Opportunities From: HandsOn Twin Cities

Join a network of area native pollinator plant enthusiasts and to assist with seed cleaning at the Great River Greening garage (indoors).

Seed heads of 130 species native pollinator plants were collected during fall community seed collecting events. Join Great River Greening, Hamline Midway Environmental Committee and MN SEED to help clean and package this community seed stock!  

Two Shifts Available on 12/8: 11:00-12:30 and 12:30-2pm

To Register: Visit https://www.greatrivergreening.org/events-calendar-sign-up 

Participants will gain practical seed saving skills such as seed cleaning, seed storage, and seed starting. The resulting processed native pollinator plant seeds will be used in upcoming MN SEED and Bee Line activities and will be made available at community events throughout the year! 

This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary, we will provide the training and any tools required.  

All are welcome, any necessary training will be provided.

Once you have registered through GivePulse, organizers from Great River Greening will approve your registration and you will receive confirmation. You will continue to receive event reminders as the event nears. If you have further questions, please contact jdrummond@greatrivergreening.org. 

Join a network of area native pollinator plant enthusiasts and to assist with seed cleaning at the Great River Greening garage (indoors).

Seed heads of 130 species native pollinator plants were collected during fall community seed collecting events. Join Great River Greening, Hamline Midway Environmental Committee and MN SEED to help clean and package this community seed stock!  

Two Shifts Available on 12/9: 5-6:30 and 6:30-8pm

To register, visit https://www.greatrivergreening.org/events-calendar-sign-up 

Participants will gain practical seed saving skills such as seed cleaning, seed storage, and seed starting. The resulting processed native pollinator plant seeds will be used in upcoming MN SEED and Bee Line activities and will be made available at community events throughout the year! 

This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary, we will provide the training and any tools required.  

All are welcome, any necessary training will be provided.

Once you have registered through GivePulse, organizers from Great River Greening will approve your registration and you will receive confirmation. You will continue to receive event reminders as the event nears. If you have further questions, please contact jdrummond@greatrivergreening.org. 

https://www.greatrivergreening.org/events-calendar-sign-up

Join Small Sums for a hands-on volunteer opportunity as we assemble 200-250 care packs filled with hygiene essentials to help workers show up to their jobs with confidence! Volunteers will work together to sort, organzise, and package items that directly support individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

After the care pack assembly, we invite you to come back ( or stick around) for our Open House from 5 -7 pm for some dinner and good conversation! 

We're also hosting a Winter Care Drive during the event. If you'd like to bring new or gently used winter gear (hats, mittens, coats, scarves, wool socks, etc.) to help keep our community warm. Donations or appreciated but not required. 

Sign up today to lend a hand and make a difference, while having some fun along the way! 

Gifts for Seniors strives to alleviate the loss of connection to community and the devastating spiral into loneliness that negatively impacts health and wellbeing. Much needed resources are gifted to older adults on fixed incomes, but the true gift is the life-affirming personal contact. The social visits are also critical for identifying instances of self-neglect, abuse, and exploitation. Please join us in bringing warmth and joy to those feeling isolated and forgotten.

Volunteer, donate, and purchase gifts from our online registries at www.giftsforseniors.org! 

Serve alongside family members on your own time to pack kits that will help keep our Food Shelf stocked with items that are often requested but may be difficult or expensive for us to purchase. Each type of kit includes specific items, please contact our Community Engagement Team (getinvolved@iocp.org) for specific details for each:

Drop completed kits off at the IOCP donation door Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Please complete our online Large Donation Form before dropping items off to ensure the best possible experience. Thank you!

IOCP is unable to purchase or provide materials for a service project. Please plan to purchase or source items on your own.

On Saturday, December 13th, NorthPoint will transform the 5th floor into a joyful community shopping space for pre-registered guests to select holiday gifts and goodies. Guests will be welcomed by music, laughter, and even a little dancing!

After checking in at their assigned shopping time, guests will be paired with personal assistants to guide them through the shopping area. Gift wrapping will be available to make the experience even more special.

Volunteer Roles Include:

All volunteers will help with setup and cleanup at the beginning and end of the event.

Help make the holidays brighter for EVOLVE families by wrapping, labeling, and organizing donated gifts for distribution. This is a great opportunity for individuals, pairs, or small groups who enjoy a fast-paced, festive environment.

What You’ll Do

Wrap gifts neatly and efficiently using provided paper, tape, tags, and bows Label packages with correct family/child identifiers and organize by pickup route Quality-check donations against wish lists; flag missing or duplicate items Maintain a clean, safe, and festive workspace (restocking supplies, tidying stations) Assist with loading/unloading and moving gifts to staging areas as needed

Ideal Volunteer

Detail-oriented with good handwriting for tags/labels Comfortable standing, lifting up to ~20 lbs, and moving carts/bins (reasonable accommodations available) Team player with a positive, customer-service mindset Prior retail/fulfillment/wrapping experience is a bonus, not required

Training & Support
Brief on-site orientation at the start of each shift Station leads available for questions and quality checks Wrapping tips and labeling guide provided

What We Provide
All wrapping supplies (paper, tape, scissors, ribbons, tags) Light refreshments and a holiday playlist Service-hour verification upon request

Dress Code
Casual, closed-toe shoes; layers recommended Festive sweaters or accessories welcome (nothing glitter-shed heavy, please) Health & Safety Follow basic warehouse/packing safety (carts, lifting, cord awareness) Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes available at each station

Age & Groups
Ages 18+ (volunteers under 18 must attend with an adult) Small groups welcome (please note group size when signing up)

Accessibility
Seated wrapping stations available upon request Please share any accessibility needs in advance so we can set up your station

Come and help spread holiday joy! We have a lot to organize as we match up our Gifts of Community sponsors with families in need. Support our Gifts of Community campaign this holiday season by assisting a couple of different ways: 

This volunteer opportunity will take place between 5th-8th of December, finalized dates & shift times are TBD. 

*We are in need of support during the weekday shifts Friday, December 5th and Monday, December 8th. Exact times are TBD but will be generally needed around 12:00pm-4:00pm.

 
Contact our Volunteer Coordinator via email at  mrosheim@FamilyWiseServices.org to get involved! 

You are invited to join volunteers in fulfilling holiday senior wishes at Gifts for Seniors in Minneapolis - FREE parking!

Volunteers are provided a form to fulfill wishes by selecting gifts from our gift inventory and complete the gift with a handwritten card and bow. 

You are welcome to chooose any hours between 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Please email coordinator@giftsforseniors.org with the hours you plan to volunteer.

Check the Hands on Twin Cities Events Calendar to Fulfill Senior Holiday Wishes whenever you want through Friday, December 19, 2025!

++ Collecting through February 2026 ++

Community Paramedics welcome Sock Kits to have on hand in ambulances. In a ziploc bag place 2 grey/black tall tube socks. You decide how many you will donate/bundle based on your team budget.

These are used as prevention and education moments. When frostbite causes skin damage and loss of the capillary system, individuals may have to be admitted to our Level 1 Burn Center where their wounds can be treated. Community paramedics try to prevent the number of cases by engaging individuals where they are at and distributing these kits to unhoused individuals or those in need.

While we prefer deliveries, you can request a team member pick up from your office during normal business hours.

Interfaith Outreach's annual effort to raise awareness and funds to prevent eviction and housing instability has prevented eviction or homelessness more than 36,000 times since it began three decades ago.

Learn more about all the different ways and days for you to show your support in 2025 at iocp.org/thesleepout

Host your own Sleep Out (or Sleep In) online: iocp.org/donations/sleepout/mysleepout

Find ideas for Group Activities for your Sleep Out (or Sleep In): iocp.org/homlessness-awarness-activities

Gather a group of family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues to volunteer on your own time to help keep our Food Shelf stocked over the holiday season. See our list of most needed items:iocp.org/most-needed-items, or reach out to our Community Engagement Team to learn more about specific holiday items needs. 

Deadline to donate Thanksgiving specific items is Wednesday, Nov. 12th

Deadline to donate Hanukkah specific items is Wednesday, Dec. 3rd

Deadline to donate Christmas specific items is Monday, Dec. 8th

Drop collected items off at the IOCP donation door Monday, Wednesday, or Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. If you have a large donation (e.g. a truckload or multiple carloads) please fill out this form BEFORE DROP-OFF to ensure the best possible experience. Our staff will respond to help answer questions and confirm details before you bring in your items. Thank you for choosing to support Interfaith Outreach!

Brrrr, it's getting cold outside!  

Interested in hosting a group gear drive? 

The Native American Community Clinic needs hats, scarves, gloves, snowpants, boots and coats - all ages and genders to provide to patients and our unsheltered relatives.  Also able to accept blankets, sweatshirts and sweaters.

Our street outreach team will distribute items to folks living outside while our nursing and patient advocate teams will provide items to folks visiting our medical clinic.  We serve a diverse population living in the Ventura Village and Phillips neighborhoods of South Minneapolis.

The Tech for Seniors initiative is dedicated to getting tablets into the hands of isolated older adults who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford one themselves. During the pandemic older adults who were already experiencing isolation suddenly became further challenged to remain connected when they were cut off from the outside world. In best efforts to alleviate the devastating loneliness, Tech for Seniors was launched. Volunteers pre-load donated tablets with video conferencing software, networking opportunities, several mind-occupying apps, and other entertainment options. The in-store purchasing function may also be disabled so less tech savvy seniors are not exploited by scammers.

Tech for Seniors, a program of Gifts for Seniors, offers two programs in pursuit of our mission to alleviate social isolation and loneliness.

 This opportunity is available throughout the year! Thank you!!!

Tech for Seniors - Using Tech to Help Alleviate Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults

Learn more about volunteering with Tech for Seniors

Provide spa and/or hygiene care packs for isolated older adults. Use creativity to create gift bags or baskets sure to bring a smile, while pampering and providing needed resources. 

Ideas include any of these and more:

This opportunity is available throughout the year! Thank you!

Gifts for Seniors

2300 Kennedy Street NE, Suite 40
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Contact Us

Gifts for Seniors accepts in-kind donations by appointment or via mail only (no unscheduled drop-ins). Schedule your appointment today by emailing info@giftsforseniors.org! 

Does your group love to make homemade items and crafts? You are invited to create your gifts! Here’s a few ideas:

Use your skills and imagination to create handmade creative items for isolated older adults. Please sort by season when shipping. 

This opportunity is available throughout the year! Thank you!

Gifts for Seniors

2300 Kennedy Street NE, Suite 40
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Contact Us

We accept in-kind donations by appointment or via mail only (no unscheduled drop-ins). Schedule your appointment today by emailing info@giftsforseniors.org! 

Learn more about Cards for Seniors.

This opportunity is available throughout the year! Thank you!

Does your group love to put together care packages to share with those who need extra support? You are invited to coordinate a gift kit project like one of these:

Thank you!

Gifts for Seniors

2300 Kennedy Street NE, Suite 40
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Contact Us

Here’s what you’ll do:

Be paired one-on-one with a student.

Create an original superhero character together.

Use our huge collection of art supplies (fabric, feathers, glitter, and more!) to build a one-of-a-kind costume.

Celebrate with a costume parade and photoshoot.

No artistic skills needed—just kindness, curiosity, and a willingness to have fun.

The program runs from October 20th to December 15th, just 1–2 hours per week.

Be part of something joyful, hands-on, and unforgettable—for you and a child.

Sign up now at artbuddies.org/be-a-mentor

Community Cooks is the flagship program that used cooking as a community organizing tool to hear the voices of the community that catalyzed Appetite For Change into their last 14 years of success. It is trauma-informed nutrition as we engage volunteers with community to prepare a meal for the evening. Different from cooking the food and serving "soup kitchen style" to the community across a table.

Come join us for a family friendly volunteer evening, of fun, cooking, eating and connection! This is how we build community beyond our neighborhood.

Every year, Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities provides a large Thanksgiving lunch to the greater community. We are looking for partners to create Christmas decorations for the dining room that day. Decoration ideas include turkey suncatchers and autumn-themed paper chains. Decorations need to be delivered (in person or by mail) to our St. Paul Administration office by November 14, 2025.
This is a one-time, off-site opportunity for individuals or groups. 

Volunteer Opportunity: Kids’ Activity Ambassador at the St. Paul European Christmas Market

The St. Paul European Christmas Market (ECM) is entering its 12th year and gearing up for its most magical season yet—welcoming more than 250,000 visitors in 2025!

One of the highlights of ECM is the joy it brings to children. Every year, our vendors partner with us to provide free or low-cost holiday activities for kids—from decorating cookies and painting wooden toys to coloring ornaments, solving puzzles, and even writing letters to Santa.

We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help spread holiday cheer as Kids’ Activity Ambassadors! In this role, you’ll:
✨ Greet families and guide children to fun activities around the market
✨ Explain and demonstrate activities so vendors can focus on their craft and sales
✨ Help little ones find Santa’s mailbox, decorate cookies, or get started on a craft project
✨ Create magical moments and big smiles in a festive, outdoor winter wonderland

No experience is needed—just a love for the holidays, a warm smile, and the spirit of giving. This is the perfect role if you enjoy being around kids, want to experience the magic of a European Christmas Market, and love bringing joy to others.

Come be part of the holiday magic and help create memories for thousands of families this season!

Turn hunger into hope with your own two hands!

You will…

We will…

How to get involved…

A few other things to know…

Donations: While donations are not required to pack at this session, we humbly request them. Each volunteer packs about $50 worth of food and FMSC receives no government support. We can only send meals as we have funding. Nearly everyone is able to contribute something, but we leave the amount up to you. Many groups and individuals make advance fundraising a fun part of their service project. As you're willing and able, you may donate on the day you volunteer (by cash, check or credit card), or online before or after you pack.

AccentCare Fairview Hospice is seeking compassionate volunteers to help brighten the lives of our patients. Whether you are playing music for our patients, praying with them, providing aromatherapy, or visiting with a therapy dog, you can make a difference in the lives of hospice patients. While you are brightening our patients’ lives you might find that your life becomes brighter too!

Joining the FamilyWise community as a Bright Beginnings parent mentor is one of the most powerful ways to make an impact as a volunteer, especially now: we have revamped our program and need dedicated community members to support young parents!

Mentors meet with young parents in-person biweekly and connect weekly by phone. In addition, mentors help out with meals and transportation for the all-participant meeting every other month. Bright Beginnings is a great opportunity to personally connect with a young parent and create a long-term connection!

Once you join, FamilyWise provides all the mentor training and staff support you’ll need. Because young parents need both consistency and stability, we ask volunteer mentors for a one-year commitment to our Bright Beginnings program. Our Mentor Specialist will connect with mentors and mentees individually once a month to provide support to those involved in the program.

Participation in Bright Beginnings is free for young parents.

In a mentor, we are looking for someone who will:

FamilyWise is located in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and mentors would need to live in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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Here’s what you’ll do:

Be paired one-on-one with a student.

Create an original superhero character together.

Use our huge stash of art supplies (fabric, feathers, glitter, and more!) to build a one-of-a-kind costume.

Celebrate with a costume parade and photoshoot.

No artistic skills needed—just kindness, curiosity, and a willingness to have fun.

The program runs October–December, just 1–2 hours per week for 8 weeks.

Be part of something joyful, hands-on, and unforgettable—for you and a child.

Sign up now at artbuddies.org/be-a-mentor

Here’s what you’ll do:

Be paired one-on-one with a student.

Create an original superhero character together.

Use our huge stash of art supplies (fabric, feathers, glitter, and more!) to build a one-of-a-kind costume.

Celebrate with a costume parade and photoshoot.

No artistic skills needed—just kindness, curiosity, and a willingness to have fun.

The program runs October–December, just 1–2 hours per week for 8 weeks.

Be part of something joyful, hands-on, and unforgettable—for you and a child.

Sign up now at artbuddies.org/be-a-mentor

Here’s what you’ll do:

Be paired one-on-one with a student.

Create an original superhero character together.

Use our huge stash of art supplies (fabric, feathers, glitter, and more!) to build a one-of-a-kind costume.

Celebrate with a costume parade and photoshoot.

No artistic skills needed—just kindness, curiosity, and a willingness to have fun.

The program runs October–December, just 1–2 hours per week for 8 weeks.

Be part of something joyful, hands-on, and unforgettable—for you and a child.

Sign up now at artbuddies.org/be-a-mentor

Here’s what you’ll do:

Be paired one-on-one with a student.

Create an original superhero character together.

Use our huge stash of art supplies (fabric, feathers, glitter, and more!) to build a one-of-a-kind costume.

Celebrate with a costume parade and photoshoot.

No artistic skills needed—just kindness, curiosity, and a willingness to have fun.

The program runs October–December, just 1–2 hours per week for 8 weeks.

Be part of something joyful, hands-on, and unforgettable—for you and a child.

Sign up now at artbuddies.org/be-a-mentor

Collective Caring is a monthly program that enables local businesses, organizations, and groups to collect needed items at our warehouse for the month. Sponsors can host the whole month, a couple weeks or even a week. Monthly sponsors will collect items needed at the warehouse such as personal hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, sheets/towels, etc. at their place of business or other locations they designate. At the end of the month the sponsor will drop off the donation to our Anoka MN warehouse to replenish our shelves.

These items are the most popular items that fly off our warehouse shelves. As a reminder, we provide everything at our warehouse free of charge to case workers in Anoka and Sherburne County who work with seniors and adults with disabilities so that they can feel empowered to maintain their quality of life. 

We are looking for the sponsors for September and October! Please reach out to grannysclosetmn@gmail.com if interested.  

Mount Olivet Day Services (MODS) is an adult day program offering respite care to seniors where everyone can socialize and enjoy planned activities in a safe group setting. This provides family caregivers a much-needed break, enabling loved ones to be cared for at home for a longer period of time

Volunteer with us and come create a beautiful “Winter Wonderland” at our day services center for our seniors to enjoy! The holidays are always a special time of year, and we would love for our seniors to be surrounded by the joy of the season! Come hang lights, wrap doors, or hang snowflakes! Some decorations can be provided but we would greatly appreciate any lightly used or new decorative donations too! This is the perfect group opportunity for anyone from corporate groups, book clubs, to student groups. This is available Mon-Fri during the day. Located in S.Mpls.  Staff always available to assist. Free parking available on-site.

Project Description: 

Our Wraparound Program and Communications staff need forms/marketing materials translated into Spanish by a native speaker. This opportunity would be perfect for someone with an interest in helping families by creating accessible documents for those who are not fluent in English.

Responsibilities & Duties:

1. Utilizing Spanish skills to translate intake forms, surveys, and marketing materials

2. Ensure newly translated document is formatted the same as the original

Qualifications:

1. Preference to individuals with previous translation experience

2. Great attention to details

3. Excellent communication and organizational skills

Requirements:

1. Fluent in English and Spanish

2. Access to a computer and a stable internet connection

Benefits to Volunteer:

1. Utilizing language abilities to help a family service organization

2. Expand translation experience for professional development

To Apply: Submit your resume to mrosheim@familywiseservices.org

Enjoy some fresh fall air and sunshine while helping older adults keep their lawn looking great! This service also provides social interaction and offers peace of mind for loved ones and caregivers.

Go solo or bond with family, friends and neighbors

Youth ages 7 to 15 may volunteer with an adult. Ages 16 and older may volunteer on their own.

Strengthen connections with your group

Most group opportunities are best suited for teams of 4 - 6. If you have a larger group we'll split you into smaller teams and assign you to locations near one another to serve multiple seniors.

We serve multiple cities throughout Hennepin County. Contact us or visit seniorcommunity.org/volunteer to complete an online application form.

Mount Olivet Home and Careview Home have been serving senior residents for over 60 years in South Minneapolis. We rank number 1 in Minnesota and received recognition in Newsweek’s Best Nursing Homes 2023 list.

Who doesn't love a beautifully-decorated home for the holidays?! We love to offer our residents beautiful decorations throughout their communal home - inside and out - and would love your help in the process! Whether it is using our existing decor or adding to it, we would love to make our facility a Winter Wonderland for residents and their families to enjoy. This is a great opportunity for corporate groups of 5-10 volunteers to come together and transform the facility into something beautiful and have fun while doing it.

Orientation will be provided, staff will be on-site. Free parking available at facility.

Help provide Simpson Housing’s Emergency Homeless Shelter with bedding! Each night 66 single adults sleep at the shelter and we offer a safe, clean, and comfortable bed. These basic bedding materials are crucial to making sure that guests feel comfortable. Our goal is to provide every guest that walks through our doors a new, clean set of sheets and we need your help to do it!

Many groups will choose a few specific items that they will collect, others will advertise a full list of all supplies needed. Items to collect are:

You can view example items on our Amazon Charity List https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/1Q4DOAP1WID30/ref=smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl

Timeframe

This is a flexible volunteer opportunity; you can volunteer one time or on an ongoing basis.

Location

Simpson Housing Services Office
160 Glenwood Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55405

Donation Delivery Hours

We are currently accepting in-person donations by appointment only. When you have your items collected, visit our donation scheduler at https://calendly.com/d/dtj-ych-5hn/160-glenwood-donation-delivery-appointment?month=2022-07 for donation times and drop off location information.

For additional information and to express interest, please contact Katelyn Jaksha, Volunteer Coordinator at kjaksha@simpsonhousing.org

Make a positive impact on the lives of seniors in the community. Sign up to help with fall leaf removal for older adults; this can also be a great group volunteering project.

Task includes raking leaves, bagging, and taking bags to compost site.

Please contact Paula Sandstrom 651-683-2326 or email programcoordinator@eastsideelders.org

Simpson Housing operates a shelter for homeless adults and housing programs for individuals and families moving into housing. Our goal is to provide every new guest that walks through our doors a new, clean blanket for their bed. We're running out of blankets and will need them for the coming winter months!

You can help by buying a new blanket during your regular shopping trip. You can also encourage your friends to do the same. We can accept new twin, full, and queen size blankets. Please no throw size blankets or baby blankets.

New blankets may be delivered by scheduling an appointment at:

https://calendly.com/d/dtj-ych-5hn/160-glenwood-donation-delivery-appointment?month=2022-07

For additional information and to express interest, please contact Katelyn Jaksha, Volunteer Coordinator at kjaksha@simpsonhousing.org

At MVOB, we choose blankets for children ages 2-17 based on their individual requests.

Fleece blankets are a great way to make sure a child’s bedding matches their interests. This opportunity is also great for individuals and groups. 

Please find our instructions for blanket making attached to this email. Blankets should be at least 60 x 90 inches. Please check our fleece blanket instructions for more information. 

Our inventory of new toys for children aged 10 to 16 is extremely low.  We would welcome anyone to conduct a toy drive to collect these items.  We try to keep each item in the $10 range.  Items include: legos, bath and body products, hair and makeup products, electronics, etc.