Not sure where to volunteer?
Click the button below to fill out the Volunteer Application.
Your application will be shared with MANY non-profit agencies in the Bemidji Area.
Based on your specific skills, interests, time, availability, and involvement preference agencies will contact you.
Or browse through the opportunities below to find what works best for you:
Make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. Share your time and talents and the life you change may be your own!
LSS offers several meaningful volunteer opportunities for older adults to give back. You can support other older adults to help them continue living at home and stay active, mentor youth, or give family caregivers a break.
Caregiver Support Volunteer
Give family caregivers a much-deserved break by visiting older adults in their homes for a few hours each week.
Foster Grandparent Volunteer
Adults age 55 and older can make a positive impact in the lives of children and youth in the classroom. Receive a stipend plus transportation reimbursement.
LSS Meals
Deliver fresh, hot meals and provide a safety check for older adults through our Meals on Wheels service and/or serve meals at our LSS Bistro Community Dining Centers. Set your own schedule and no minimum volunteers hours required. Call 800.488.4146 or email meals@lssmn.org to learn more.
Neighbor to Neighbor Companion
Make a difference in the life of an older adult, share your skills, meet new people and have fun in the community. Receive mileage reimbursement.
Senior Companions
Adults age 55 and older can enhance the lives of older adults who need assistance with daily tasks to remain in their own homes and in the community. Receive a stipend plus transportation reimbursement.
Learn more and apply here: lssmn.org/volunteernow
Do you have a love of history? Contact us to create a volunteer experience that matches your time and talents!
Emily Thabes, Executive Director
The Bemidji Community Food Shelf is a wonderful resource to our community and surrounding area.
Visit their website: https://www.bcfsmn.org/get-involved to see all the opportunities available or contact Debbie Johnson at bcfsvolunteer@gmail.com to learn more!
Community Table serves meals to people in need in our community!
They are looking for a volunteer cook one day a week or bi-weekly. As well as a board member with administrative skills.
They serve meals in the evenings on:
- Mondays and Tuesdays at Mount Zion Church (414 Lincoln Ave SE)
- Wednesdays and Thursdays at United Methodist Church (924 Beltrami Ave NW).
Volunteer shifts are from 4:30 to 6:30pm.
Volunteers will help with greeting diners, serving food, and clean up.
Sign up for volunteering here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4dafac29aaf94-volunteer
Email bemidjisoupkitchen@gmail.com for more information.
The Bemidji Senior Center is a FUN place to volunteer. They have many opportunities on all levels. Whether you enjoy organizing or teaching a class, there is a place for you.
And they are always looking for help during our Pancake Breakfasts too! Arrival time is either 7am or 7:30am and done by 11am. It is fun and easy! We have lots of other volunteers there to help you and show you the ropes.
Contact Ginny Felt, ginnyfelt@gmail.com to learn more.
If you love music, this is a wonderful opportunity!!
- Become an usher during the concerts
- Join their Board
- Be on a committee and make a real difference!
- Events volunteer
- Office help
For more information or to inquire, contact Katey Lutz, Executive Director at bso@bemidjisymphony.org.
The Boys & Girls Club is always BUSY with activities! They have lots of opportunities to get involved at their club.
Whether you are an individual, youth group, school or sports group contact them to create an experience that works for you and for them!
Visit their website here: https://www.bgcbemidji.org/get-involved/
Churches United is a non-profit organization of Bemidji area churches, working together to meet the emergency needs of homeless and low-income people in a prayerful way.
Opportunities:
We are asking for just four (4) hours of your time per month on Monday or Friday.
No matter what your skill set is, we can use your time. If you like helping people, greeting and interviewing guests, filing paperwork, data entry, or just organizing the office; we would love to have you.
Potential volunteers can call 218-444-1380 or stop in to chat with Wanda (Executive Director) during normal business hours.
Hours: Noon - 4PM, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Call: 218-444-1380
Email: cunited@paulbunyan.net
http://bemidjicu.org/volunteer/
Conservation Minnesota is looking for an Event & Outreach volunteer!
When you become an Event & Outreach volunteer with Conservation Minnesota, we'll connect you with a steady stream of service projects, events, educational opportunities, and other ways to protect the Great Outdoors. Each event will be unique. As a volunteer, you may:
• Remove invasive species and planting native, pollinator-friendly plants
• Clean storm drains to help keep our waterways healthy
• Assist with environmental educational sessions
• Teach local community members how to recycle or compost
• Put together gardening kits to be given out to community members
• Clean up litter in a park or on a shoreline
• Build bat houses or bird houses to support local wildlife
• And much more!
Click HERE for the volunteer description.
Click HERE to fill out the volunteer form online.
Contact BreAnna Bemboom at breanna@conservationminnesota.org with any questions.
Evergreen Youth & Family Services has a Youth Crisis Shelter and a Drop-in Center. There are often opportunities to organize, put together food packs and other ways to be involved.
They also have apartments where youth stay that need minor repairs. If you are a handyman, give them a call! They are always looking for help in this area.
Reach out to Courtney Gifford to inquire: cgifford@evergreenyfsf.org
If you love animals, then Great River Rescue is the place for you! They have many different opportunities for people who want to help!
Look over their website and fill out the volunteer form here: https://www.greatriverrescue.com/donate/volunteer/
We love working with volunteers! Groups, individuals, students, etc. Contact us to create an experience you won't forget!
To inquire call Lee Furuseth, Executive Director at 218-507-0154
413 Beltrami Ave NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
www.hscbemidji.org
Hope House provides community support services to people with mental illness.
Current Volunteer Opportunities:
- Board openings:
- Click here for job description
- Training is provided.
- We are looking for people with legal experience, building/construction knowledge, fundraising skills, connections to Red Lake, White Earth, or Leech Lake, connections to youth who have mental illness and are transitioning to adulthood, family members of people with mental illness (To avoid obstructing client autonomy and privacy, the preference is for families whose loved ones are not currently members of Hope House)
- Landscaping/building expertise:
- Someone to give us landscaping/building ideas such as shrub placement, entrance attractions, or other ideas to increase the welcome/warmth feeling. Currently flowers/vegetables are planted in the plot between the two doors as an activity, with a bicycle decoration planned for this year, and flowers are planted below the sign at the end of the road.
- Presenters:
- People willing to share a talent, such as art, writing, music, woodworking; travel stories; an unusual pet; what their job is like for clients who want to work; how to use the computer. change oil, do a property tax refund; etc.
Contact:
Robin Wold, Executive Director
hopehouse@paulbunyan.net
MHAS is entirely run by volunteers! Everything we do is the result of people like you who enjoy nature and want to make a difference. Look and see if you can help with any of the opportunities on our website or email us and suggest other ways you would like to volunteer with MHAS.
Website: https://www.spearheadmhas.org/volunteer.html
Email: mhas@spearheadmhas.org
Northwoods Battered Women's Shelter is hosting a Gala on Friday, May 17th. Their goal is to raise funds for their new facility coming soon!
They are in need of volunteers to help at the gala, and there are many different types of roles and ways to be involved. Check out all the opportunities here: Northwood's Battered Women's Shelter Gala Committee: Northwoods Battered Women's Shelter - Gala Volunteers (signupgenius.com)
Volunteers needed for home construction and repair.
No experience necessary – training included. Work as a team with other committed volunteers.
Projects could include:
- Painting
- Flooring
- Siding
- Carpentry
- Plumbing
- Sheet Rocking
- General Contracting
- Deconstruction
- Electrical
- And more!
Contact cechabitat@paulbunyan.net if interested.
View our Volunteer flyer HERE.
Volunteers needed for retail sales assistance. All sales from the ReStore benefit our home building and repair programs. Volunteers may help in a variety of areas:
- Cashier
- Janitorial
- Donation Processing
- Repairs and Maintenance
- Customer Service
- And more!
Contact cechabitat@paulbunyan.net if interested
Ruby's Pantry
Ruby's Pantry is a pop-up food pantry and is for ANYONE! Each guest donates $25 and receives an abundance of grocery items.
Details:
3rd Wednesday of the Month
Help set-up and/or hand out food
Food bundles are available 4:00 - 5:30pm
Hosted by:
Mt. Zion Church
To Volunteer:
Go to www.rubyspantry.org/location/51
Fill out the application by clicking on volunteers at the top right of the website
Contact Information:
Julie, Volunteer Coordinator
bemidjirubyspantry@gmail.com
Adam Smith
acsmith.homes@gmail.com
218-760-1875 (call or text)
Special Olympics - Regional Swim Meet!
Special Olympics is coming to Bemidji State University for regional swimming! They are currently in need of volunteer timers and stagers to help make this event possible.
2024 Regional North Swimming
Date: Saturday, April 27th
Location: Bemidji State University
Time: 8 AM - 12 PM (Various shifts)
Sign-up: https://cerv.is/0101x3735
If you have a group who would like to volunteer, they can provide a private registration link! Email Jordaan Boxer for groups or any questions: jordaan.boxer@somn.org
Please share this opportunity with your friends, families, students, etc... Each working piece of these events helps to support thousands of Special Olympics athletes across Minnesota.
Society of Saint Vincent DePaul
We are looking for a volunteers! We offer person-to-person service and support to individuals in need with such items as food/gas/clothing vouchers, utilities, rent, deposits, repairs, etc. We then schedule a home visit or meet with you in Bemidji.
Volunteering details:
- We have two meetings a month.
- Volunteers are coached on how to answer incoming calls on our help line and visiting with people in need of short term financial support for food, shelter and utilities.
- We are looking for compassionate people who want to help those in our community who are struggling with poverty.
- Your time commitment would be flexible both in amount and timing.
- Having a cell phone and laptop/computer are helpful.
For more information call Dale at 507-456-1235.
Support Within Reach works to reduce the impact and harm of sexual violence for families and individuals in the communities we serve.
Volunteer On-Call Advocate, overnight shifts. View description HERE.
Other opportunities:
- Crisis intervention via Crisis Hotline
- General and medical advocacy through support, options, and resources
- Internships
- Support group facilitation
- Participate in fundraising activities and events
- Community education through awareness activities and events
- Administrative support for staff and programs
- Board of Directors
contact@supportwithinreach.org
1-800-708-2727