Service Opportunities

Individuals and groups can help with the many programs at COSI, including working behind the scenes, guiding groups, working with kids, providing office assistance, and helping with special events.

The Columbus Development Center serves people ages 18 and older with sever or profound development disabilities and moderately disabled with behavioral problems. They have residential care which provides education training for self care and living skills and vocational training towards employment. If you want to work with the Special Olympics or related events or help out in their office this is place for you.

The Columbus Literacy Council is the largest volunteer, non-profit literacy organization in Central Ohio. They specialize in one-on-one tutoring, small group classes, computer-assisted instruction, and support to adults who are learning English as a second language.

There are a large variety of different tasks to be performed as a volunteer at Columbus Literacy Council. You can tutor both one-on-one or with a small group in a classroom. The majority of people who are in need of tutoring are learning English as a second language. There is an opportunity to help with publicity and fundraising. Lastly, you could perform office duties. The majority of people who work in the computer lab help train individuals to use email and the Internet.

Community Kitchen, Inc. provides free hot meals on Monday-Saturday, counseling, free used cloths, a health clinic, movies, and a telephone that can be used for interviews and business calls.
You can prepare, cook, serve, and clean-up assistance for daily meals.  Volunteers can also sort cloths and organize donate items.

Faith Mission is a men’s and women’s homeless shelter, in downtown Columbus. They provide free meals, emergency shelter, life skill resources, and a medical clinic for people and families in need.

Volunteers are needed in the following positions: Food Server, Medical Clinic Assistants, Life Skill Workshop Speaker, Clerical Assistant, Resource Center Leader, and Special Project Team Member.

Franklin Park Conservatory is a park in Bexley that houses a variety of plants and flowers and they provide special exhibits for the community such as the corn maze and a butterfly house.  Opportunities include planting flowers, maintaining flowers, clerical assistance, assisting with children's birthday, painting, working in the gift shop, greeting visitors, or working with special exhibits.  Time commitment is flexible.

Friends of Alum Creek is dedicated to preserving our creek, for our future, nature’s benefit, and society.  They work through education, cleanups, and service projects.
You can help out with educational activities, clean ups along Alum Creek or doing office work such as mailings.

Foodline Referral Volunteers are needed.  Computer experience is preferable, and a positive attitude and desire to help people is essential!  They provide training in the data entry process and in telephone communication/active listening skills.  They ask for a commitment of at least 6 months, once a week for 2 to 4 hours.

You can have lots of fun working with local Girl Scout troops by being an assistant leader, helping with cookie sales, fund raising, teaching a special skill, or helping with special projects. College students are great role models for the girls and can add a special dimension to Girl Scouting.

Global Gallery has many tasks that you can help out with: volunteer recruitment and coordination, public relations and marketing, newsletters and flyers, off site sales, special events, in-store display and marketing/retail support, and finances and inventory management. They have something for everybody!

Habitat for Humanity is an organization that builds affordable housing for families with low incomes.  Homeowners pay in sweat equity and low monthly payments.  They also run the Habitat Build It Again Center which sells new and used construction material such as paint, lumber, flooring, lighting, etc.

Help build or restore Habitat Houses in Greater Columbus.  No construction skills necessary!  You can also help at the Build It Again Center on Saturday from 10am-2pm.

LifeCare Alliance goal is to extend it health and independent living programs to those who are unable to pay the full cost of their care.  They do this by having programs such as Meals-on Wheels, chronic illness care and skilled nursing program.

You can do many things here at LifeCare. The most common activity that students do is the Meals on Wheels program. For this, you will be given hot meals to deliver to elderly in the community. You must have transportation for this project. Another option is to do Shopping for those who can’t get out. If you do not have transportation, you can volunteer in the LifeCare office.

These facilities are all in the Bexley neighborhood and provide care for senior citizens. They provide social activities for their residents that include bingo, arts and crafts and musical entertainment. Volunteers can visit, play bingo, share a musical talent, or make a craft with the residents.

MAP, Inc collects donated furniture and household, schools, universities, hospitals, and other organizations in the community.  They then store it in a warehouse and distribute them at no charge to people who are in need and people who are formerly homeless.  They except chairs, lamps, linens, appliances, sofas, flatware, beds, etc.

MAP volunteers are needed to sort and display items at the warehouse, schedule client appointment, and arrange residential and corporate pick-ups.  Groups can volunteer to coordinate special events and furniture drives.

Help to change a child's life by becoming a mentor.  The Mentoring Center helps match you with the mentoring or tutoring program in Central Ohio that would be a perfect match for you!  They offer free intensive training and over 66 different programs to choose from!

Mid-Ohio Food Bank is the largest pantry in the Columbus area.  They collect donations and provide food for food pantries, soup kitchens and other non-profit organizations throughout Ohio.  As a volunteer at Mid-Ohio Food Bank you would be sorting through non-perishables and boxing the food up.  It is an opportunity to socialize with your group while helping out at the same time.  Volunteers are needed several Tuesdays every month, one Saturday morning every month or weekdays: mornings and afternoons.

Individuals are needed to lead activities, help with adventure trips, and work at Indian Village or the Indoor Adventure Center.  Projects range from canoeing to backpacking to high ropes courses to archery.  Call today for a volunteer adventure!

Project GRAD’s Walk for Success will occur in early September and needs your help!  Walkers will visit homes of the students in first, sixth, and ninth grades to discuss Project GRAD, the Merit Award program, and services being offered at the schools.  You'll also be asked to survey the parents to find out their needs and interests related to their child's education.

The Ohio Hunger Task Force is an agency in Columbus dedicated to eliminating hunger from the state of Ohio.  They do this by sponsoring year round nutrition programs, advocating to policy makers for positive influence on hunger and poverty issues, and making the public aware of the causes and solutions of hunger and poverty.

Volunteers are needed to help out with after school enrichment school sites through the meal program.  This involves assisting a VISTA by reading, or talking with kids after school 1-2 times weekly. There is also opportunities to help out with special events throughout the year. On campus, students are invited to become involved with the Empty Bowls event, and or coordinate a different event to help eliminate hunger.

The Ohio Youth Vote has three objectives.  They are to increase political and civil participation, build and invigorate a responsive government and raise awareness about the value of youth actively participation in democracy.

There are plenty of opportunities for volunteers.  You can register young people to vote, distribute education information, plan and organize educational activities for students from elementary schools to college students, write letters to the editors in the paper, or remind young voters to go to the polls on election day.

Re: Art and More is a program of the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio. They collect unwanted materials from businesses and then distributes them to educators.  The teachers then use the materials in their classrooms to help the children to create, learn and play

If you have organization skills, like to work with people, have a creative mind to display items, or like to help people find what they are looking for this is the place for you.  On Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday, and Friday the hours are 9am-6pm.  On Thursday 8am-5pm and on the first Saturday of the month from 9am-1pm.

Steve has cerebral palsy and needs help with his daily home therapy program.  This program significantly improves his muscle control, but takes four helpers and two hours to complete.  No medical experience is necessary, just time and care.  Steve could also use help odd jobs around the house.

The Salvation Army has many different projects set up in the Columbus area.  They work with a food pantry, driving meal to homebound residents, Greenwood Lake Camp for 6-11 years, community centers, visits to hospitals, and Coats for Columbus.

If you want to help sort coats or food this is the place for you.  If you have access to transportation, another service needed is delivering meals.  You can volunteer any amount of time that fits your schedules.

Service opportunities include: staffing the 24 Hour Rape Hotline; advocating for sexual assault survivors in Grant/Riverside emergency departments; educating the community about sexual assault; and initiating outreach to keep the community informed about SARNCO’s programs.  Volunteers receive training in providing support, crisis intervention, referral information, and prevention education.

Children caught in the cycle of homelessness and poverty often change schools 10-15 times each year.  The Dowd School was created so that homeless children K-5 would have a safe stable academic environment that nurtures their intellectual, social and psychological development.  The after school program needs volunteers from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. daily to lead recreational activities, teach classes such as computer skills, provide one on one tutoring in reading and math, and help with projects.
 

They are looking for people who are able to help communicate with non-English speaking families.  People are needed to translate technical documents such as T.B. and immunization records.  There is also a need for individuals to communicate in other languages on the telephone with  parents regarding the health needs of their children.  If you are proficient in another language, they would love to hear from you!