What’s the best way to get integrated into a community? Get out there and get into it! Volunteering is an incredible way to connect with others in our community, make new friends, and learn new skills, all while bettering our local community. None of us can fix all of the problems in our world, but all of us can contribute in our own small ways right where we are. Volunteer solo, with friends, coworkers, or with family—it all helps!
Below are ways to volunteer with local organizations doing good things in our community. Whether you’re looking to do behind-the-scenes administrative work, yard work, cuddle with animals, drive and deliver goods and meals, or spend quality time with kids or seniors, there’s something for every interest and skill here.
Don’t see your organization listed? Email us!
Rochester Public Schools
Volunteer with kids of all ages at neighborhood schools! Volunteers are always needed and welcomed. Options include volunteering in a classroom, lunchroom, recess, reading/math help, homework help, school event, or sports event by contacting your local school’s main office.
Adult Education at Hawthorne: be a classroom assistant to a teacher, provide tutoring/ homework help, and practice conversation skills in a small group. Volunteer at on-site childcare classes for adults enrolled in Hawthorne programs.
Rochester Regional STEM Fair
The STEM Fair is an event where students can showcase science and engineering projects. They build prototypes or conduct experiments, sharing what they learned with their peers. Students may win awards based on the quality of their projects and presentations.
Volunteer opportunities: Women in STEM Panelist, Workshop Facilitator, STEM Mentor, Scientific Review Committee, Judge at STEM Fair, General Volunteer at STEM Fair
Paws & Claws
Volunteers ages 12+
Paws & Claws is an animal shelter providing humane protection and shelter, pet adoption services, and more.
Take dogs for a walk, socialize with cats, help with fundraising events, or even become a foster parent. So many ways to help with pets!
Camp Companion
Animal shelter providing protection and shelter for abandoned animals as well as a spay/neuter program for feral cats in the SE MN area. Provides fostering and adoption for companion animals.
Many volunteer opportunities include adoption site animal care, cat cuddlers, adoption event volunteers, foster care, laundry, administrative work, pet photographers, fundraising, and more.
Quarry Hill Nature Center
Volunteers ages Student through Adults, Group Volunteering available
Support the staff, the park, and the wildlife, but also helping them achieve their mission of “Opening eyes and minds through natural science discovery.”
Classroom Assistant, Snowshoe & Ski Rental Assistant, Special Programs Assistant, Gardener, Materials Preparation, Outdoor Projects, Weed Warriors- invasive plant removal.
PossAbilities
A local non-profit creating opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to contribute to and connect with the community
Housekeeping, groundskeeping, activities with participants, PossAbilities events volunteer
Hiawatha Homes
Volunteers ages 17+
Hiawatha Homes supports approximately 80 individuals in Olmsted County with developmental disabilities, physical health needs, brain injury, specialized medical needs, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and emotional and behavioral health needs.
Administrative work, Basic Home Support: supporting people with disabilities at their home with grocery shopping/delivery, meal prep. Companionship: playing games, reading books, going for walks, community outings. Virtual Volunteer: connecting with individuals virtually to read, share music, and share pets virtually.
Channel One Food Bank
Volunteers ages 13+, Group Volunteering available
Channel One Food Bank provides food for over 60,000 people who face food insecurity in our greater SE Minnesota region.
Pack boxes, sort food items, support on-site food shelf, mobile food shelf, and more
Community Food Response
Community Food Response works to combat hunger in the Rochester area by collecting donated food from restaurants, cafeterias, businesses and grocery stores and distributing it free of charge to anyone facing food insecurity. In addition to helping people in need, CFR helps avoid sending good edible food into our waste stream.
Volunteer opportunities include: preparing coolers for drivers, sorting food, driving to collect food from donors, assembling food bags for distribution, food/meal distributors
The Landing MN: Day Center
Volunteers ages 18+ Day Center, ages 13+ Meal Service with adult supervision; Group Volunteering available
Serves people experiencing homelessness by providing services to assist them to stability, including meals, hygiene, clothing, social services, health/wellness care.
Serve guests in the café, organize incoming donations, stock shelves, serve meals as part of meal service
Dorothy Day House
Volunteers ages 18+, Group Volunteering available
The Dorothy Day Hospitality House is a temporary homeless shelter for adults ages 18+ conveniently located in downtown Rochester, Minnesota within walking distance to Mayo Clinic, buses, and community resources.
Shift volunteers manage guest registrations, mingle with our guests, provide hospitality to the homeless, and help our guests with other needs. Evening meal volunteers prepare, serve, and clean up a dinner meal.
Women’s Shelter and Support Center
Volunteers ages 18+
The Rochester Women’s Shelter is the only shelter for victims of domestic violence within the 10 counties that represent Southeastern Minnesota. Women’s Shelter serves nearly 3,000 victims annually and housed approximately 400-500 individuals within our community. Individuals and families served represent vast ethnic, socio-economic, educational, sexual orientation, and religious backgrounds.
A wide range of volunteering positions available, including: Client work, childcare volunteer, community outreach/public speaking, maintenance projects, gardens/landscape, donations assistant, meals, cleaning, administrative work, event planning, graphic design, and more.
Salvation Army Rochester
Volunteers—all ages depending on program, Group Volunteering available
Meeting the needs of all in the community to create change and provide hope. They offer basic services addressing food insecurity, social services, housing, medical needs, and more.
Opportunities include: Bell Ringers, Toy & Joy shop, Medical Receptionist, Pharmacy & Medical Clinic, Food Shelf volunteer, social services front desk, resource room- clothing & hygiene items, and more.
Family Service Rochester
Volunteers ages High School+, Group Volunteering available
Local non-profit that provides a wide range of services addressing mental health, child well-being, family stability, and senior independence.
A large number of opportunities: Meals on Wheels, Transportation Assist for seniors, Snow Angel snow removal, lawn care, Household Helper, grocery shopping, household maintenance and repair work, child care for adults enrolled in group programs, caregiver support & respite services, and much more.
Rochester Public Library
Volunteers ages 9th grade+
Support the work and vast number of programs of the Rochester Public Library.
Opportunities include: Friends Bookstore Clerk & Book Sales, Literacy tutor, book shelving & organizing, fundraising, assistance with public events, and more
SPARK Children’s Museum
Volunteers ages 9th grade+
Enriching the lives of young learners by creating shared, interactive experiences that engage people of all ages in the joy of play, the power of learning, and a sense of community.
Build materials for current or future exhibits, stock supplies for STEM boxes and art activities, teach a specific STEM or Art skill with a making class, and offer an extra set of hands with activities and programming.
Rochester Art Center
Volunteers ages 13+
Rochester’s cultural center for innovation and creativity through contemporary art, education, programs, and world-class exhibitions.
Will match with area of interest/skills: gallery shop, administrative work, education, internships, visitor services, special events, gallery docents
Boys & Girls Club of Rochester
Volunteers ages 18+
An out-of-school program open when kids need it most. Membership is open to youth from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The Boys & Girls Club provides programs for kids and teens tailored to their specific educational and health needs.
Will match with area of interest & skills: academic success, character & leadership, healthy lifestyles, the arts.
American Red Cross
Volunteers ages 18+, 16+ for blood donation
Helping people learn how to take care of their families and neighbors and as a critical emergency humanitarian organization, the Red Cross strengthens communities and prepares them for all types of disasters, including home fires, tornadoes, winter storms, and health emergencies.
There is a large volume of volunteer positions available from behind-the-scenes work, fundraising, and administrative work to community work with disaster services, biomedical services, service to the armed forces, and more.
Ronald McDonald House
Volunteers ages 10+, Group Volunteering available
Ronald McDonald House operates a 70-room House in Rochester, MN, which provides a home away from home and gives support to families seeking medical care for their children.
Host a House Dinner—cook and serve a meal on-site. HouseWarmers provide daily support for the needs of the House and families: welcome guest families and donors, help with cleaning and assist with organizing and restocking essential products and items.
125 Live
125 Live is a social and fitness facility for adults 18 and older. They provide countless amenities for healthy aging and also provide support and resources through their vast network of community partners and in-house resources.
Volunteers help in the following areas: Food Pantry, Welcome Desk, Tour Guides, Library, Pottery Studio, Technology Learning Center, Special Events (such as member mixers or Sunday brunch)
History Center of Olmsted County
Outdoor work- lawn mowing, snow removal, seasonal clean-up; Special events- greet visitors at events, help with field trips, interact with guests; Concessions: assist with concessions food, and money at Roosters baseball home games. Volunteers for archives and collections work are occasionally available.
