Euro Café

Gilda's Club Minnesota

Date/Time: Monday, October 12 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Location: Gilda's Club Minnesota, 10560 Wayzata Blvd, Minnetonka.

Ages: Everyone is welcome to participate.

Time Commitment: Three hours

Gilda's Club Minnesota provides no-cost social and emotional support to Minnesotans impacted by cancer. On the second Monday of each month, we host Euro Café, a breakfast social that gives our members a chance to connect over a meal. Volunteers are invited to select a date to provide and serve breakfast for approximately 20 Gilda's Club members. Volunteers are welcome to use the Gilda's Club Minnesota kitchen to prepare food, or can serve premade items. 

Contact: Melissa McWilliams, Melissa.McWilliams@GildasClubMN.org. Registration is available online.

GildasClubMN.org

Pack Book Bundles for Little Free Library Stewards

Little Free Library

Date/Time: Saturday, October 24, 10 a.m.-noon.

Location: 2327 Wycliff St, St. Paul. This event will be in the hallway on the 2nd floor of the Wycliff building. 

Ages: All ages. Youth volunteers younger than 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult. 

Time Commitment: Two hours.

Volunteers will pack boxes of books that will be shipped to Little Free Library stewards across the U.S. to help stock their book-sharing boxes and keep books accessible in their community. No experience is necessary - we will walk you through the steps for sorting books and packing boxes. 

Volunteers will also pack a bundle of books that they can take home and distribute to Little Free Libraries in their own neighborhoods.

While you’re volunteering, you will learn more about the history and impact of Little Free Libraries and how you can continue to support this network of book-exchange boxes after the event. 

Contact: Brianna Stapleton Welch, Community Engagement Manager at volunteer@littlefreelibrary.org. Sign up on the Little Free Library volunteer hub through this link. 

littlefreelibrary.org/

Every Bottom Covered: Open House & FunFest!

Diaper Bank of Minnesota

Date/Time: Sunday, October 25, 1-3:30 p.m.

Location: 2327 Wycliff Street, Suite #310 • Saint Paul, MN 55114

Ages: All ages are welcome!

Time Commitment: Come anytime between 1 and 3:30 p.m., and stay for as long as you'd like.

Our Every Bottom Covered Open House & FunFest is a chance for the whole family to learn, explore, and have some fun while discovering how the Diaper Bank of Minnesota helps families facing diaper need. 

• See how diapers get from donations to families.
• Enjoy fun, kid-friendly activities.
• Add your creativity to our community art project.
• Test your diaper-need knowledge with a fun quiz.
• Enjoy snacks and connect with others who care about Minnesota families.

Come curious. Come ready to help. Come see how a community can make sure every bottom is covered.

Contact: donor.relations@diaperbankmn.org. Register for this free event here.

diaperbankmn.org

Deliver Beds and Dream Kits

My Very Own Bed

Date/Time: Deliveries are made from 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Location: 34 13th Ave NE, Suite 106, Minneapolis.

Ages: Families with children five years old and older are welcome to help us deliver beds and dream kits to kids in our community. This is a great hands-on outreach opportunity for families with kids.

Time Commitment: Three hours.

My Very Own Bed's mission is to provide new beds and linens to children of families that have recently secured stable housing. The beds provide a comfortable space for each child to sleep well and dream big. Join My Very Own Bed staff at our warehouse as we pack Dream Kits based on each child's individual preferences. Volunteers will meet at our office for a short orientation and to pack Dream Kits, and then head out on bed deliveries. 

Contact: cole@myveryownbed.org. Click here to learn more and to register. 

myveryownbed.org/

Help Seniors in Your Community with Yard Cleanup

HOME Program of Senior Community Services (SCS)

Date/Time: Hours are flexible, you choose the date and time that works for you! October 10 through November 20 is best.

Location: The exact location in Minneapolis or suburban Hennepin County is TBD, depending upon where the senior lives. We cover Minneapolis and most of suburban Hennepin County. Let us know where you would like to volunteer! We especially need volunteers in Minneapolis and nearby suburbs such as Brooklyn Center, Richfield, Bloomington, and Brooklyn Park.

Ages: Families with children ages seven years old and older are welcome to volunteer.

Time Commitment: Two to four hours is typical, but volunteer for the day if you like!

Enjoy the nice weather and volunteer in your community! Volunteers help seniors stay safely in their homes by providing help with outdoor chores, like weeding or raking, that they are unable to do themselves. We do our best to schedule you at homes in the areas that are geographically convenient to you. This is a great group activity, and you can choose the date and time that is convenient for you! If possible, we ask that you bring your own rakes and gloves. Homeowners will provide bags and will be home when your group volunteers. Thank you for considering our volunteer opportunity and helping a senior in need.

Contact: For more information please contact Mindy Anderson, scsvolunteer@seniorcommunity.org or 952.767.7894.

www.seniorcommunity.org

Cook for Kids

Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery

Date/Time(s): Check the breakfast, lunch or dinner calendars for available shifts.

• Breakfast: 7–9 a.m. Served at 8 a.m.
• Lunch: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Served at noon.
• Dinner: 4–6 p.m. Served at 5 p.m.

Location: 4544 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Ages: Volunteers must be 12 years old or older. Volunteers who are 17 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult 21 years old or older.

Time Commitment: Two to two and a half hours, including prep and clean-up of both kitchen and dining room.

We help strengthen families by connecting them to resources, caring for their children during difficult times, and setting goals that promote stability and make the relationship between the parent and child stronger. As a trusted resource for families, the Nursery focuses on prevention by offering free, voluntary services for parents who face barriers such as unemployment, homelessness, medical or mental health concerns, poverty, domestic violence, or other difficult situations. Cook for Kids is a great opportunity to spend a couple of hours giving back to the community. Individuals and groups of up to six volunteers cook on-site and serve a meal and a snack to the children at the Crisis Nursery. Click here to learn more. 

Contact: Keith Johnson, Food Service and Volunteer Services Coordinator, kjohnson@crisisnursery.org. The sign-up form is available online. Volunteers must be 12 years old or older. Volunteers who are 17 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult 21 years old or older. 

crisisnursery.org

Host a Donation Drive

Community Emergency Services (CES)

Date/Time: Donations can be dropped off Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-noon; no appointment is needed. 

Location: 1900 11th Avenue, Minneapolis. Please use the buzzer at the door.

Ages: Everyone can help. 

Time Commitment: Varies. 

CES relies on donations of every size to help feed our neighbors. Your generosity makes a real difference! You can use the most needed items list or choose a single item drive. Then please look through your collection to ensure all food is sealed and within expiration dates. We prefer standard size over bulk packaging. While inexpensive, processed foods are easy to find, nutritious options can be much harder to afford on a limited budget. That’s why we’re especially grateful for donations of healthy, filling items that help us best serve our neighbors. We happily accept produce, dairy, bread, eggs and other healthy food. We also accept full-size personal care items - not travel size; and household items such as soap, paper towels, etc. pet food and diapers. 

Contact: Emily Minge, eminge@cesmn.org. If you’d like to be able to stock the food market with your donations, please contact Emily.

cesmn.org

Make Cards for Seniors and Adults with Disabilities

Optage Meals

Date/Time: Cards need to be dropped off at the Optage Meals office during regular business hours, but other arrangements can be made if needed.

Location: Optage Meals, 2817 Hamline Ave N, Roseville. 

Ages: Everyone can participate.

Time Commitment: This is a flexible, ongoing opportunity.

At Optage Meals, we deliver hot and frozen meals to seniors and adults with disabilities to ensure that they have access to a friendly face and the nutrition they need. We care deeply about making a difference in our clients' lives, and we seek to provide much more than food—we want all the people we serve to know that they are loved, valued, and not forgotten. We are currently looking for volunteers to make greeting cards that we can send to our clients! Each card can make a huge difference in a client's life, and we hope that these cards will bring extra cheer as we celebrate the beginning of fall.

This is a volunteer opportunity that you can complete on your own time using your own supplies. Feel free to write a kind note inside a premade card or create a fun card from scratch. We encourage you to use your creativity and have fun! These cards will be delivered in person, so there's no need to worry about postage or making sure the cards are flat. Envelopes are optional, but please leave them unsealed if you choose to include them.

Guidelines/Ideas for Creating Cards:

• Wish the recipient well and tell them that they're loved and appreciated!
• Share a fact about yourself (ex. your hobbies, your pets, your favorite parts of fall).
• Ask the recipient questions about themselves. Even though they won't be able to respond, they'll appreciate the gesture.
• Include a poem, trivia question, joke, quote, drawing, or your favorite song lyrics.
• Avoid making religious references if possible. Keep your message light and avoid talking about how the recipient might be lonely or unwell.
• Sign all cards "from an Optage Meals volunteer" and include your first name and organization only if you feel comfortable.

Contact: Riley McCall, rmccall@preshomes.org. 

optage.org/meals/

Thrift Store Volunteers

Arc’s Value Village Thrift Stores

Date/Time: Volunteer shifts are available every day: 10 a.m.–noon, 1–3 p.m., and 4–6 p.m.

Location: Arc’s Value Village has locations in Bloomington, New Hope, and Richfield.

Ages: Families with children eight years old and older are welcome to volunteer. We require an adult-to-child ratio of 1 adult per every 8 children.

Time Commitment: Volunteer shifts are two hours. You can volunteer one time or on an ongoing basis.

Make a difference in your community by volunteering at Arc's Value Village thrift stores. Unpack, sort, and price great donations, or stock and beautify the sales floor. Volunteering at Arc’s Value Village benefits The Arc Minnesota and its mission of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. You will also learn how your efforts support our mission and our community! Volunteer opportunities are available at our store locations in Bloomington, New Hope, and Richfield! Sign up online at www.volunteerforarc.org. 

Contact: Michelle, 952.915.3670, VolunteerNow@arcminnesota.org. Registration is available online. Volunteers must sign up ahead of time. Questions? Send an email to the volunteer department at VolunteerNow@arcminnesota.org or call 952.915.3670.

arcsvaluevillage.org

Mentor a Local Youth

Kids ‘n Kinship

Date/Time: Ongoing opportunity

Location: School-based or community-based mentoring in Dakota County, MN

Ages: We invite individuals 21+, couples and families to volunteer to mentor.

Time Commitment: Four hours or more per month, on average. Scheduling is very flexible; weekends, evenings, or after-school times are available.

Kids 'n Kinship is a youth mentoring program that connects trained adult mentors with youth ages 5 to 16 who are in need of an additional supportive relationship with an adult. We encourage you to volunteer as an individual, couple or family. We currently have 39 kids in Dakota County who are waiting for a mentor. Do you have a few hours a month to hang out with a local youth? No experience necessary - just a heart to be present for a child who's waiting for a mentor. Kids 'n Kinship provides the training and ongoing support you need to be an amazing mentor for a youth near you. Take the next step - it could be one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make. Learn more at https://www.kidsnkinship.org/volunteer-information-sessions/.

Contact: Jerod Petersen, 651.243.0480, programs@kidsnkinship.org.

kidsnkinship.org

Packathon 2026

Many Hands Many Meals (MHMM)

Date/Time: Friday, November 6-Sunday, November 8. A variety of two-hour shifts are available. Click on the current opportunities volunteer page for available times.

Location: Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Road 19, Excelsior.

Ages: All ages are welcome.

Time Commitment: Two-hour shifts.

Many Hands Many Meals is a local, volunteer-driven organization serving globally by packaging life-saving meals that ease world hunger. We guarantee that 100% of the money that is donated to our organization is used for the purchase, packing and distribution of food. Our mission is to bring our community together to make a difference. Our food is packed by volunteers of all ages—kids too! Our volunteers are students, businesses, organizations, families, and individuals. 

Join Many Hands Many Meals for our 20th Annual Packathon where volunteers come together to pack nutritious meals for children and families facing hunger around the world. In a fun, hands-on, assembly-line process, volunteers package rice, soy, vegetables, and essential vitamins into meals that will be distributed through trusted partners to communities in need.

In just a couple hours, your time and teamwork can help provide thousands of life-saving meals. No experience is needed - just bring your heart and your helping hands! We welcome everyone’s help, regardless of age. This is a great way to teach your young ones the joy of volunteering! The Packathon is a great opportunity to connect with your community while feeding hungry bellies. A hairnet and gloves are required and will be provided while volunteering. 

Contact: info@mh-mm.org. Registration is required and is available online.

mh-mm.org/

Fall Yard Clean Up

DARTS

Date/Time: Once the leaves fall! Mid-October through late November.

Location: Yards are located throughout the Twin Cities' southeast metro area.

Ages: Families and groups are welcome to participate! Children must be six years old or older to join in.

Time Commitment: One to three hours per yard. Time commitment is dependent on yard size.

Make a difference in just one day! Spend one to two hours volunteering with your family or friends to clean up the yard of a senior in your community this fall. Give an older homeowner yard help, community connections, and homeowner pride. You will get a team-building experience for your group, exercise, and a FUN time to be proud of as you make a difference in your community.

Volunteers provide clean-up yard work in the Fall for older homeowners who are no longer able to do the work themselves. Volunteers are assigned to as many yards as they are interested in serving. Clean-ups take place between the last week of October and when the snow flies, typically late November. Tool kits of instructions and information are provided.

Contact: Craig Egerman, craig.egerman@darts1.org. Click here to register.

dartsconnects.org/

Lead a Thanksgiving Food Drive

Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP)

Dates/Time(s): Drop off donations by November 9. Donation door hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please contact Ashley for details on how and when to drop donations off.

Location: Drop off at 1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth, 55447.

Ages: Everyone can help.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) is a human services nonprofit that strengthens our community by meeting basic needs and equipping individuals for ongoing stability. This Thanksgiving season help our neighbors celebrate special traditions!

Most needed items include:

• Turkey
• Stuffing
• Gravy
• Collard greens, mustard greens, and/or turnip greens
• Russet potatoes and/or sweet potatoes
• Cranberries
• Cinnamon
• Vegetable oil (24 oz.)
• Sugar (4 lb. bags)
• Flour (5 lb. bags)

Contact: Ashley at getinvolved@iocp.org with questions or to schedule a drop off.

iocp.org

Pack and Donate Kits to the Food Shelf

Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) 

Dates/Time(s): Drop off donations by November 9. Donation door hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please contact Ashley for details on how and when to drop donations off.

Location: Drop off at 1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth, 55447.

Ages: Everyone can help.

Time Commitment: Varies.

Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) is a human services nonprofit that strengthens our community by meeting basic needs and equipping individuals for ongoing stability. Pack and donate kits to the Food Shelf with items that are among the most popular – and often difficult and/or expensive to source. Many of the items are also ideal for people who may be experiencing unstable housing. Kits containing these in-demand essentials help meet the basic needs of families and individuals in our community across more than 1,600 households. Assembling them as a service project or group volunteer opportunity is a great choice for kids or adults who want to make a difference in our community.

Current most needed kits include:

• Fruit pouches (e.g. Go Go Squeeze, Kirkland Organic, Good & Gather brands in all flavors)
• Individually wrapped snacks (e.g. chips, pretzels, SkinnyPop popcorn, trail mix, mixed nuts)
• Laundry pod kits

Contact: Ashley at getinvolved@iocp.org with questions or to schedule a drop off.

iocp.org

Organize a Winter Clothing Drive

Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) 

Dates/Time(s): Drop off donations by November 9. Donation door hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please contact Ashley for details on how and when to drop donations off.

Location: Drop off at 1605 County Road 101 N, Plymouth, 55447.

Ages: Everyone can help

Time Commitment: Varies

Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP) is a human services nonprofit that strengthens our community by meeting basic needs and equipping individuals for ongoing stability. The Resale Select thrift store provides high quality clothes to the public at low prices to help fund IOCP’s programs and services. The store also supplies wardrobe essentials like winter coats, undergarments, and school-ready apparel to hundreds of local households annually. Every donation works twice: Items go directly to families in need first, and anything that doesn’t match a client’s specific needs become store inventory – where 100% of net proceeds still support IOCP programs.

Current most needed items include:

• Winter coats for all ages: warm, waterproof styles intended for being outside, sizes Large – 3XL are most-needed.
• Gloves: warm, waterproof styles intended for being outside.
• Hats: warm styles intended for being outside.

Contact: Ashley at getinvolved@iocp.org with questions or to schedule a drop off.

iocp.org

Coat Drive

One Warm Coat

Date/Time: Flexible.

Location(s): Click here for a list of where you can drop off coat donations in your local area.

Ages: All ages can participate.

Time Commitment: Varies.

One Warm Coat's mission is to provide free coats to children and adults in need while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability. Founded in 1992 by one woman with one coat to give, One Warm Coat is a national movement born from one simple act of kindness and strives to make a tangible difference in people’s lives by providing comfort and hope to those who need it most. One Warm Coat supports individuals, groups, companies, and organizations across the country by providing the tools and resources needed to hold a successful coat drive. Coats are distributed in the communities where they are collected, to children and adults in need, without charge, discrimination, or obligation. Your family can help by holding a Warm Coat Drive or by donating coats.

Contact: drives@onewarmcoat.org or call 877.663.9276.

www.onewarmcoat.org