Volunteer Opportunities

This year, United Way of Greater New Haven will be celebrating our very first Thriving Children Week! 

Beginning April 22nd, we will be hosting a slate of volunteer activities all themed around supporting children. Check out the full list of volunteer events.

We will also be hosting a Thriving Children Diaper Drive to support families across the state. All donations collected will be delivered to the Diaper Bank of Connecticut. This is a perfect opportunity to give back to your community and have a last impact in children's lives. 

• You can sign up to participate in a drive at your school, workplace, or with your family. 
• View our online registry to easily purchase gifts and have them delivered directly to United Way.

Lend a hand at the CT Diaper Bank on the first Tuesday of the month. 

Volunteers are needed to help sort, count, repackage, label, and box diapers and other hygiene products before they are distributed to families in need.

See the full list of dates and sign up today! 

As we begin the garden season, we are looking for volunteers to help us get our community gardens and farms ready for planting!

Volunteers are needed on:

• Saturday, May 9th: 10 AM - 11:30 AM at Davenport Community Garden (New Haven)
• Tuesday, May 26th: 9:30AM-11:30AM at Massaro Community Farm (Woodbridge)

Volunteers will be asked to do the following: 

• Clear and pull weeds
• Prepare garden beds for planting
• Trim greenery
• Be on your feet for an extended period of time
• Kneel and walk on uneven surfaces
• Pick up trash around the garden site

Sign up today!

United Way of Greater New Haven, in partnership with the Connecticut Foodshare, is managing a bi-weekly mobile pantry in Hamden. Volunteers will help set-up the food pantry, distribute food, and help with break down. This pantry is a rain or shine event!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LIST OF DATES.

In partnership with Farnam Neighborhood House and CT Foodshare, United Way of Greater New Haven will be hosting a bi-weekly mobile pantry for New Haven families! Volunteers will help set-up the food pantry, distribute food, and help with break down. This pantry is a rain or shine event!

Click here to see a complete list of dates and sign up!

Do you want to give back to your community, but don't have the time to dedicate to a volunteer event? 

You can support our Welcome Home Kit Program. All you have to do is gather household supplies for local families that are leaving homeless shelters and moving into permanent housing.

Help us support families in turning their new house into a home.

Learn More

Women United is committed to ensuring families have access to healthy food, women-led households are financially stable, and caregivers are supported in holding healthy relationships to give children a secure start in life. Our legacy partnership with Dr. Reginald Mayo Early Childhood School continues with a primary focus on building literacy skills for enrolled children and their families.

Click here to learn more about some of Women United's ongoing volunteer opportunities!

The City of New Haven will be hosting several cleanups to mark Earth Day 2026. 

Join your neighbors to clean up parks and public spaces this month! 

• Supplies (tools/gloves/bags) available for those who need them. 
• Volunteer certificates for students to gain community service hours.

Volunteers are needed on:

• Saturday April 18th
• Wednesday, April 22nd
• Saturday, April 25th
• Sunday, April 26th.

Sign up today!

For more information, contact: Killian Gruber, Coordinator of Resident Services: kgruber@newhavenct.gov

Family First Initiative is looking for volunteers for Family First Fest Make Music Day in West Haven on June 21 (1:00–8:30 PM at Old Grove Park).

Volunteers are needed to: setup and breakdown the event and support fun family activities. Flexible shifts available.

This is a great opportunity to support families, music, and community connection!

Register online using the Volunteer Sign-Up Form or contact Christopher Mercer (chris@familyfirstinitiative.org) for more information.

Interested in fighting food waste in our community? Join Haven’s Harvest for a rewarding volunteer opportunity in Orange, Connecticut!

Volunteers are needed to help bag and distribute 5,000 loaves of bread on Tuesday and Friday mornings. This rescued bread will go directly to support over 30 community organizations, ensuring that good food doesn’t go to waste and reaches those who need it most. Volunteers will help sort, bag, and load bread to ensure it gets out efficiently.

• Date/Time: Tuesdays and Fridays, 8 AM – 10 AM

• Location: Orange, CT

Learn more about this and other volunteer opportunities on the Haven's Harvest website.

For more information or to get started as a volunteer, contact Roberto: roberto@havensharvest.org

Volunteers are needed to support literacy and math tutoring during the academic school year. There is also a need for volunteers to help support community literacy & math events and to donate gently used books. Sign up to receive updates about volunteer opportunities and you can choose to volunteer for a specific youth organization or to be matched to a program with the greatest need for volunteers.

Sign up here: Volunteer Opportunities.

The Omega SDA Community Pantry is New Haven based food pantry that helps with providing food to families experiencing food insecurity within the Greater New Haven region and beyond every 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. Currently, volunteers are needed to support their food deliveries. Volunteers will help with unloading large food donations, placing them in storage and preparing them for the weekend distributions. Delivery shifts are Wednesday during the day. 

For more information, you contact:

Shifts are on Friday morning (8:30am – 11am) and Saturday morning (7am – 11am). Friday shifts are our delivery and packing days, whereas Saturday is our distribution day. If you are coming on Friday, please do not park in the back or the side of the church as these spots are reserved for delivery drivers.   

All volunteers should show up at the back door of the church at 57 Olive Street New Haven through the driveway on Chapel, where they will be greeted by a staff member who will review our volunteer expectations, and assign tasks. Volunteers should plan on staying for the entire shift that they sign up for, and should come dressed in clothing that is appropriate to work in, including closed toed shoes.

Sign up here.

Ushering

Ushers ensure that patrons are able to get to their seats quickly and safely. Ushers must be capable of climbing stairs, standing for a shift, and communicating with patrons. They are expected to stay for the entire concert and assist with general cleanup in the seating areas after patrons have departed (i.e. picking up playbills, loose papers, lost personal items should go to house manager, etc.).

Ticket Tearing

Ticket tearers help patrons into the venue and point them towards the right seating area. They also monitor doors for exits/ re-rentry during concerts. Ticket Tearers must be able to read tickets and be able to communicate with patrons. They are expected to stay at their position through intermission to assist latecomers & patrons re-entering the hall.

Office Volunteers

NHSO periodically needs volunteers to stuff envelopes, assist with instrument petting zoos, make phone calls, and perform other administrative duties.

Interested in Volunteering? Email Operations@NewHavenSymphony.org!

Yale New Haven Health at Home Hospice, a We Honor Veterans Certified Hospice Program, is seeking volunteers in a variety of areas, including, but not limited to:

• Patient Companions
• Family Caregiver respite
• Pet Therapy

Volunteers can also:

• Assist Veterans in reminiscing/telling life stories
• Educate & assist patients in receiving Veteran benefits
• Take part in pinning ceremonies or distribute certificates for Veteran’s Day and other Recognition events
• Assist in replacing lost medals

As a volunteer, you will receive:

• Free, mandatory training
• The support of a team
• Unlimited appreciation and gratitude

If you are interested in learning more about this rewarding experience, contact Ericka Copeland at 475-209-6170 or Ericka.Copeland@ynhh.org

Yale New Haven Health at Home, Hospice programs are expanding, and need your help. Volunteers are needed in a variety of areas, including:

• Complementary Therapies (Massage, Reiki, Reflexology)
• Pet Therapy
• Activities such as art and music
• Veteran to Veteran
• Patient Companions (companionship, errands, light housekeeping, Family Caregiver respite)

As a volunteer, you will receive:

• Free, mandatory training
• The support of a team
• Unlimited appreciation and gratitude

If you are interested in learning more about this rewarding experience, contact Ericka Copeland at 475-209-6170 or Ericka.Copeland@ynhh.org

The NICE Center is in need of volunteers to support their food pantry on the second Thursday of every month. If you would like to help out, text 203-410-8887 for more information. Spanish speaking volunteers are especially needed!