Volunteer Opportunities

Your time can make a big difference in our community.

If you are interested and able to volunteer, please contact each organization directly to learn about their specific needs and opportunities to help.

VOLUNTEER SAFETY

All volunteers should exercise appropriate precautions given their individual circumstances and follow the guidance of public health officials on how to stay safe. If you would like more information, you can visit the CDC website.

United Way of Greater New Haven Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer and help get groceries out to New Haven Public School families this winter break! We need your help to pack groceries and hand them out to families across four different New Haven neighborhoods.

Sites Include:

Wednesday, 12/27 | 9 AM - 11:30 AM | New Haven
Grocery Bag Packing Shift #1

Wednesday, 12/27 | 11:30 AM - 2:15 PM | New Haven
Grocery Bag Packing Shift #2

Wednesday, 12/27 | 2:45 PM - 5:30 PM | New Haven
Truman School
Spanish-speakers needed!

Wednesday, 12/27 | 2:45 PM - 5:30 PM | New Haven
John Martinez School
Spanish-speakers needed!

Wednesday, 12/27 | 2:45 PM - 5:30 PM | New Haven
Lincoln-Bassett School
Spanish-speakers needed!

Tuesday, 12/27 | 2:45 PM - 5:30 PM | New Haven
West Hills Community Center (The Shack)

This event is being held in partnership with CFAN, CT Foodshare, Loaves and Fishes, NICE, Cathedral of Higher Praise, Beulah Heights Church, West Hills Community Center/The Shack, and NHPS.

 

Lend a hand by organizing by helping the Diaper Bank repackage diapers and other hygiene products! Volunteers are needed to help sort, count, repackage, label, and box products.

Click here to see a complete list of dates for 2024!

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! Sign-up today and help increase access to food!

Sign up for one of the dates below and help get food into the hands of families in need.

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

United Way of Greater New Haven, in partnership with the Connecticut Foodshare, the Town of Hamden, and Hamden Public Schools, 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.

Gather home supplies for local families leaving homeless shelters.

Learn More

The weather is getting colder - you can help make sure everyone stays warm by donating to our cold weather drive!

Click here to see our wishlist! You can view our flyer with our complete list of items here.

Volunteer Opportunities from other Organizations

Help New Reach for their Gift-A-Family event! Volunteers are needed on Saturday, December 9th from 1 PM - 4:30 PM to help collect gifts and organize them as they get donated. If you are interested in participating, you can reach out to Emmanuella Nwagboli at enwagboli@newreach.org or at 203-492-4866 ext. 023.

On Sunday, December 3rd from 2 PM - 9 PM, Eli's Garden of Healing will be hosting an event at Whitneyville Cultural Commons (1253 Whitney Avenue in Hamden), and volunteers are needed!

Volunteers are needed to help: 

  • Decorate
  • Coat check
  • Facilitate a simple craft project
  • Oversee stage acts
  • Assist with a silent auction
  • Set-up tables
  • Clean up and break down

If you are interested in participating, you can email Susan Rubino at srubino@hamden.com or 203 777-2610 ext. 1120.

The Mill River Trail would connect East Rock Park to Criscuolo Park in Fair Haven in New Haven, Connecticut. Wherever possible it would run alongside the Mill River and accommodate walking, jogging and biking. Sign-up and help by maintaining the trail through clean-ups!

Volunteers who love nature and working with children are needed!

Common Ground's classes welcome small groups of children, ages 5 - 13, to learn and play in nature. They are outside in almost all weather, enjoying the sunshine, snow, blue skies, and rain! They care for farm animals, help on the farm, go hiking, cook over campfires, make nature art, build forts, and more. Volunteers support their teaching team in helping our days be joyful and run smoothly. Typical needs include support in walking children to the bathroom, rounding up stray water bottles, putting on mittens, zipping coats, helping with activities, engaging with children and supporting their social and emotional development, and helping to supervise outdoor play. Our ideal volunteer can commit to one (or more) full days each week, 9 AM - 3 PM, on a regular schedule.

Children have the same schedule all year so volunteers can form relationships with the children and staff team. No skills are required other than a love for children and nature and enthusiasm for being outside in all weather from September - June!

For more information, email Rebecca Holcombe at rholcombe@commongroundct.org.

Girls on the Run Greater Hartford teaches critical life skills through research-based programs. Meeting in small teams, trained volunteer coaches inspire girls of all abilities to strengthen confidence and other important life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and physical activity.

Learn more about their volunteer needs here.

Volunteers are needed for Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. LVGNH provides free literacy tutoring to adult students, both for native English speakers and people learning English as a second language.

Learn More

Deliver groceries to our most vulnerable neighbors through Pantry to Pantry.

Learn More

volunteers

Dennis Velasquez

Volunteer Manager | Email

Does your community organization have a volunteer need? Are you an individual looking for a specific volunteer opportunity? Do you want to learn more about an opportunity listed above? Contact our Volunteer Manager, Dennis Velasquez.

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