ALL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
To apply for any of the volunteer opportunities, please fill out our Volunteer Interest Form or register online for select activities. Email Sarah if you have registration questions.
You’ve Got Talent!
Can you juggle, play the piano, paint pictures or crochet? Is your dog truly man’s best friend and looking to be friends with others? If you have something special to offer that doesn’t quite fit into one of our listed volunteer opportunities, please let us know! Fill out the volunteer interest form and tell us more in the comments section.
Upcoming Opportunities
FULL - State Fair Parking Attendant
If you enjoy directing traffic, taking people’s money, and telling people to park wherever you want them to, perhaps you should consider this volunteer opportunity. Booth Brown House, a shelter for youth, turns its yard into a parking lot during the Minnesota State Fair and needs your help in order to raise needed funds. 3 people are needed for each shift. Volunteers should be able to stand and walk around the parking lot to direct cars.
Dates: August 26 – September 6
Times: 8 a.m. – Noon, Noon – 4 p.m., 4 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Booth Brown House, St. Paul
Click here to view this activity
FULL - Tailgate Party Server
You can help Salvation Army supporters enjoy a Twins tailgating party at The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center by helping to serve food, run carnival games, set up and take down event stations. The party is part of The Salvation Army and Minnesota Twins “Home Game to End Homelessness” fundraiser and will feature free barbecue and beverages, a live DJ, carnival games, Twins tattoos, a silent auction, and a live broadcast of the Twins game on Harbor Light’s big screen. Up to 20 volunteers are needed, and children can volunteer if supervised by an adult.
Date: Thursday, September 2
Time: 3 – 8 p.m. (volunteers can stay later to watch the game on the big screen)
Location: The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center, Minneapolis (free parking will be at The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center with shuttles to Harbor Light)
Click here to view this activity
Carnival Game Safety Supervisor
The Salvation Army in Maplewood will be hosting a community carnival for the neighborhood with lots of entertainment options for kids. Step right up for your chance to supervise inflatable stations such as bouncy castles, obstacles, slides, and more. At least 8 volunteers are needed for each shift, and the minimum age is 13 years old. All volunteers are welcome to enjoy the free food and games before or after their shift.
Date: Saturday, September 11
Times: 1 - 3:30 p.m., 3:30 – 6 p.m.
Location: Salvation Army Lakewood Worship and Service Center, Maplewood
Click here to register online for this activity
Coats for Kids
Imagine you’re 12-years-old and without a coat. And it’s winter. Can you see yourself shivering in the cold? Imagine that your family visits a Salvation Army Coat Boutique and is assisted by a friendly volunteer who hands your parent a warm coat, just your size. Now imagine being the volunteer who collected, sorted, and helped distribute that coat. Can you see the delight and hope that giving that coat brings? Each year, thousands of children residing in the metro area – from infants to 18 year-olds – receive a warm coat for the winter through Coats for Kids. And you can be the one to help put the coat in their hands and a smile on their face.
Coat Sorter
Help sort coats by size and gender. You may need to help unload coats off of the truck or van. All coats must be counted after sorting, and then boxed up. Some lifting is involved and you will be on your feet most of the time. Up to 6 volunteers are needed per shift. Volunteers should be at least 14 years old.
Dates: October 7 & 15
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters, 2445 Prior Ave, Roseville
Click here to register for Coat Sorter online
Coat Boutique Set-Up Volunteer
Help set-up Coat Boutiques at distribution sites. Unload and hang coats on the racks. 2 - 7 people are needed at each site, depending on the location.
Date: Wednesday, October 27
Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Coat Boutique Distribution Volunteer
Volunteers will escort and assist parents in selecting coats for their children. 5 - 17 volunteers per shift (depends on location). Volunteers taking the last shift of the day will also assist with tearing down the coat boutique (dismantling racks, packing up hangers, etc). Minimum age is 16.
Date: Thursday, October 28
Times: 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., 12:45 p.m. - 5 p.m., 4:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Below are the locations for the coat boutique. Some sites do not have a shift for set-up or a 3rd shift for distribution. Click on the location below to learn more about each shift and to register online.
St. Paul Citadel Worship and Service Center
401 W. 7th St., Saint Paul
St. Paul Eastside Worship and Service Center
1019 Payne Ave., Saint Paul
Lakewood Worship and Service Center
2080 Woodlynn Ave., Maplewood
Minneapolis Temple Worship and Service Center
1604 E. Lake St., Minneapolis
Minneapolis Parkview Worship and Service Center
2024 Lyndale Ave. N, Minneapolis
Minneapolis Central Worship and Service Center
2727 Central Ave. NE, Minneapolis
Noble Worship and Service Center
10011 Noble Pkwy, Brooklyn Park
Harvest Worship and Service Center
10347 Ibis St. NW, Coon Rapids
Adult Rehabilitation Center
Family (Thrift) Store Helper
The Adult Rehabilitation Center of The Salvation Army offers men suffering from drug and/or alcohol addiction the opportunity to regain their self-respect and acquire the life skills needed to take their rightful place in society. The main funding for the center comes from income generated at Family Stores. You can be a part of this amazing program by volunteering at a store. Help prepare merchandise for sale, organize merchandise on shelves and racks, and remove older items that have not been sold. See how old, unwanted items can create a treasure for someone else.
Dates: Monday – Saturday
Times: Flexible, 3 or more hours during store hours
Locations: Elk River and St. Paul
Emergency Disaster Service
Disaster Phone Bank Volunteer
During times of disaster, local TV stations have been generous in allowing The Salvation Army to have a phone bank during the newscast to raise money for disaster relief. We are looking for volunteers to be on call to help answer phones, fill out donation forms and be on camera should the need arise. Phone banks are usually announced for the same day or next day. On-call phone bank volunteers would receive an email and/or phone call with the times and location of the event. You may choose to accept or decline the invitation. Volunteers will be trained and provided with a shirt to wear on camera. 10 volunteers are needed for each shift.
Dates: TBA
Times: Depends on the station, one shift for the 5/6 p.m. newscast and one shift for the 9/10 p.m. newscast
Locations: TV stations in Minneapolis, St. Paul or Eden Prairie
Click here to sign-up online for this activity
Social Services
Food Shelf Helper
Prepare well-balanced food bags and distribute the bags to families waiting for their orders. Help unload donations and stock shelves. Keep food pantry clean and remove expired products. Be able to lift at least 30 lbs and stand for long periods of time.
Dates: Year round, Monday – Friday
Time: Two hours or more between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. for Minneapolis, 8 - 10 a.m. for St. Paul
Locations: Minneapolis, St. Paul
Meal Service Assistant
Assist in preparing, serving and cleanup of meals at our Harbor Light Center, The Salvation Army's homeless shelter in downtown Minneapolis. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served everyday, year round. Individuals or groups of 5 - 6 volunteers are welcome.
Qualities desired: Feel compassion for others; sensitive to issues of homelessness and aware of diverse cultural backgrounds and differences; must be 16 or older; if under the age of 18, must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.
Dates: Year round, Sunday – Saturday
Times: 6:30 – 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4 – 7 p.m.
Location: Harbor Light Center, Minneapolis
Warehouse Workers
The Salvation Army and its community partner, Hope for the City, are looking for groups of volunteers to prepare corporate surplus donations for distribution. Tasks include unloading, sorting, packing and loading donated items. Groups up to 50 people are welcome.
Dates: Year round, Monday – Friday
Times: 9 a.m. - noon and 1 - 4 p.m.
Location: St. Louis Park
Breakfast Preparation Assistant
Do you rise really early? Would you be willing to help with our breakfast program? Our St. Paul Citadel serves a hot meal Monday - Friday to an average of 300 homeless and working poor each morning. We are looking for a few dedicated individuals to come help prepare breakfast by setting up, receiving donations, stocking shelves, making toast, serving and then cleaning up. You must be able to stand and lift boxes.
Dates: Year round, Monday – Friday
Time: 5 – 10 a.m. or 6:30 - 10 a.m., two or more mornings each week
Location: St. Paul Citadel Worship and Service Center
Breakfast Server
Do you rise early and wonder what to do before 9:30? Our St. Paul Citadel location near downtown is looking for some individuals to help serve breakfast weekdays. An average of 300 homeless and working poor receive a hot breakfast each morning thanks to The Salvation Army and our volunteers. If you would be willing to do one to five days a week we would love to welcome you to our team. Individuals or groups up to 10 people are welcome.
Dates: Year round, Monday - Friday
Time: 7:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Location: St. Paul Citadel Worship and Service Center
Trash Collector
Mornings at St. Paul Citadel are busy with close to 300 people getting breakfast. A group of people that big generates a lot of trash! Someone with some muscle that can carry heavy bags from the cafeteria to the dumpster will make the breakfast program run even smoother.
Dates: Minimum once a week, Monday – Friday
Time: 7:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Location: St. Paul Citadel Worship and Service Center
Lunch Program Nutritionist
On the Eastside of St. Paul, people looking for a good hot lunch can come to The Salvation Army. Volunteers assist in preparing and serving the meal. Individuals or small groups of 3 people are welcome. Preparation starts around 10 a.m. and clean-up is finished by 2 p.m. Volunteers should commit to at least once a month. Around 150 people are served lunch.
Dates: Year round, Monday - Thursday
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: St. Paul Eastside Worship and Service Center
Mentoring Adults
Barnabas Pen Pal
The Salvation Army Barnabas Pen Pal program seeks to link Christian volunteers with inmates for the purpose of making contact through the written word. The relationship is meant to provide the inmate with spiritual guidance and personal encouragement. Inmates are often very lonely as most families have given up on them and they need to know that someone cares. Pen pals use aliases and all letters are routed through The Salvation Army to ensure volunteer safety.
Dates: Ongoing, year round
Time: At least one letter a month
Location: Flexible
Youth Activities
After-school Tutor
Do you remember your three “R”s? Can you help a child with his? Spend your afternoons tutoring elementary – high school age kids during the school year. If your favorite “R” is arithmetic, then your talents are in high demand!
Dates: September – early June, Monday – Thursday
Time: 2 hours in the afternoon/early evening
Locations: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maplewood and Brooklyn Park
Family Night Child Care
The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to supervise youth during family night for one of our supportive family programs. Family Nights are a time for families to come together with people in similar situations. Adults gather together and kids do crafts and play games, all under the supervision of a social worker and volunteers. Family nights occur the fourth Tuesday of every other month.
Dates: 4th Tuesday of every other month
Times: 4:45 – 6:15 p.m.
Location: The Salvation Army Harvest Hills Facility, Coon Rapids
Day Camp Activity Guide
Have fun during the summer and share the fun with kids at one of our Salvation Army Worship and Service Center Day Camps! Help camp leaders guide children in arts and crafts, games, field trips and meals. You may choose to help out all summer, or bring a small group that is ready to lead an exciting activity for a day!
Dates: Monday – Friday, June – August
Times: 4 hours or more between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Locations: Minneapolis, St. Paul and Brooklyn Park
Senior Services
Manicurist
The Adult Day Center in Maplewood is a gathering place for seniors where they promote participant wellness through an individualized plan of care and stimulating program of physical, social and recreational activity. The volunteer would provide manicures to those individuals that are interested. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.
Dates: Year round, Monday – Friday
Times: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Lakewood Worship and Service Center, Maplewood
Musician
The clients at the Adult Day Center love to listen to live music and sing along with familiar songs and hymns (some from the 1930’s – 1950’s). Any kind of instrument, such as piano, guitar, trumpet or violin, or vocalists would be welcome. Musicians may be adults or youth.
Dates: Year round, Monday – Friday
Times: Between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Lakewood Adult Day Center, Maplewood
Senior Activity Assistant
Have you ever seen how much fun the clients at the Adult Day Center have throughout the course of a day? Have you ever wanted to participate in that kind of fun? The Activity Assistant is just the volunteer position for someone like you! The Activity staff of the ADC plan the activities. Our volunteers assist us in getting the clients involved and engaged in a variety of different activities. This position helps set up for different activities during the day and helps the clients participate in these activities.
Dates: Year round, Monday - Friday
Time: Minimum 1 hour between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., one-time for small groups or on a regular schedule
Location: Lakewood Adult Day Center, Maplewood
Outing Driver
This volunteer position is a wonderful opportunity to assist participants of the Adult Day Center while they are on an outing outside of the center. As the outing driver, you will be asked to drive to already chosen locations and return to the center within the time allotted. Maps will be created to the sites if it is a location you are unfamiliar with. At the outing location (after parking the bus), you will be able to enjoy the outing – Como zoo, History museum, restaurants, etc – while assisting the Adult Day Center staff in keeping the participants safe and enjoying the outing. At the conclusion, you will get the bus, drive it to the loading area and assist in helping the participants into the bus. You will get so much enjoyment from giving the participants a safe and fun outing experience. A commercial driver’s license along with a good driving record is required. The bus is provided by The Salvation Army. Volunteers do receive free admission/meals at outing events.
Dates: Outings take place once a week, Monday – Friday (dates vary)
Time: 2 – 5 hours between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (time depends on outing)
Location: Lakewood Adult Day Center, Maplewood
Seasonal Opportunities
Coats for Kids (October)
Imagine you’re 12-years-old, homeless, and without a coat. And it’s winter. Can you see yourself shivering in the cold, all alone; sitting huddled in the dark under a bridge? Now imagine that your family visits a Salvation Army Coat Boutique and is assisted by a friendly volunteer who hands your parent a warm coat, just your size. Now imagine being the volunteer who collected, sorted, and helped distribute that coat. Can you see the delight and hope that giving that coat brings? Each year, thousands of children residing in the metro area – from infants to 18 year-olds – receive a warm coat for the winter through Coats for Kids. You can be the one to help put the coat in their hands and a smile on their face.
Bell Ringer (November - December)
You, too, can be a red kettle-keeper, a bell-ringer, a bright smile-giver, this Christmas season. Join the tradition of giving and discover what a joy it is to know that you’re making a difference in your community. It is never too early to sign up to be a bell ringer! Sign up online or call 651-746-3519.
Registration for holiday activities opens September 15.
Toy Shop Family Registration (November – December)
As part of The Salvation Army Clearinghouse, families pre-register to participate in the annual Christmas Toy Shop so that the children will be eligible for toys and the family will receive grocery assistance. Volunteers help with data entry or take phone registrations from families seeking assistance. Individuals or groups up to 20 are welcome for one or more shifts.
Toy Shop Elf (December)
This Christmas, escort parents of disadvantaged families while they select Christmas gifts for their children at the Toy Shop. Find an added meaning in restocking tables and bagging toys, knowing that because of your volunteered time and energy a child will have a brighter Christmas morning.
