How you can help

The Inspired volunteer calendar offers many opportunities to make a difference.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 18, 2025 at 12:00PM
Michelle Horovitz (right), director of Appetite for Change, helped make egg rolls during a cooking workshop with teenagers at a church in Minneapolis, Minn., on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. A former public defender and lifelong foodie, Michelle Horovitz is taking an entrepreneurial approach to expanding Appetite for Change, the nonprofit she started in 2011 to help address the "food desert" in north Minneapolis. Also picture is Princess Ann Nelson (center) and De'Arreon Robinson (who works with
Appetite for Change cooking workshop. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

PAINTING PROJECTS

Paint hallways in the Dorothy Day Residence in downtown St. Paul. Great group opportunity. Five to six hours Monday through Friday. Contribution toward supplies is not required but appreciated. cctwincities.org

ASSISTANT

Appetite for Change focuses on making fresh food available and accessible in north Minneapolis. Assist with youth and workforce development programs, meal boxes, urban agriculture and cooking workshops. afcmn.org

HELP NEEDED

Blood donors needed at one of Memorial Blood Center’s donor centers. 1-1½ hours. Must meet eligibility requirements; call 651-332-7000 to determine eligibility. Minimum age is 16. mbc.org

MUSEUM ASSISTANT

The Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul provides fun for all ages. Open hours, events, cleaning and maintenance, social media and more. tcmrm.org

COOKING ASSISTANT

Help Project for Pride in Living prepare and serve meals to youth enrolled in PPL’s Youth Program. 5-6 p.m. Tuesdays, St. Paul location. Meals can be cooked on-site in the kitchen or brought prepared and ready to serve. ppl-inc.org

HYGIENE PRODUCT DRIVE

Bridge to Basics deals with hygiene poverty by collaborating with local nonprofits to provide clients with daily essentials. Consider holding a drive in your workplace, faith community or other group. bridgetobasics.org

EDUCATION ASSISTANT

African Career Education & Resources works for systemic change that advances racial and economic equity in our communities. They work in the areas of health equity, economic and community development, housing justice, and civic engagement. A variety of opportunities are available. acerinc.org

THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING

Help the River Valley Riders provide therapeutic horseback riding opportunities for people with special needs. At the riding sessions, the main jobs are horse leader and side walker. You don’t need horse experience to volunteer — just a willingness to learn. Must be comfortable around horses. rivervalleyriders.org

PAINT BIRDHOUSES

Wingspan Life Resources serves adults with developmental and other disabilities. Help paint gourd birdhouses that will sold in a silent auction in spring. Birdhouses will be supplied. Volunteers bring painting supplies and artistic creativity. wingspanlife.org

DRIVER

Assist Community Emergency Service with Meals on Wheels. Routes are in south and north Minneapolis. Pick up meals at 10:30 a.m. and deliver to five to eight seniors. cesmn.org

CLASSROOM SUPPORT

The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation partners with St. Paul Public Schools on Achievement Plus, a classroom support program at Bruce Vento Elementary. Volunteers will help students K-5 and assist classroom teachers. Must be at least 18 years old. Training provided and background check required. wilder.org

DRIVE SENIORS

Help Neighborhood Network for Seniors in giving lifts for medical appointments, deliver groceries or run errands for seniors who are living independently but unable to drive. Volunteers required four hours a month. Schedule is flexible. neighborhoodnetworkforseniors.org

CAMP ASSISTANT

Camp Odayin operates specifically for children with heart disease. Cabin counselors are needed for residential camps in Crosslake, Minn., and Elkhorn, Wis. Counselors will work in pairs, live in a cabin and supervise a group of six to eight campers. Training for the five-day camp session is provided. Full medical staff assistance on-site. Variety of dates available. campodayin.org

CLASS ASSISTANT

SparkPath (formerly Success Beyond the Classroom) works to ignite curiosity and learning among students through various events and conferences such as Knowledge Bowl, Young Authors Conference and Creativity Festival. Wide range of opportunities available. sparkpath.org

RECEPTIONIST

Walk-In Counseling Center in Minneapolis provides high-quality counseling to people with urgent needs. Coordinate services during clinic hours. Volunteers must have good interpersonal skills and commit to a regular evening or afternoon shift for at least six months. Some background in psychology or the social sciences is helpful. walkin.org

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

Trying to find opportunities suitable for young children? Doing Good Together helps people raise compassionate and socially conscious children through family volunteerism. doinggoodtogether.org

Find more

Visit the HandsOn Twin Cities website at handsontwincities.org.

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Michelle Horovitz (right), director of Appetite for Change, helped make egg rolls during a cooking workshop with teenagers at a church in Minneapolis, Minn., on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. A former public defender and lifelong foodie, Michelle Horovitz is taking an entrepreneurial approach to expanding Appetite for Change, the nonprofit she started in 2011 to help address the "food desert" in north Minneapolis. Also picture is Princess Ann Nelson (center) and De'Arreon Robinson (who works with

The Inspired volunteer calendar offers many opportunities to make a difference.

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