they know while learning more! Apply today. |
| Goodwood Museum & Gardens | http://www.goodwoodmuseum.org/volunteer.php |
garden work, museum docent, greeter |
| Guardian Ad Litem Program | http://www.guardianadlitem.org/vol_main.asp | advocate for neglected/abused/abandoned children in the legal system (no legal experience necessary) |
| Gulf Winds Track Club | http://gulfwinds.org/Spotlight/Volunteer%20Section.asp |
registration, water stops, timing, finish line, post-race refreshments, scoring races |
| Hands & Hearts for Horses | http://www.handsandheartsforhorses.com/Content/Default/64/6/0/get-involved/get-involved.html |
assist with therapeutic riding sessions |
| It's Meow or Never for Ferals | http://www.itsmeowornever.com/Pages/Volunteer.aspx |
assist organization with no-kill solutions to stray cat overpopulation |
| Keep Tallahassee-Leon County Beautiful | http://www.ktlcb.com/?M1=Volunteer | |
| Kids Incorporated of the Big Bend | http://www.kidsincorporated.org/volunteer.html | special projects/events, playscapes/gardening, school readiness, office work, fundraising, outreach |
| LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts | http://lemoyne.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=213 | events. education, outreach, sculpture garden, office work |
| Legal Services of North Florida | http://www.lsnf.org/ | legal, family mediation, phone hotline, consulting, research, developing brochures/forms, community education |
| Leon County Schools | http://www.leon.k12.fl.us/newLCShomeFiles/resourcesCommunity.html | tutor students, assist in classroom/office/clinic/media center (contact specific school) |
| Literacy Volunteers of Leon County | http://www.literacyvolunteersleon.org/LVLC/volunteer.html | adult reading tutors, office work, fundraising |
| Magnolia School | http://themagnoliaschool.net/ | |
| Muscular Dystrophy Association |
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Administrative help, office work |
| Museum of Florida History | http://www.museumoffloridahistory.com/support/volunteer.cfm |
visitor services, docent, researcher, events, collections assistance, design/fabrication, office work |
| Oasis Center for Women and Girls | http://www.theoasiscenter.net/7.html |
babysitting during groups/camps, group facilitation, classroom presentations, event planning |
| Planned Parenthood of North Florida | http://www.plannedparenthood.org/north-florida/ |
advocacy, community education, fundraising, office work |
| Tallahassee-Leon County Animal Service Center | http://www.talgov.com/animals/volunteer.cfm |
animal care/companionship, photography, greeter, outreach, events, office work |
| Tallahassee Memorial Animal Therapy | http://www.tmh.org/VolunteerAnimalTherapy |
visit long-term care facilities, ALFs, hospitals, rehab. centers, schools, hospices, etc. with well-trained pet |
| Village Square, The | http://tothevillagesquare.org/volunteer/ |
event coordination/assistance, run livestream video and audio at events, web-based issues writing |
| Bicycle House | bicyclehouse.org | help provide people with affordable transportation! |
*Need more rows or columns in this chart? Right click the table in edit mode. It lets you insert them anywhere, and you can even keep the list in alphabetical order!
