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18 Volunteer Opportunities In Phoenix Where To Lend A Helping Hand

18 Volunteer Opportunities in Phoenix: Where to Lend a Helping Hand

| Last Updated: January 2024

Don’t you wish everyday was Christmas? Well, you can make that happen by living out the spirit of giving every day in your community in Phoenix. 

In this article, we’ve wrapped up the 18 best volunteer opportunities where you can put generosity into action. From furry friends at shelters to hungry bellies at soup kitchens, there’s something for everyone on this list. 

1. Treasures 4 Teachers

Website: http://www.treasures4teachers.org/

Address: 3802 N 91st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85037

Contact: https://www.facebook.com/WestValleyT4T/

Treasures 4 Teachers aim to bridge the gap between the need for school supplies and available resources in the Phoenix community. They collect donations such as reusable foam signage with a blank side, posters, and more. 

You can help sort the donated items, price them, and keep the shelves organized, which is perfect for those who find organizing therapeutic. You’ll also be in charge of warehouse and showroom floor stocking and make sure everything’s tidy. 

2. Street Medicine Phoenix

Website: https://publichealth.arizona.edu/outreach/street-medicine-phoenix

Address: Downtown, Phoenix

Contact: (602) 496-0837

Street Medicine Phoenix is a student-driven health care and social justice team consisting of college students and faculty primarily from universities in Arizona. It aims to help homeless people and give them access to community resources.

Volunteers can participate in street outreach activities, visit encampments and shelters and provide medical care and referrals to social services. You can also educate others about the needs of homeless people and advocate for policies that improve their lives.

3. One Warm Coat

Website: https://www.onewarmcoat.org/share-warmth/donate-coats/

Address: 4002 N 67Th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85033

Contact: 877-663-9276

One Warm Coat is a national non-profit organization that works to provide a free, warm coat to any person in need. As a volunteer, you can help plan, set up, and manage coat drives at businesses, community centers, or religious institutions. 

Besides collecting, sorting, and packing coats, volunteers can also help spread awareness about their mission through social media, event tabling, or distributing flyers.

4. Ben’s Bells

Website: https://bensbells.org/

Address: 1333 W Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85013

Contact: 602-374-5523

Ben’s Bells are colorful ceramic flowers hung in communities as symbols of kindness for people to find and take home. They are called “Be Kind” ornaments and are sold in shops, and proceeds help fund their open art studios and kindness education programs. 

Volunteers can join open studio sessions and help create colorful ceramic ornaments, “kindness coins,” and other items. You can even schedule a dedicated time for your group to participate in a studio session, perfect for team building or family fun.

5. Feed My Starving Children

Website: http://www.feedmhc.org/

Address: 1741 W Rose Garden Ln, Phoenix, AZ 85027

Contact: 480-626-1970

Feed My Starving Children makes volunteers work in teams to hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags. These bags are sealed, boxed, and shipped to the neediest children worldwide. 

Other volunteer activities involve assisting in the kitchen, preparing ingredients and washing dishes. Volunteers inspect packed meals, weigh them for proper portioning, and check for damaged or missing components.

6. St. Mary’s Food Bank 

Website: volunteer.firstfoodbank.org

Address: 3131 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017

Contact: 602-343-3134

St. Mary’s Food Bank has provided food to people in need for 55 years in the Arizona community. Today, they distribute 300,000 meals per day, six days a week.

Volunteers in St. Mary’s Food Bank pack emergency food boxes with non-perishable items, sort food, or repack bulk produce. They also sort and organize donated food items and prepare Kids Café meals for children facing hunger.

7. HandsOn Greater Phoenix 

Website: https://www.handsonphoenix.org/

Address: 1125 E Southern Ave # 200, Mesa, AZ 85204, USA

Contact: 602-973-2212

HandsOn Greater Phoenix is a volunteer management organization that connects residents with nonprofits that need help. You can search their online database for volunteer positions by location, type of charity, and when they can donate their time. 

Here, you can help with home repairs, community garden projects, or prepare and serve meals at shelters, food banks, or community events. Mentoring or tutoring activities also exist for those lacking access to education.

8. No Child Hungry

Website: https://www.nochildhungry.net/

Address: 22230 N. Black Canyon Hwy. Phoenix, AZ 85027

Contact: [email protected]

No Child Hungry works with corporate and community groups to collect, pack, and provide nutritional meals to hungry children and families. Meals can be distributed locally to groups’ chosen organizations. 

Volunteers pack and distribute healthy meals and snacks to children in need through various programs like mobile pantries and after-school meal programs. They can also assist with fundraising events like charity walks, galas, or food drives.

9. Phoenix Rescue Mission  

Website: http://phoenixrescuemission.org/

Address: 1801 S 35th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009

Contact: (602) 254-0727

Phoenix Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization that provides shelter, food, and vital resources to individuals experiencing homelessness. Its coaches travel the streets of Phoenix, offering water, assistance, and Hope Totes to the homeless they meet. 

As a volunteer, you can help by packing food boxes, sorting donations, and distributing groceries at various centers. You can also help provide guidance and support to program participants and assist with education and literacy programs.

10. Homeward Bound

Website: https://homewardboundaz.org/

Address: 2302 W Colter St, Phoenix, AZ 85015

Contact: (602) 263-7654

Homeward Bound offers case management, financial coaching, and employment to help families transition into stable housing. They provide shelter, case management, financial coaching, employment help, and other support services.

As a volunteer, you can assist families with daily tasks in the shelter, such as childcare, meal preparation, and housekeeping. You can also help families with budgeting and financial planning or even provide transportation to appointments for social services.

11. one•n•ten

Website: https://onenten.org/become-a-volunteer/

Address: 1101 N Central Ave #202, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Contact: 602-400-2601

one•n•ten is dedicated to serving the LGBTQ+ community with safe spaces and health and wellness services. They have a volunteer program for those who can commit to regular volunteering at least once a week for 3 to 6 months.

Volunteers can support the organization by leading games, facilitating discussions and providing emotional support. There are also community service projects where they can help with painting and gardening at the youth center or satellite locations.

12. Arizona Humane Society

Website: azhumane.org/volunteer

Address: 9226 N 13th Ave, 1311 W Hatcher Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85021

Contact: 602-997-7585

The Arizona Humane Society is a non-profit organization that provides shelter and care for animals in need.  As a volunteer, you’ll be able to work with animals, from dogs and cats to bunnies and even reptiles. 

You can help with animal care by becoming a pet attendant who plays and provides primary care for dogs, cats, and other animals in the shelter. You can also be a dog walker or cat cuddler to keep the animals healthy and help relieve their stress. 

13. Keep Tempe Beautiful 

Website: https://keeptempebeautiful.org/

Address: 315 W Elliot Road, Suite 107-301, Tempe, AZ 85284

Contact: 602-926-0236

Keep Tempe Beautiful organizes regular clean-up events in different Tempe neighborhoods. These events focus on removing litter from parks, streets, and waterways, usually on Saturdays.

Keep Tempe Beautiful hosts special clean-up events like Earth Day Clean Up and the Great Arizona Cleanup. There are also public art projects where you can get creative and make murals, sculptures, or public art installations that beautify the city.

14. Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona

Website: https://freeartsaz.org/

Address: 352 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012

Contact: (602) 258-8100

Free Arts of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that helps abused and neglected children heal and thrive. Their mission is to transform the lives of children who have experienced abuse, neglect or homelessness with art programs and events. 

Art Mentorship is the core program, where volunteers mentor and guide children through art workshops. No prior art experience is required, just a passion for creativity and a desire to connect with children.

15.  Phoenix Park Steward

Website: http://phxparksfoundation.org/funding-priorities/parks-stewardship-program/

Address: 1331 N 7th St Suite 190, Phoenix, AZ 85006

Contact: 602-262-4885

Phoenix Park Steward volunteers are crucial in monitoring, protecting, and maintaining the over 35,000 acres of desert parks and mountain preserves in Phoenix. 

These volunteers go on trail patrol to observe and report park violations, damage, or safety hazards. They also document sightings of flora and fauna, contributing valuable data to conservation efforts and monitoring water sources like tanks and wells. 

16. Keep Phoenix Beautiful

Website: http://www.keepphxbeautiful.org/

Address: 200 W Washington St #16, Phoenix, AZ 85003

Contact: (602) 262-4820

Keep Phoenix Beautiful is a non-profit organization that promotes the preservation and protection of the environment. They host recycling and clean-up events and provide educational programs on litter prevention.

Volunteers are at the forefront of cleaning litter, planting trees, and maintaining public parks and green spaces. They also get involved with educational programs to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainable practices.

17. Southwest Human Development

Website: https://www.swhd.org/

Address: 2850 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85008

Contact: (602) 266-5976

Southwest Human Development is Arizona’s largest nonprofit dedicated to early childhood development, serving 140,000 children. Volunteers help with fundraising activities, community outreach initiatives, and developmental screenings. 

Volunteers can also help distribute books in communities and participate in the children’s games and activities areas of the annual Thrive to Five Playfest in March or 

the Easterseals Golf Classic in November

18. ICAN

Website: icanaz.org/get-involved/volunteer-can

Address: 650 E. Morelos St., Chandler

Contact: 480-821-4207

ICAN is an East Valley after-school program that relies heavily on volunteers who assist kids with homework, in the computer lab, with arts and crafts, sports and recreation, and during special events. 

You can be a classroom volunteer who can help with homework and facilitate daily lesson activities. You can also volunteer as a reading buddy in the literacy center and help the youth to increase their literacy skills through reading out loud with volunteers.  

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