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.
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: Blaine, Burnsville, Columbia Heights, Elk River, Minneapolis and St. Paul
Licensed Christian Counselor
The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) is seeking volunteer counselors that can work one-on-one with the men in understanding and overcoming social and emotional problems. Volunteers with experience in working with addiction recovery are preferred. The ARC’s treatment plan is based on Christian principles. To be effective, volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of three months, ideally longer. The volunteer scheduled is flexible and can vary from week to week.
Dates: Flexible, at least once a week, Sunday – Saturday
Time: At least one hour between 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: Adult Rehabilitation Center, Minneapolis
Merchandise Sorter
The Salvation Army receives generous donations of used items to sell in our thrift stores. All donations are processed at the warehouse of the Adult Rehabilitation Center/Main Thrift Store. Groups of volunteers that can come in and help sort the items, especially the clothes, would be appreciated. Once the clothes are sorted, they will be loaded into trailers for delivery to stores. Volunteer groups should be between 10 - 15 people, and youth groups with chaperones are allowed. Volunteers do need to be able to lift 40 pounds. Volunteers should bring work gloves to wear while sorting. The warehouse is not climate controlled, so volunteers should dress accordingly. Food and beverages will be provided for volunteers.
Dates: Monday - Friday
Times: 3 or more hours between 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Minneapolis Adult Rehabilitation Center
Chiropractor
The men going through treatment at the Adult Rehabilitation Center would greatly benefit from a volunteer willing to provide chiropractic care to them. Volunteers need to have professional liability insurance.
Dates: Year round, can be Monday - Friday
Time: Approximately 2 hours between 5 - 8 p.m.
Location: Minneapolis Adult Rehabilitation Center
Barber
Do you like to cut men's hair? A licensed barber or hairdresser is in high demand by the men in The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. Volunteers should have experience with a variety of men's hairstyles.
Dates: Year round, can be Monday - Friday
Time: Approximately 2 or more hours between 7:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: Minneapolis Adult Rehabilitation Center
Janitor
You can help keep The Salvation Army Thrift Stores clean and tidy by sweeping the floors, vacuuming and cleaning restrooms. Keeping the store neat provides shoppers with a better experience. The profits from the thrift stores fund The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center.
Dates: Flexible, Monday – Saturday
Times: 3 or more hours during store hours
Locations: Stores are located in Blaine, Burnsville, Columbia Heights, Elk River, Minneapolis 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.
Locations: Minneapolis
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.
Contact the Harbor Light Center Volunteer Coordinator at 612-767-3108.
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
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
Food Outreach Coordinator
The Eastside Food Outreach program serves individuals in East St. Paul and surrounding areas and seeks to supplement the nutritional needs of low income individuals. Volunteer coordinators will work with Salvation Army social workers to deliver food to an apartment building or low-income high-rise housing primarily seniors. Then the coordinator would supervise on-site volunteers to distribute the food. Volunteers need to commit to at least six months.
Dates: 1 - 3 times a month
Time: Approximately 3 hours
Location: St. Paul Eastide Worship and Service Center
Mentoring Adults
English as a Second Language Teacher
This unique ESL class meets the needs of adults who need to learn to speak English, and we are able to witness about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His love. Volunteers will help adults complete required forms and course work. You need not know another language, but must be willing to learn about and accept cultural differences. Training is provided.
Dates: September - May, Mondays & Thursdays
Times: 1 - 3 p.m.
Location: Minneapolis Temple Worship and Service Center
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
Junior Achievement Assistant
During Kid's Club time, youth still learning English need assistance with school work and English skills. Volunteers will be trained in the Junior Achievement program objectives of providing engaging, academically enriching and experiential learning. Be a tutor and help children learn to succeed in life!
Dates: September - May, Tuesdays and/or Thursdays
Time: 6 - 7 p.m.
Location: Minneapolis Temple Worship and Service Center
Office Help
Social Services Receptionist
The Salvation Army Wright and Sherburne Counties Social Services serves families and individuals and seeks to provide case management to those who have financial emergencies. As a volunteer receptionist you will assist with answering the phone, returning calls, making referrals to other agencies and doing a phone ServicePoint paper intake by gathering information about their situation. Training is provided to all volunteers.
Dates: Minimum once every two weeks, Monday – Thursday
Times: 9 a.m. – Noon or 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Wright County Government Center, Buffalo
Office Receptionist
Are you a people person who enjoys small-talk? Do you find yourself reaching for the phone in anticipation, only to be disappointed when the response to your warm greeting is the dial tone? If you can even imagine yourself in these situations, you really ought to consider becoming a volunteer receptionist. After all, what could be better than sipping hot coffee while greeting visitors, transferring calls, scheduling appointments and filing information?
Dates: Year round, Monday - Friday, at least a 3 month commitment
Times: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. At least one shift once a week.
Location: Salvation Army Noble Worship and Service Center, Brooklyn Park
Senior Services
Women's Ministries Cook
Can you chop vegetables, stir soup and make sandwiches? Have you ever wanted to feed a small Army? Feeding the seniors attending Salvation Army programs is part of our mission. The senior women’s group meets Thursdays during the day for fun activities and bible studies. You can help cook and get everything ready to go on time.
Dates: Thursdays
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Noble Worship and Service Center, Brooklyn Park
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.
Location: Lakewood Adult Day Center, Maplewood
Outing Assistant
At least once a week clients at the Adult Day Center may choose to go on an outing to a show, program or museum. Past outings have been to the Como Park Conservatory, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Steppingstone Theatre. As a volunteer, you would be an extra set of eyes to make sure everyone is accounted for, and you could help walk with clients or push wheelchairs. You would also have the opportunity to enjoy the outing and get to know some great people!
Dates: Outings take place once a week, Monday – Friday (dates vary)
Time: approximately 4 hours between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Lakewood Adult Day Center, Maplewood
Seasonal Opportunities
Back-to-School Shopper (August)
Each year hundreds of children go to school unprepared to learn. The Salvation Army is determined to help families in need by providing back-to-school clothes through the Leaders Launching Learners program. Volunteers help to escort children through a store, assist in selecting clothes, and track the cost of the items to keep it within the budget.
State Fair Parking Attendant (August - September)
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.
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.
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.
