HarmonyFlowVolunteer opportunities
Volunteer shifts across Dallas–Fort Worth, and organizations taking volunteers in Greater Boston, New York City, Metro Detroit.
Thanksgiving: free meals and ways to help in Dallas · New York City · Boston · Detroit
By place: Dallas–Fort Worth · Dallas County · Collin County · Denton County · Tarrant County · Greater Boston · New York City · Metro Detroit
By cause: Food · Shelters · Holiday drives · Community clean-ups · Tutoring · Seniors
Shifts in Dallas–Fort Worth
- Volunteer at Operation Turkey Dallas: Volunteer Orientation (In Person and Virtual) in Dallas, Nov 14
Listed from Operation Turkey Dallas · Saturday, November 14, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Volunteer at Operation Turkey Dallas: Dallas Turkey Tailgate in Irving, Nov 23
Listed from Operation Turkey Dallas · Monday, November 23, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM - Volunteer at Operation Turkey Dallas: Dallas Turkey Tailgate in Irving, Nov 24
Listed from Operation Turkey Dallas · Tuesday, November 24, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM - Volunteer at Operation Turkey Dallas: Dallas Turkey Tailgate in Irving, Nov 25
Listed from Operation Turkey Dallas · Wednesday, November 25, 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM - Volunteer at Operation Turkey Fort Worth: Fort Worth Turkey Tailgate, Nov 25
Listed from Operation Turkey Fort Worth · Wednesday, November 25, 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Volunteer at Operation Turkey Dallas: Dallas Operation Turkey in Dallas, Nov 26
Listed from Operation Turkey Dallas · Thursday, November 26, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Volunteer at Operation Turkey Fort Worth: Fort Worth Operation Turkey in Hurst, Nov 26
Listed from Operation Turkey Fort Worth · Thursday, November 26, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Organizations taking volunteers in Greater Boston
The Greater Boston Food Bank: Volunteer shifts
Volunteer shifts at the food bank. Corporate teams and other groups can book a shift together and help distribute meals. Its Kids Who Care and Families for Impact programs are paused for now.
On the day: Gloves are provided. Hand washing is encouraged before and after the shift.
How to start: Pick a shift in its volunteer portal.
Open the food bank's shift portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Cradles to Crayons: The Giving Factory
Shifts at The Giving Factory, where Cradles to Crayons gathers clothing and essentials for children. Shifts run Wednesday through Saturday.
Who can join: Ages 5 and up. Children from 5 to 18 need an adult with them for the whole shift.
Before your first shift: Everyone pre-registers before coming; only pre-registered volunteers are let in.
On the day: Each volunteer is asked to bring at least one new or like-new children's item, if they can.
How to start: Register for a shift in its volunteer portal.
See Giving Factory shift times (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Pine Street Inn: Kitchen and meal service
Prep food in the production kitchen, or serve brunch and dinner to guests at its shelters. Groups can also run a coffee morning or a bingo night.
Who can join: 18 and older to volunteer in person.
How to start: Contact its volunteer department to sign up (617-892-9184).
Can’t make a shift?: Groups, including students under 18, can bake desserts for shelter guests or build Fresh Start cleaning kits.
See how to reach Pine Street's volunteer team (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston: ReStore volunteering
Volunteer at the ReStore, Habitat Greater Boston's donation and retail outlet.
How to start: See the individual volunteer details on its site.
See ReStore volunteer details (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Boston Cares: Projects with local nonprofits
A volunteer center with a calendar of projects at many local nonprofits.
Before your first shift: Create a free volunteer account first.
How to start: Sign up for projects on its calendar.
Open the Boston Cares project calendar (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Community Servings: Kitchen volunteering
Help the kitchen team make medically tailored meals for people across Massachusetts living with illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and diabetes: peel and chop vegetables, portion soups, stews and salads, and pack meal bags.
Before your first shift: New kitchen volunteers get a 15-minute orientation at the start of their first shift, with a short video and food safety training.
On the day: The production kitchen has a dress code, and it asks you to come only if you feel completely well.
How to start: Sign up from its volunteer page. Groups have a separate contact there.
See Community Servings kitchen shifts (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
St. Francis House: Meals, clothing and more
Serve breakfast, or prepare, serve and clean up lunch, for guests. There are also roles in the clothing department, art therapy studio, workforce development and resource center.
Who can join: 18 and older, or 16 and up with a parent there. Groups of 5–6 can book weekday kitchen or clothing shifts, usually one to three months ahead.
On the day: Gloves are provided in the kitchen and clothing department.
How to start: Sign up from its volunteer page.
See St. Francis House volunteer roles (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Women's Lunch Place: Kitchen help and meal driving
Help kitchen staff prepare and serve breakfast and lunch and clean up, or drive meals from the shelter to community partners.
Who can join: 16 and older. Groups of 5 can prepare and serve meals without an orientation.
Before your first shift: Once accepted, individual volunteers are invited to an in-person orientation at the shelter.
On the day: Kitchen shifts fall between 7am and 2pm, with a kitchen dress code. Weekday help is needed most.
Getting there: Meal drivers need a vehicle and a valid driver's license.
How to start: Apply from its volunteer page.
See Women's Lunch Place roles (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Rosie's Place: Meals, pantry and classes
Serve meals, work in the food pantry, teach a class and more.
Who can join: High school students can earn community service hours here.
Before your first shift: Shifts are posted 30 days ahead, and individual volunteers can take up to 3 shifts a month.
How to start: Book your own shifts in its online scheduling system.
See Rosie's Place volunteer roles (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Organizations taking volunteers in New York City
Food Bank For New York City: Warehouse, kitchen and markets
Sort and repack food at its distribution center in the Bronx, help serve hot meals at its Community Kitchen, or hand out groceries at a Free Farmers Market.
Who can join: Depends on the role: warehouse sorting from age 10 and Free Farmers Markets from 14, both with an adult chaperone.
Getting there: Warehouse sorting is at its distribution center in the Bronx.
How to start: Pick a shift in its volunteer portal. Individuals, families and groups can sign up.
Open the food bank's shift portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
City Harvest: Individual and group volunteering
Volunteer opportunities for individuals and for groups. City Harvest also runs Mobile Markets, where New York families pick up food.
Before your first shift: First-time volunteers attend a virtual orientation before volunteering.
How to start: Start from its volunteer page.
See City Harvest's volunteer options (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Citymeals on Wheels: Calls, cards and meals
Make friendly phone calls to meal recipients who live alone, send cards for special occasions, or pack and serve meals at older adult centers.
How to start: Pick an opportunity in its volunteer portal.
Open Citymeals' volunteer portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
New York Cares: Projects across the city
Volunteer projects with partner organizations across New York City, including meal preparation, service and delivery.
Before your first shift: Finish a short online orientation, on your own time.
How to start: Sign up, then choose projects.
Browse New York Cares projects (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Central Park Conservancy: Park volunteering
Help care for Central Park: projects you sign up for when you're free, Saturday projects for teens under 18, or a regular weekly shift.
Who can join: Teens under 18 can join Saturday projects with park staff.
Before your first shift: Weekly roles need extra screening and training, and places are limited.
How to start: Start from its volunteer page.
See Central Park volunteer options (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
God's Love We Deliver: Kitchen, packing and delivery
Help make and deliver medically tailored meals for people living with serious illness: work in the kitchen, package meals (weekdays 6:30–8:30am), or deliver with your own car (weekdays 10am–1pm) to any borough.
On the day: No tank tops in the kitchen.
Getting there: Delivery shifts use your own car.
How to start: Pick a shift in its volunteer portal.
Thanksgiving: Extra kitchen prep shifts in November, then on Thanksgiving Day: deliver meals with your own car to about 6–8 households (allow about three hours), or help on site at a distribution center. Only one person registers per car. There is no waitlist when shifts fill, but cancellations open spots. Thanksgiving sign-up
Open God's Love volunteer portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
The Bowery Mission: Meal service shifts
Help prepare and serve meals in daily shifts, with no long-term commitment.
Who can join: 18 and older.
Before your first shift: Each shift opens for sign-up one month ahead, at midnight.
On the day: Stay for the whole meal service; tell the supervisor in advance if you must leave early.
How to start: Register and pick a shift in its volunteer portal. Groups ask for a reservation form.
Open the Bowery Mission's shift portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
New York Common Pantry: Choice pantries and hot meals
Help at its Choice Pantries in Manhattan and the Bronx, or at the Harlem Hot Meals program.
How to start: Check availability for each location in its volunteer portal.
Can’t make a shift?: Hold a food drive for the Choice Pantry, collect toiletries for Project Dignity, or donate sandwiches for Help 365.
Open the pantry's volunteer portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Organizations taking volunteers in Metro Detroit
Gleaners Community Food Bank: Warehouses, gardens and pantries
Sort and pack food in its warehouses, tend community gardens, hand out food at pantries, or help with office work. Some outdoor distribution shifts load food into cars.
Who can join: Individuals, families, corporate teams and community groups. Outdoor distribution shifts are 18 and up. It is not taking court-ordered community service hours right now.
On the day: Outdoor distribution shifts load food into cars and clean up afterwards.
How to start: See every shift in its volunteer portal.
Open Gleaners' shift calendar (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Focus: HOPE: Food for seniors and early learning
Pack food boxes for homebound seniors, deliver them to seniors around metro Detroit, or help care for young children in its early learning center.
How to start: Pick an opportunity in its volunteer portal.
Open Focus: HOPE's volunteer portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy: Riverfront events and projects
Help run the events and programs on the Detroit Riverfront. Groups can book projects along the riverfront year-round.
Before your first shift: Fill in the volunteer paperwork, then attend an in-person training, where you get a uniform.
How to start: After training, sign up for assignments in its volunteer system.
See how to join the Riverfront team (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Forgotten Harvest: Packing, farm and food rescue
Pack emergency food boxes and sort or repack fresh food for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties at its distribution center. There are also farm days, food-rescue driving routes (Harvest Heroes) and longer-term roles.
Who can join: Distribution center: 10 and up; anyone under 18 comes with a parent or guardian. Food-rescue routes: 18 and up.
Before your first shift: Training is given at the start of each session.
Getting there: Harvest Heroes run a weekly route of about 2–3 hours, usually starting around 9am.
How to start: Pick an opportunity in its volunteer portal.
Open Forgotten Harvest's volunteer portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Pope Francis Center: Meals, donations and showers
Prepare and serve meals, sort donations, or help with showers at its Day Center and Bridge Housing Campus.
On the day: Wear comfortable clothes, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Kitchen volunteers are given a hat or hairnet.
Getting there: Its volunteer portal has parking details for each location.
How to start: Sign up for Day Center or Bridge Housing Campus shifts in its volunteer portal.
Open Pope Francis Center's volunteer portal (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Cass Community Social Services: Volunteering for an hour, a day or regularly
Help in a variety of ways, for an hour, a day or as a regular. Groups can also stay overnight or for several days.
Who can join: Adults, youth and children; it says over 10 is best.
How to start: Contact its volunteer office from its volunteer page.
See Cass volunteer details (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
Lighthouse: Grocery delivery
Deliver groceries and supplies to older, homebound and other neighbors.
How to start: Fill in its volunteer form.
Open Lighthouse's volunteer form (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)
The Greening of Detroit: Trees, parks and gardens
Plant trees, clean up parks and work in its urban garden.
How to start: Start from its volunteer page.
See Greening of Detroit volunteer options (we read their volunteer page on October 27, 2026; open shifts are on their site)