Browse Volunteer Opportunities

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:

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

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

ethabes@beltramihistory.org

 

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.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers.  We are looking for compassionate and friendly people to join our volunteer team.  We’ll provide the training and support to help you learn new skills, and you’ll get a great feeling from helping those in need. Our volunteers come from a variety of industries and span from retirees to college students.

Volunteers fill a variety of roles.  Counselors work with taxpayers directly to fill out tax returns.  No experience is needed.  You will get the training you need and will also get IRS certification.  Client Facilitators welcome taxpayers, help organize paperwork, and manage the overall flow of service.  Leadership and Administrative volunteers make sure program operations run smoothly, manage volunteers and maintain quality control.  Some of these positions can be filled remotely, from your own home.  Training, equipment and supplies are provided.

Read the full description HERE.

The program is held out of the Bemidji Senior Center.

Call Susan Lind at 218-751-0060, or leave a message at the Bemidji Senior Center at 218-751-8836.

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/

Or contact amber.williams@bgcbemidji.org to learn more.

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/

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

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)

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.