The 47th Annual Walk for Hunger  

Project Bread 

Date/Time: Sunday, May 3, 6:30am - 4:30pm

Location: Arsenal Park, Watertown  

Each year, more than 2,000 volunteers come together to make The Walk for Hunger a fun, safe, and successful experience. The Walk covers a 20-mile route through Boston, Brookline, Newton, Watertown and Cambridge. Please join in this beloved event and be part of the effort to eradicate hunger in Massachusetts. The funds raised through The Walk for Hunger will ensure that people of all ages and cultures have sustainable, reliable access to nutritious food - because Project Bread believes the opposite of hungry is not simply full, but healthy. There are many jobs on Walk Day. Plus, you will receive a free Walk for Hunger Volunteer t-shirt! You could pass out water to walkers and stamp walk guides, hand out sandwiches to walkers (must be 18) or help manage the shuttle buses back to Boston Common.  

Ages: All ages can participate.

Time Commitment: Flexible

Contact: To sign up, visit: www.projectbread.org/walk-for-hunger/volunteer
www.projectbread.org

6th Annual Playworks Run for Recess  

Playworks

Date/Time: Saturday, May 9, 7:30am - 11:30am

Location: Franklin Park, Playstead Field 1, Franklin Park Road, Dorchester  

Want to help make sure that every kid in Massachusetts has the chance for safe, healthy play everyday but don't want to run a 5K? Fun, enthusiastic, and cheerful volunteers are needed to help with the event. Volunteer roles include helping at registration tables, providing water at water stations, directing runners at the start, handing out goody bags to finishing runners, setting up and breaking down, T-shirt distribution, and cheering on the runners. Last year, over 800 runners and walkers participated in this event. Your support in this well-attended community event will help ensure that over 14,000 elementary students have a chance to engage in safe, meaningful play in 28 Massachusetts elementary schools.  

Ages: All ages can participate 

Time Commitment: Four hours 

Contact: Marcus Johnson at mjohnson@playworks
www.playworks.org/communities/massachusetts

Spring Yard Work for Seniors  

Ethos

Date/Time: Ongoing/flexible

Location: Ethos serves elders in the neighborhoods of Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale, and West Roxbury; they will do their best to place volunteers with yards as conveniently located as possible. If traveling by MBTA, this project will require taking a bus ride from Forrest Hills Station on the MBTA Orange Line to reach the seniors' yards. If multiple groups are volunteering together, they will be placed at yards as near to each other as possible.  

Each spring Ethos sends volunteer groups to the homes of local seniors to help with raking, removing debris, trimming hedges and planting for our older neighbors. This work is invaluable in helping older adults live at home with independence and dignity!  Volunteers work in groups of no larger than five to seven people, but we can take as many groups of that number as you like! Each volunteer needs to fill out a CORI Background Check to participate.

Ages: All ages are welcome.

Time Commitment: About two hours per yard

Contact: [email protected]
www.ethocare.org 

Cambridge Arts Open Studios  

Cambridge Arts Council

Date/Time: Saturday and/or Sunday, May 9 & 10; noon - 6pm each day. Shifts are three hours each and volunteers are encouraged to work at least two shifts if possible.

Location: Various locations around Cambridge  

Cambridge Arts is seeking volunteers to assist with operations during Cambridge Arts Open Studios. Volunteers will serve as representatives of the Cambridge Arts Council and Cambridge Open Studios. Duties include common venue supervision, visitor directory, shuttle assistance, bike tours, and more. Candidates must have an enthusiasm for community arts and engagement with the public. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved with nonprofit and community events and to meet other artists. Each volunteer will receive an invitation to two events: the Volunteer Planning Pizza Party on Thursday, May 7, where they will receive their assignments and the culminating VIP Reception/Artist Meet & Greet for the Open Studios weekend on Thursday, May 14.  

Ages: Volunteers of all ages who are responsible, dedicated, and passionate about art and the community.

Time Commitment: Three hour shifts 

Contact: Rachel Shank, Volunteer Coordinator, 617.349.4380, [email protected]
www.cambridgema.gov/arts/programs/openstudios  

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer  

The Avon Foundation

Date/Time: Friday - Sunday, May 15-17

Location: Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St, and other various locations throughout Boston  

Have you been affected by breast cancer? Are you looking for a way to get involved in your community? Volunteer at AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer. There are many shifts and volunteer roles available throughout Walk weekend - some of which will be appropriate for children. For more info or to register go to: www.avon39.org/boston/volunteer 

Ages: Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult and some shifts require volunteers to be age 16 or older

Time Commitment: Varies depending on shift/role

Therapeutic Horse Riding Volunteers  

Challenge Unlimited/Ironstone Farm

Date/Time: Ongoing. Volunteers are needed Monday - Saturday during the day and early evenings.

Location: 450 Lowell St., Andover  

Volunteers assist therapists and instructors by walking alongside or leading the horses, grooming and tacking, and offering support and guidance to the clients. Additional chores may be requested as needed. There is always something to do on the farm! No horse experience is needed to volunteer.  

Ages: Minimum age is 13 years old

Time Commitment: One 2 -1/4 hour training session is required; volunteers work a minimum of a one-hour shift per week for 8-10 weeks (one full session.) Longer shifts of up to three hours are also available.

Contact: Kay Pirrello, 978.475.4056, [email protected]
www.IronstoneFarm.org

Foster a Pet  

Your Local Animal Shelter Organizations

Date/Time: Ongoing

Fostering a pet is one of the most rewarding experiences your family can have. When you foster a pet you: 

• Free up a spot so the shelter or rescue can take in another pet.
• Give your foster pet the time he or she needs to be ready for adoption.
• Help the shelter or rescue learn more about the pet so he or she can end up in the best home possible.
• Socialize the pet to a home environment.

Visit the DGT? project page for reflection ideas, book suggestions, and ways to take this project further.   

Ages: Fostering a pet is a great family opportunity. Your local animal shelter organizations will let you know if they have any specific age requirements

Time Commitment: Varies

Contact: Check Petfinder's list of Animal Welfare groups by state to find a rescue group or shelter near you.