Ongoing Local Volunteer Opportunities

The following organizations, listed by town, need volunteers year round. Contact them directly about one time opportunities or recurring volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. 

Amesbury
Boston
Billerica
Brockton
Cambridge 
Chelsea
Dorchester
Fitchburg
Framingham
Gardner
Gloucester
Harwich
Haverhill
Jamaica Plain
Lowell
Northampton
Quincy
Pepperell
Raynham
Revere
Southwick
Worcester

Amesbury

Community Action, Inc.

Community Action, Inc. helps individuals and families overcome poverty through education, advocacy, and services to meet basic human needs. Volunteers are needed to help sort food in the food pantry after donations have been delivered. 

  • When: Every Tuesday afternoon
  • Where: 11 School Street, Amesbury, MA 01913
  • How to sign up: Contact Susan at 978-388-2570.
  • Requirements: Groups of two to three people can be accommodated, and youth must be accompanied by an adult. 
  • More information: http://www.communityactioninc.org/

Billerica

Billerica Food Pantry

The Billerica Food pantry provides assistance to hundreds of low-income families in the community.  Volunteers are needed to hep sort donated goods and to pack grocery bag. 

  • When: Packing grocery bags every Saturday from 9:30A.M. until noon and sorting donated goods the last Tuesday of each month.
  • Where: C/o Veterans Services Town Hall, 365 Boston Road, Billerica, MA 01821.
  • How to sign up: Contact Marie O'Rourke or Ken Buffum at 978-671-0968.
  • Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.

Boston

Cathedral Church of St. Paul Monday Lunch Program

Every Monday at noon, the Cathedral Church of St. Paul offers a meal, friendship and vital services to hungry and homeless people in Boston.  Volunteers are needed to help shop for food, cook, serve, and clean.  Help is also needed with extra meals that are served around the holidays.

  • When:  Mondays at noon. Many Volunteers come by on their lunch break.
  • Where:  138 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111.
  • How to sign up:  Contact Steve Bonsey at sbonsey@diomass.org or 617-482-5000.

Red Cross Boston Food Pantry

The Red Cross’s Boston Food Pantry provides a 3-day emergency supply of food to 4,500 clients each month 55,000 annually making it the largest emergency food pantry in the city of Boston.  Help assemble bags of groceries, distribute to clients, and help clients fill out intake questionnaires.  Spanish, Russian, Cantonese and Mandarin speakers are needed to translate for clients. 

  • When:  Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. 
  • Where: 1033 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118.
  • How to sign up: Contact Emily Walton at 617-274-5200 x5598 or waltone@usa.redcross.org.
  • Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.

Ricesticks and Tea Food Pantry

The Ricesticks and Tea Food Pantry is an Asian Food Pantry program that distributes culturally appropriate food staples in a linguistically sensitive setting once a month at the Arlington Street Church in downtown Boston.  Volunteers are needed to help move boxes of food from the Greater Boston Food Bank to the church and boxes of Chinese groceries that have been dropped off, then unpack the boxes, prepare bags of groceries, and distribute them to clients.

  • When: Two Volunteers are needed on the second Friday of each month to unpack food and prepare bags. Hours are approximately 11:30A.M. to 12:30P.M. Up to 15 Volunteers are needed to distribute food on the second Saturday of each month from 7:30 A.M. to 9:30 A.M.
  • Where: Arlington Street Church, 351 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116.
  • How to sign up: Contact Sherry Dong at ricesticksandtea@gmail.com.
  • Requirements: Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Starlight Ministries

The Emmanuel Gospel Center’s Starlight Ministries provides outreach and services to homeless women in Boston and Cambridge.  Volunteers are needed to help with van outreach, and in the drop-in center and arts community. 

  • When: Help with van outreach on Wednesday and Thursday nights.  Work with homeless youth at the arts community on Tuesdays.  Help in the drop-in center on Mondays and Thursdays.
  • Where: Emmanuel Gospel Center, 2 San Juan Street, Boston, MA 02118.
  • How to sign up: Contact Jane Dizazzo at jdizazzo@egc.org or Alex Grant at agrant@egc.org.
  • Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.  Training is provided.
  • More information: http://www.egc.org/

Brockton

Father Bill’s Place

Father Bill’s Place, which has recently merged with the MainSpring Coalition for the Homeless, seeks to end homelessness in eastern Massachusetts through providing emergency shelter, supportive services, and helping people find safe and affordable housing. Help purchase, prepare, cook, and serve food for between 60 and 110 guests. Volunteers are also needed to assist shelter staff to check in guests and to monitor the resource room, where guests use computers and telephones to search for housing and employment.

  • When: In the kitchen every day from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. or 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. (for groups only). In the resource room every day from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. To assist staff members with intake every day from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
  • Where: 54 N. Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301.
  • How to sign up: For the kitchen, contact Paul Anderson at 617-770-3314 x224. For other opportunities at the Brockton site, contact April Connolly at 508-587-5441 x218.
  • Requirements: Individuals must be 18 or older and complete a criminal background check.  The kitchen is available for groups only and must have adult leaders. Children in the group can be 13 or older with no background check required. 
  • More information: http://www.fatherbillsmainspring.org/

First Evangelical Lutheran Church

The First Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Food for Friend’s program provides a food pantry for Brockton families in need.  Help prepare and distribute bags of groceries and register clients.  Volunteers are especially needed to help interpret for Cape Verdian and Haitian clients and assist them in selecting food. 

  • When: Serve the second Saturday of each month between 8:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.  The church also wants to start a distribution day on the fourth Sunday of each month and needs Volunteers to help prepare grocery bags for that day.
  • Where: 900 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301.
  • How to sign up: Contact Cheryl Ruby at cruby1@msn.com or 774-222-2248 or Cathy Chaplic at cawich@verizon.net.
  • Requirements: Adults are preferred. Individuals and groups of five or less are welcome.
  • More information: http://www.firstevlutheran.org/

Cambridge

Cambridge Senior Center Food Pantry

The Cambridge Senior Center Food Pantry offers groceries twice a week to elders to help supplement their household food items. Help transport and stock tables with food items and distribute to elders. 

  • When:  Tuesdays and Thursday from 11:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
  • Where:  806 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139.
  • How to sign up:  Contact Lena Bell at lbell@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-6046.
  • Requirements:  Volunteers must be at least 18 years old.  

East End House

The East End House is committed to strengthening family and community by providing programs and services to low-income families in Cambridge and Greater Boston.  Help stock food and assist customers in the food pantry, or set up and man tables at the farmer’s market.  Volunteers with special talents are also needed to do a presentation or workshop at the Sunrise Club, an activity group for senior citizens.

  • When: Help in the food pantry on Tuesdays from 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. or Fridays from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.  Help in the farmer’s market on the first Monday of each month from 1:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. and the first Wednesday of each month from 12:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. Sunrise Club occurs each Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.
  • Where: 105 Spring Street, East Cambridge, MA 02141.
  • How to sign up: Contact Emily Bullen at emily@eastendhouse.org or 617-876-4444.
  • Requirements: Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • More information:  http://www.eastendhouse.org/  

Chelsea

Chelsea Community Kitchen

The Chelsea Community Kitchen serves breakfast and lunch on Saturdays to anyone in need.  The kitchen seeks Volunteers to help serve meals and assist with clean-up after meals.

  • When: Every Saturday from 9:00AM to 1:00PM.
  • Where: St. Luke Episcopal Church, 201 Washington Avenue, Chelsea, MA 02150.
  • How to sign up: Contact Keith Jones at 617-800-2216 or keith_jones@bbns.org.
  • Requirements: Volunteers who are 16 years old or younger must be accompanied by an adult.  Groups can be accommodated, and families are encouraged to volunteer together.

Dorchester

ABCD Elm Hill Family Services

ABCD Elm Hill Family Services provides a food pantry open every day for members of the Elm Hill community of North Dorchester and Roxbury.  Volunteers are needed to sort food, serve meals, and help with data entry.

  • When: Monday through Friday between 9:00AM and 5:00PM.
  • Where: 22 Elm Hill, Dorchester, MA 02121.
  • How to sign up: Contact Elizabeth Salazar at 617-442-5900, ext 212, or salazar@abcd.org.
  • More information: http://www.bostonabcd.org/

Fitchburg

Cleghorn Neighborhood Center

The Cleghorn Neighborhood Center serves the residents of the Cleghorn section of Fitchburg by providing after school programs for children, educational opportunities for adults, and other programs for families.  Help the center provide extra groceries to families in the area.

  • When:  Volunteers are needed for a few hours at a time two to three times per week.  Typical shifts are from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. or 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M.
  • Where:  2 Fairmont Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420
  • How to sign up:  Contact Glendaly Lopez at 978-342-2069.
  • Requirements:  Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and able to lift heavy boxes.  Volunteers must go through training and make an ongoing commitment.  Individuals and small groups are welcome. 

Framingham

New Bethel Baptist Church Food Pantry

The New Bethel Baptist Church Food Pantry provides food assistance to the local community.  Volunteers are needed to help with food distribution.

Gardner

Gardner VNA Community Service Center

The Gardner Visiting Nurses Association’s Community Service Center offers daily drop-in activities to Fitchburg residents at risk for HIV and AIDS, helping individuals take steps toward healthy living and self-sufficiency through skill building, education and access to health care resources.  Help the center run its food pantry by packing and distributing grocery bags for clients or picking up food donations from the food bank.

  • When:  Every Wednesday to help with the food pantry and other miscellaneous times to drive to the food bank to pick up food donations.
  • Where:  34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440
  • How to sign up:  Contact Gail Dorval at 978-632-1230.
  • Requirements:  An ongoing commitment is preferred as training is required. 

Gloucester

The Open Door/Cape Ann Food Pantry, Inc.

The Open Door/Cape Ann Food Pantry provides meals, groceries, job training and job placement to the communities of Cape Ann, Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Manchester, and Ipswich.  Help distribute food at the food pantry, serve meals, or work in the resale shop.

  • When: Distribute food at the pantry Monday through Friday, with varying hours.  Serve meals at the Open Door on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 4:00PM to 6:00PM.  Work in the Second Glance Resale Shop Monday through Saturday between 10:00AM and 6:00PM.
  • Where: 28 Emerson Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930.
  • How to sign up: Email Jen Perry at jen@foodpantry.org.
  • More information: http://www.capeannfoodpantry.org/

Harwich

The Family Pantry

The Family Pantry provides food and clothing to individuals and families in need throughout Cape Cod. Help sort and package redeemable bottles, which provides a large source of revenue for the pantry. They are also looking for a Volunteer with computer skills to assist in writing reports in Microsoft Access and updating their website. 

  • When: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 7:00 A.M. to 10:30 or 11:00 A.M., especially from now through September.
  • Where: 133 Queen Anne Road, Harwich, MA 02645
  • How to sign up: Contact Mary Anderson at manderson@thefamilypantry.com or 508-432-6519.
  • Requirements: Must be at least 15 years of age.

Haverhill

Emmaus, Inc.

Emmaus, Inc. provides emergency shelter, support services, education and job training to homeless families in Haverhill and helps them find affordable housing.  Volunteers are needed to help with preparing meals, picking up, sorting, and storing food donations, cleaning, tutoring, and providing office support.

  • When: Times vary.  Special events take pace in October and July.
  • Where: 127 Howe Street, Haverhill, MA 01830.
  • How to sign up: Individuals should contact Rachel Thompson at 978-241-3437 or rachel@emmausinc.org.  Groups should contact Terri Rousseau at 978-241-3425 or terri@emmausinc.org.
  • More information: http://www.emmausinc.org/

Jamaica Plain

Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) Food Pantry

In addition to other support services, this neighborhood center runs an emergency food pantry for local residents.  Help bring in boxes of food, store food on shelves, and prepare bags of food for distribution.  Volunteers bilingual in English and Spanish are especially encouraged to assist Spanish-speaking clients.

  • When:  Wednesdays from 11:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
  • Where: 295 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.
  • How to sign up:  Contact Ana de Bechtold at sotob@bostonabcd.org or 617-522-4250 x29.
  • Requirements:  Volunteers must be able to lift boxes.
  • More information:  http://www.bostonabcd.org/

Community Servings

Community Servings provides free home-delivered meals throughout eastern Massachusetts to people homebound with HIV/AIDS and other acute life-threatening illnesses, who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. Help Community Servings prepare and package 700 meals daily.  Tasks include everything from peeling carrots and chopping celery to packaging salads and desserts and delivering the meals. Volunteers are also needed for various special events throughout the year.

  • When: Help in the kitchen is needed from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.  Van Volunteers are needed to assist drivers in delivering meals to clients Monday through Friday for 6 8 hours per day. Saturday Meal Delivery Volunteers are needed from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and must commit to at least one Saturday per month. 
  • Where:  18 Marbury Terrace, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. Located near Stony Brook T Station on the Orange Line.
  • How to sign up:  Contact Rebecca Ober at robber@servings.org or 617-522-7777 x228.
  • Requirements:  Kitchen Volunteers must be at least 13 years old, and Van Volunteers must be at least 16.  Delivery Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have a reliable vehicle.  Groups of up to 15 are welcome (10 if it’s a youth group).
  • More information:  http://www.servings.org/

Lowell

Catholic Charities Food Pantry of Lowell

The Catholic Charities Food Pantry in Lowell provides food assistance to the local community.  The pantry needs help picking up donations, stocking food, and assisting clients in the pantry.

  • When: Monday through Thursday from 12:00PM to 3:30PM.
  • Where: 174 Central Street, Lowell, MA 01852.
  • How to sign up: Contact Delis Rivera at 978-454-9946 or delis-rivera@ccab.org.

House of Hope

House of Hope provides emergency shelter and services to hundreds of homeless families in Lowell.  Help serve dinner to residents, clean up, and play with children in the playroom.

  • When: Serve dinner on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.  Help in the playroom on Monday through Friday between 6:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
  • Where: 812 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01854
  • How to sign up: Contact Edna Gustafson at ednahoh@hopelowell.org or 978-458-2870 to schedule an interview and orientation.
  • Requirements: Youth must be accompanied by an adult.
  • More information: http://www.hopelowell.org/

Northampton

Manna Meal Program

The Manna Meal Program serves three meals each week to Northampton residents out of two local churches. Help set up for the meals, serve food, and clean up afterwards.

  • When:  On Mondays and Saturdays at lunchtime and on Wednesdays at dinnertime.
  • Where:  48 Elm Street, Northampton, MA 01063.
  • How to sign up:  Contact Robert Saalfrank at 413-587-2674.

Pepperell

Pepperell Food Pantry

The Pepperell Food Pantry, located at the Pepperell Senior Center, provides groceries for low-income elders and families in Pepperell.  Volunteers are needed to help with monthly food distribution.

  • When: The second Thursday of each month from 12:00PM to 4:00PM.
  • Where: 37 Nashua Road, Pepperell, MA 01463.
  • How to sign up: Contact Sharon Mercurio at 978-433-0326.
  • Requirements: Volunteers under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Quincy

Father Bill’s Place

Father Bill’s Place, which has recently merged with the MainSpring Coalition for the Homeless, seeks to end homelessness in eastern Massachusetts through providing emergency shelter, supportive services, and helping people find safe and affordable housing.  Help purchase, prepare, cook, and serve food for between 60 and 110 guests at their emergency kitchen.  Volunteers are also needed to assist shelter staff to check in guests and to monitor the resource room, where guests use computers and telephones to search for housing and employment.

  • When: In the kitchen every day from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. or 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. (for groups only). In the resource room every day from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. To assist staff members with intake every day from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
  • Where: 38 Broad Street, Quincy, MA 02169.
  • How to sign up: For the kitchen, contact Paul Anderson at 617-770-3314 x224. For other opportunities at the Quincy site, contact Sharon Blaney at 617-770-3314 x233.
  • Requirements: Individuals must be 18 or older and complete a criminal background check.  The kitchen is available for groups only and must have adult leaders. Children in the group can be 13 or older with no background check required. 
  • More information: http://www.fatherbillsmainspring.org/

Raynham

Raynham Food Basket

The Raynham Food Basket provides groceries to families in need in Raynham.  Help sock shelves in the food pantry and transport groceries for clients.

  • When:  Times vary.
  • Where:  494 Church Street, Raynham, MA 02767
  • How to sign up:  TBD
  • Requirements:  Must be at least 18 years old.

Revere

First Congregational Church of Revere Food Pantry

The First Congregational Church of Revere provides a food pantry for community members seven days a week.  Volunteers are needed to pick up and unload food from the Greater Boston Food Bank and Panera Bread, to sort and distribute food, and to organize food drives.

  • When: Help in the food pantry every Wednesday from 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. Pick up food from the Greater Boston Food Bank the third Monday of each month from 10:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Pick up food from Panera Bread every Tuesday night.
  • Where: 230 Beach Street, Revere, MA 02151.
  • How to sign up: Contact the church office at 781-284-4158 or email Wendy Baur at cellmcrc2@aol.com.
  • More information: http://www.firstcongrever.org/

Southwick

Southwick Food Pantry

The Southwick Food Pantry provides groceries to families and individuals in Southwick.  Help the pantry transport and sort food for clients.

  • When:  Mondays from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.  Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
  • Where:  202 College Highway, Southwick, MA 01077.
  • How to sign up:  Contact Sherrill Hathaway at 413-569-9876.

Worcester

South Worcester Neighborhood Center

The South Worcester Neighborhood Center seeks to strengthen neighborhoods and improve the quality of life for residents by providing tools and services for families and businesses.  Help prepare and distribute groceries, work with families on budgeting and nutrition, and staff the summer food program for youth.  

  • When: Hours and dates vary. Volunteers are needed in the evening to prepare grocery bags for the food pantries. Pantries at each of their sites are open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. 
  • Where: 47 Camp Street, Worcester, MA 01603.
  • How to sign up: Contact Ron Charette at 508-757-8344.
  • More information: http://www.southworcester.org/

 

 

  

(Last updated 11/23/09)

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