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The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad need elves to assist with visitors riding the Polar Express. The commitment is not very long: evenings 7-8:30pm, until December 20th. Or help at the matinees times on December 7, 10, 13 and 17. Minimum age to volunteer is 14.
(Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Serving Greater Cleveland, the
is your one-stop destination to make a difference by choosing from among hundreds of volunteer opportunities. Our free service allows you to look for volunteer opportunities that address the issues that are close to your heart - arts and culture, animals, the environment, hunger, education, literacy, homelessness and many, many more.
Connect with us at BVUvolunteers.org, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also directly speak with a Referral Specialist at 216-736-7711.
Here are some upcoming volunteer opportunities. Please click on the volunteer opportunity title for more information.
Date Specific Opportunities
Collinwood High School and New Tech at Collinwood have partnered with the Food Bank of Greater Cleveland to provide fresh produce and dry goods to students, their families and anyone who lives in the community. The first market takes place on Tuesday, December 6th. Volunteers are needed from 2-6pm. Help with food distribution from (3-5pm) and with clean-up and breakdown of the market (until 6pm). They will work with your hours if you are unable to stay the entire time.
Cleveland Christian Home is seeking volunteers to help during the holidays in "Santa's Workshop". Throughout the month of December CCH needs volunteers to sort and wrap donated gifts for kids and families in CCH's care. Individuals or groups, weekdays/weekends.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad need elves to assist with visitors riding the Polar Express. The commitment is not very long: evenings 7-8:30pm, until December 20th. Or help at the matinees times on December 7, 10, 13 and 17. Minimum age to volunteer is 14.
Participate in 2100 Lakeside Men's Shelter's annual Christmas Day banquet by bringing a dish and providing fellowship with shelter residents and other area volunteers. Food donations can be received any time between December 21st and 25th. Hot foods should be brought December 24 and 25. Other volunteer opportunities include: wrap and distribute gifts, put together gift boxes for families, run a raffle, hand out clothes and donations. Ages 15 & up.
Ongoing Opportunities
Adoption Network Cleveland provides many services and programs to help foster children, adoptees, adoptive parents, birth parents and foster parents. Adoption Network is seeking volunteers to help get the word out about their programs and services so that the people who need them most can take advantage of them. Volunteers will post events, programs, and support groups on community calendars. Volunteers will be given two sites to post that month's events to. This work can be done at home or at the library at any time that is convenient for you.
Great opportunity to help kids in Grades 1-3 develop critical reading skills right in your own neighborhood. The Cuyahoga County Public Library is seeking volunteers to help at several branches, Mondays-Thursdays, 1 1/4 hour. Times vary per location but are either 4:15-5:30pm or 4:30-5:45pm. Locations include: Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Parma, and Warrensville Heights branches.
With their newly expanded 55-room House and four busy Family Rooms, The Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland served over 90,000 people in the last year alone. Wish List Drives & Donation Drives provide a great way for your team to collect items and contribute to meet the needs of families while their child is going through medical treatment. Your donations will go to immediate use to help families utilizing our House and Family Room locations. Donations are accepted daily between the hours of 9am and 8pm. If you have time, we would love to take your team on a tour of our House when you drop off your donations.
The Cleveland Metropark's North Chagrin Nature Center in Willoughby Hills is seeking a volunteer to assist with the day to day operations of the shop and offer great guest services to visitors. Expand your knowledge of nature-related books and gifts, interact with staff and public, and work in a natural setting. Help is also needed at the Watershed Stewardship Center in Parma. A commitment of one 3.5 hour shift every other week is required.
Wish List Opportunities
Esperanza's Hispanic Youth Leadership Program serves Hispanic high school students by providing them leadership opportunities through community service, academic support, and life and employment skills via our after school program. Many of the families served are unable to afford presents for their children on their own. They are in need of people who are willing to sponsor these students. Program locations include Lincoln West, Max Hayes and James F. Rhodes high school.