Would you like to give back to our community in a meaningful way?

Check out the volunteer opportunities listed below!

And please share this email with friends, family, and coworkers.

Each of us can make a difference!

If you are a nonprofit and would like to list your volunteer opportunities in the Connect, it's easy! Just click here.

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Nominations close TOMORROW at noon!

To honor outstanding contributions to our community, the Volunteer Center of Brown County encourages you to submit nominations for the Volunteer Awards presented by Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. The nomination period is open until 12:00 pm on Friday, February 14.

We hope you will consider nominating a volunteer or group of volunteers for the 2025 Volunteer Awards. Submitting a nomination is a powerful way to recognize the impact volunteers have had. It also creates more awareness in our community about the organizations where volunteers give their time. And your nominee will be honored that you took the time to acknowledge their service.

Michelle Blackman is our volunteer of the week!

Giving is Good, Inc. is a charity that breaks down bulk donations into smaller gifts for children, military veterans, orphans, and other charity organizations in Brown County. Programs include creating shoe-box size gifts for children, helping inmates in prison knit hats, providing gifts for families in need at Christmas, and supplying other charities with hygiene items, coats, shoes, and toys. Michelle is the executive director, an unpaid position, where she interacts with community leaders, gathers items, sorts them into groups, and delivers them when needed. 

Michelle is motivated to help others in this way because she feels called to share her faith through action. Giving is Good started out as a hobby, using several rooms of the house and garage to store, sort, and prepare items. In 2018, she moved to The Startup Hub, and in 2021, she doubled her space to accommodate even more donations and projects. In some cases, donated items are raw materials like yarn, which is given to knitters to make scarves, hats, and gloves. In other cases, items that would normally be tossed out are reused for other purposes, an area in which Michelle is especially gifted. For example, hundreds of old Fox Valley Marathon t-shirts were carefully cut up, combined with other colors, and braided into jump ropes for children.

Michelle’s leadership helps bring different people together as volunteers to assemble gifts or make and organize items. Her impact has helped people find their creativity again, meet new friends, and discover their own spirit of giving within themselves. Thank you, Michelle, for never saying 'no' to helping others in need and for turning your hobby into a charity that helps thousands of people each year!

Click here to find this story on our Facebook page!

Tuesday, March 4 / 3:00-6:00 pm

Green Bay Botanical Garden, 2600 Larsen Road

Hosted by the Volunteer Center of Brown County

Looking to Volunteer?

Enjoy a beautiful view of the Botanical Gardens as you network with up to 35 local nonprofits and learn more about the valuable work they do. Discover how YOU can assist them and strengthen our community by giving of your time and talents.

Learn more and find a list of participating organizations HERE.

Attention Nonprofits: Join or Renew Now!

The Volunteer Center of Brown County is the hub of volunteer activity in our area. We connect people looking to volunteer with nonprofits in our area who need them, helping those organizations continue their vital work. Our efforts help raise awareness about their missions and their volunteer needs. 

We assist all nonprofits in Brown County, but we also offer an enhanced level of service through our Affiliate Partner program, which features numerous ways we can help nonprofits find and retain volunteers. Thanks once again to the generosity of the Schneider National Foundation and the Green Bay Packers Foundation/NFL Foundation, each organization that joins for 2025 will automatically receive $100 off the normal annual fee of $250!

Here are just a few of the benefits Affiliate Partners enjoy:



• Unlimited number of volunteer need postings across all our platforms 
• Free access to our Get Connected platform, which includes unlimited volunteer need listings, community event postings, volunteer check-in capabilities, volunteer hours tracking, and more! 
• Dedicated page on the Volunteer Center website 
• FREE entry into our 8th Annual Community-Wide Volunteer Expo in September
• FREE entry into our first annual Spring Volunteer Expo in March
• Invitations to our bi-monthly Coffee & Collaboration meetings
• And much, much more!

To read more about all the Affiliate Partner program benefits or to find detailed information on joining or renewing your partnership, visit our website.

We look forward to partnering with you in 2025!

Seed Sorting and Packing - February 15

Join New Leaf Foods for a seed packing day ahead of the Brown County Seed Library launch on March 8! Help sort and package seeds to supply the Greater Green Bay area with a plentiful variety of FREE edible and pollinator seeds. Providing the community with seeds helps protect the current and future food supply. Shifts: 9:30 am-12:00 pm and 12:30-3:00 pm.

New Leaf Foods - Brown County Seed Library - Melissa Wass

920-246-4985, melissa.wass@newleaffoods.org

Broadway District TRASHFORCE - February 17 and March 4 (plus additional dates)

Help keep the Broadway district clean by volunteering to pick up trash around the neighborhood! Lunch/dinner will be provided. Shifts: 12:00-1:00 pm on the first Tuesday of each month through November 4; 5:30-6:30 pm on the third Monday of each month through September 15 and 5:00-6:00 pm on October 20. Click here to sign up for a Tuesday afternoon shift or here for a Monday evening shift.

On Broadway, Inc. - Betsy Sorensen

920-569-3489, betsy@onbroadway.org

Café Crawl - February 22

Two volunteers will be needed at each cafe/business to punch passports and assist with serving samples as needed. You can also choose to volunteer for two hours, then participate in the crawl the other two hours for free! Shifts: 8:00-10:00 am and 10:00 am-12:15 pm. Minimum age: 16. Click here to see available shifts and to sign up.

Downtown Green Bay and Olde Main Street, Inc. - Jenny VandenLangenberg

920-676-9363, jenny@downtowngreenbay.com

Initial Volunteer Reading Coaches Training - February 24

Reading Coaches for Kids is a volunteer tutoring program designed to increase students’ reading abilities and literacy skills by training and placing volunteers who read with students in area schools. Volunteers are placed in kindergarten through 5th grade classrooms for one hour a week during the regular school day. Training and ongoing support are provided. The Reading Coaches program is especially looking for volunteers ages 55+ to be a part of the Retired/Senior Volunteer Program to provide intergenerational experiences for the children. Once trained, tutoring takes place at various times during the school day, and a minimum commitment of one hour per week during the school year is requested. Training location: Volunteer Center of Brown County, 984 9th St., Green Bay. Session: 1:00-3:00 pm. Minimum age: 18. Click here for more information and an application. 

Volunteer Center of Brown County Reading Coaches Program - Nancy Pfankuch

920-600-0184, nancy@volunteergb.org

Girls on the Run Spring 2025 Season - March 10-May 22

Girls on the Run is a youth development program that combines social/emotional learning with physical activities. Teams meet twice a week for 10 weeks and are led by a team of coaches using the research-based curriculum that provides all lessons and activities. Training, support, and materials are provided. Shifts: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:45-4:15 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00-4:30 pm. Minimum age: 16.

Girls on the Run Northeast Wisconsin - Kathy Olson

920-209-5866, kathy.olson@girlsontherun.org

Leonardo da Vinci Pi Day 5k - March 15

Help out at this event by watching the streets on the race route and cheering on the runners as they travel the course. Shift: 7:30-10:30 am. Minimum age: 12.

Green Bay Area Public Schools - Allison Hockers

920-619-1360, alhockers@gbaps.org

Inspired to Act Gala - May 8

This event helps to support Catholic Charities' mission and makes it possible by helping them keep their social services free or offered at a reduced rate. By volunteering, you will be helping to decorate for the event, check in guests, and clean up after the event. Shifts: 3:00-6:00 pm (set-up and check-in team) and 6:00-9:00 pm (clean-up and auction team). Minimum age: 16.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay - Halle Beranek

920-272-8323, hberanek@gbdioc.org

Media Specialist

Essential duties and responsibilities of this role are:

• Contact national Christian radio stations to inform them about Acts 1:8 Ministry, their mission, and their free outreach resources
• Send the station their public service announcement (PSA) to play on-air, every six months
• Follow up with a phone call to the radio stations every six months
• Schedule an interview for the ministry coordinator whenever possible
• Other duties as assigned

Shifts: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Minimum age: 18.

Acts 1:8 Ministry - Vickie Nell

920-494-2289, vickienell@acts18.org

Community Meal Heroes

Prepare a meal for Altrusa's guests while patients and families are staying in town for critical medical care. Food and desserts can be prepared at home, serving 10-12 individuals at a time. Volunteer coordinator will contact you prior to your sign-up date. Shifts: Monday-Friday, 5:00-7:00 pm. Click here to sign up or contact Kristine below.

Altrusa Hospitality House - Kristine Blum

920-884-6677, kristine@altrusahousegreenbay.org

Various Volunteer Opportunities

Aurora at Home Hospice is a not-for-profit organization providing end-of-life care and support services to patients and family members. Volunteering for hospice helps ease this burden by providing companionship, comfort, and other services to people receiving hospice care. Their volunteers also provide support for the families of people receiving care at the end of life. Roles include:

• Companion volunteers spend time with patients who have a serious illness. These volunteers may provide respite for caregivers or socialization for patients.
• Veterans in their volunteer program help other veterans through the end-of-life transition by providing a listening ear and comforting presence. Hospice volunteers in the Veterans for Veterans program also honor and celebrate veterans with pinning ceremonies in recognition of their service.
• Pet therapy volunteers use certified pet therapy dogs to spread joy, reduce anxiety, and ease fears for patients and visitors alike. All therapy dogs must have their Animal-Assisted Therapy Certification to participate in these volunteer programs.
• Bereavement callers place calls to patients’ home six months after their loss, providing families with a listening ear. 
• Community outreach volunteers assist with expos and distributing marketing materials.

Shifts: flexible days and times. Minimum age: 18.

Aurora at Home Hospice - Lexi Pirman

920-627-5306, lexi.pirman@aah.org

Big Brothers and Big Sisters 

Psst...have you heard the news? The 2025 Big Draft is almost here and it's going to be bigger than ever! Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin (BBBSNEW) is gearing up for their own ‘Big Draft’ to recruit the next generation of mentors. Just like NFL teams scouting their future stars, they’re on the lookout for Bigs — mentors ready to make a lasting impact on local youth (Littles). They’re looking for 100 mentors to join them from February through April 26, 2025. Will you be one of them? It takes LITTLE to be BIG, and trust them, you’ll have a blast doing it! Mentoring is all about showing up, having fun, and making a difference. Imagine watching a football game with your Little. What better way to build a lasting friendship in the same time it takes to enjoy the game? Whether you’re playing games, going to events, or simply spending time together, you’re helping shape a child’s future for the better. And with their flexible programs, there’s a perfect fit for any schedule. Whether you have a little time or a lot, they make it easy to get involved. When you play a little, these Littles win big! Be the game changer, be the everyday hero, just be YOU. Learn more about joining their roster here or join them for a 30-minute info session in February. This is a no-pressure time to learn more, ask questions, and discover if mentoring is right for you. Click here for more information on this session. Various shifts. Minimum age: 18.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin - Keren Cotter

920-615-9306, kerenc@bbbsnew.org

Healthcare Team for Refugee Resettlement

Catholic Charities is looking for volunteers to assist with the following: 

• Provide transportation to a wide range of initial healthcare-related appointments 
• Ensure that all refugees arrive to their appointments on time and at the correct clinic 
• Communicate regularly with Catholic Charities of Green Bay’s refugee manager regarding progress, scheduling, or concerns that may have arisen during appointments 
• Help fill prescriptions and train refugee on filling future prescriptions independently  

Shifts are flexible based on your schedule. Minimum age: 18.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay - Halle Beranek

920-272-8323, hberanek@gbdioc.org

Science Kit Refurbishment

As a volunteer with The Einstein Project, you will be involved in refurbishing STEM kits for classroom use. By refurbishing these kits, you play a vital role in ensuring that students have access to high-quality educational resources. Your tasks may include cleaning, repairing, and organizing materials, ensuring that each kit is in excellent condition for students to learn from. Your attention to detail and dedication will directly contribute to the success of STEM education in our local schools. Flexible weekday shifts, any time during business hours of 8:00 am-4:00 pm. Volunteers younger than 16 need to have a parent present.

Einstein Project - Elizabeth Mayenschein

810-333-2420, elizabeth@einsteinproject.org

Early Education Classroom Grandparents

Encompass Early Education & Care needs volunteers to be classroom grandparents who make a difference in a child’s life while also earning a tax-free hourly stipend. This opportunity takes place in an assigned classroom at one of seven five-star-rated Encompass centers in Brown County. The Foster Grandparent program joins together two generations, enhancing the quality of life for seniors by giving them a sense of purpose while also giving children a consistent grandparent figure who encourages them in social play and classroom activities. Volunteers need to meet limited income guidelines as required by AmeriCorps Seniors (the program’s funding source). Shifts: flexible school-day hours. Minimum age: 55.

Encompass Early Education & Care - Deb Johnson

920-785-9710, djohnson@encompasswi.org

Side Walkers and Horse Leaders

Horse leaders control the equine during therapy and adaptive riding sessions and, with direction from the therapist or instructor, are responsible for maintaining a safe and effective session. Horse leaders must have previous horse experience through riding lessons, owning or leasing a horse, or other comparable experiences. Depending upon level of experience, duties may include leading the equine during sessions, grooming, tacking and untacking, bringing in or turning out horses, basic barn chores, and other duties as needed. All prospective horse leaders must complete orientation and a horse leader assessment.

Side walkers walk alongside the horse and rider and assist in keeping that rider safe during their session. Following direction from a therapist, side walkers may be asked to engage with their riders and assist in therapeutic activities unique to each rider. Side walkers also assist in sanitizing equipment after each session, including helmets, belts, toys, and therapy equipment.

Shifts for both roles: Mondays-Thursdays, 9:00 am-7:00 pm. Minimum age: 14.

Exceptional Equestrians - Bekah Morrow

920-347-3174, bmorrow@exceptionalequestrians.org

Logo Designer

JOSHUA is trying something new as a way to solidify their brand and how they’re seen to the community. They want their logo to be easy to identify and give insight to what they do. Help them spruce up their old logo (with the scales of justice) as 2025 begins! JOSHUA is a social justice nonprofit that advocates for issues that affect marginalized members of the community. You can learn more about them at joshua4justice.org to get a better feel for who they are in your design endeavors. If you have some time on your hands during your school break or are looking for a fun and creative virtual opportunity, then this is for you! You don’t need any expertise to be a part of this (unless you have the experience, which is a bonus) and it can be done on your own time. By participating, you are agreeing to give them the full rights of your design, if chosen. They can’t wait to see what you create. Submit your logo design to joshua4justice@gmail.com.

JOSHUA - Caitlin Haynes

920-301-0022

Opinion Editorial Writing

This volunteer opportunity is for people looking for a powerful way to amplify their voice, share expertise, and engage in public conversation with JOSHUA and their followers. If you’re interested in social justice such as housing, transformational (legal system reform), immigration, the environment, and more, then this may be for you! It will be a learning opportunity to help you shape your public opinion, establish credibility, engage with decision-makers, raise awareness, and catalyze change. In an era where informed voices are critical, writing an op-ed allows you to make a lasting impact on your community and beyond. It’s your chance to contribute to the narrative and shape the future. JOSHUA would love to hear what you have to say and publish your content under their platform. Flexible shifts, make your own schedule. Contact them for guidelines and further details.

JOSHUA - Caitlin Haynes

920-301-0022, joshua4justice@gmail.com

One-on-One Adult Tutoring Program

Literacy Green Bay is expanding its Adult Tutoring Program outside the basic skills of reading, writing, and speaking to meet the growing demands within our community. As a student-centered program, their tutors help students focus on goals that are specific to the needs of the student. Training and curriculum are provided. No teaching experience is needed. If you can speak English, you can teach English. Currently, in addition to ELL tutors, Literacy has the following specific tutoring needs: 

• GED student with dyslexia 
• Accuplacer Placement Test
• Microsoft 365 and basic computer skills 

Flexible scheduling; meet once or twice a week for 1-2 hours as established with your student. Minimum age: 17.

Literacy Green Bay - Carleen Jeanquart

920-435-2474, cjeanquart@literacygreenbay.org

Volunteer Advocates for Seniors Living in Long Term Care

Volunteers will be making friendly visits with seniors living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, and while visiting, they educate residents about their rights, listen to concerns residents may have, empower residents to resolve or address concerns they have, and offer to advocate on the resident's behalf, if given permission to do so! Shifts: any day of the week between 8:00 am-8:00 pm. Minimum age: 18.

State of Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care - Andie Grassl 

920-637-4417, andrea.grassl@wisconsin.gov

Senior Program Assistant

The Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay is looking for volunteers to help prepare the senior room for their Monday and Tuesday bridge program. They need a volunteer to get the refreshment table ready by making coffee, filling the water jug, and bringing baked goods from their downstairs lunchroom upstairs to the senior room. Duties also include washing dishes/running the dishwasher and letting in the bridge players. This role requires standing, walking, and light lifting. Location: The Salvation Army Corps, 626 Union Ct., Green Bay. Shifts: Mondays and Tuesdays, 11:30 am-1:00 pm. Minimum age: 18. Click here to sign up.

The Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay - Michaela Koepp

920-593-2375, michaela.koepp@usc.salvationarmy.org

Quitting Tobacco Resource Table

The Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay’s building will be participating in a new program called You Can Quit Tobacco, We Can Help, which will provide research to UWGB-Madison. They need volunteers to sit at a back table during their lunch program twice a month to engage people who may want to quit smoking, chewing, or vaping. Location: The Salvation Army Corps, 626 Union Ct., Green Bay. Shifts: Twice a month on weekdays, 11:00 am-12:15 pm. Minimum age: 18. 

The Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay - Michaela Koepp

920-593-2375, michaela.koepp@usc.salvationarmy.org

Various Volunteer Roles

Unity is a not-for-profit partnership of Bellin Health, St. Mary's HSHS, and St. Vincent HSHS. Unity cares for patients with serious illnesses and provides support for caregivers. The services help maintain patients' dignity, comfort, and self-determination. Unity's grief services are a resource and support for families and the greater community. Needed are:

• Companion volunteers to be with patients who have a serious illness. These volunteers may provide respite for caregivers or socialization for patients.
• Hospice residence volunteers to provide hospitality and visit with patients or help serve meals.
• Creative project volunteers crochet comfort shawls, sew teddy bears, or make patient birthday cards.
• Community outreach volunteers assist with expos, fundraising, or distributing marketing materials.
• Resale shoppe volunteers to help with daily operations.

Flexible days and times. Minimum age: 18.

Unity - Kelly Lautenslager 

920-338-1111, klautenslager@unityhospice.org

Resale Shoppe East

Unity is seeking fun and friendly volunteers to fulfill daily operations of a new, second resale shop located in East De Pere. Unity, a non-profit provider of nonmedical home care, palliative care, hospice care, and grief support, uses the proceeds from the shop to directly support Unity's compassionate care programs. Volunteers are needed to receive, sort, price, stage, and merchandise items, along with greeting customers and cashiering. If you are interested in joining their tremendous team and working in an inspiring environment for an organization that provides the highest level of care to patients and their families during life's most precious times, please contact them. Flexible shifts. Minimum age: 18.

Unity - Kelly Lautenslager

920-338-1111, klautenslager@unityhospice.org

Resale Shoppe West

Unity Resale Shoppe West, a part of Unity Hospice, would like volunteers to help with various roles, including accepting, cleaning, and sorting donations; pricing merchandise and staging it on the sales floor; and working the cash register. Shifts: Mondays-Thursdays, 10:00 am-1:00 pm, 1:00-4:00 pm, and 4:00-6:00 pm; Fridays, 10:00 am-1:00 pm and 1:00-4:00 pm; and Saturdays, 10:00 am-2:00 pm. Individuals ages 16-17 are welcome to volunteer with parental consent.

Unity - Kelly Lautenslager

920-338-1111, klautenslager@unityhospice.org

Mission: To bring people together to find lasting and effective solutions to conflict.

Please consider donating needed items to these area nonprofits. Thank you!