Make a Difference!
Serving your local community is a great way to live out the Great Commission and New Commandment right where you are. There are incredible opportunities to serve others in our local communities and we want to be a part of making a difference.
Here are some opportunities available for groups to do together!
About: A ministry to help carry out God’s command to welcome and bring lifelong transformation to refugees and immigrants in Minnesota.
Tasks: Provide a full refugee welcome kit of supplies for a newly arriving family; Commit to befriending and coming alongside a refugee family for a one-year commitment; Organize their donation room.
Arrive Contact: volunteer@arriveministries.org
Location: Richfield
About: Breakthrough is an organization of compassion that is led to minister to the homeless as well as people afflicted by extreme poverty. But not exclusively, as we know the lost exist in every segment of society. Regardless of where they might be, as led by the Holy Spirit, we search for people of peace who feel hopeless in their circumstances and have nobody to turn to for help. Often, we find them lost, scared, lonely, hurting, and in desperate need of encouragement. Most are in Spiritual Darkness, not knowing or experiencing the love and forgiveness Jesus wants them to have. As we get to know them, we build relationship and naturally provide the most important human need – love. Love opens the door for them to discover God and as they do, God begins to reveal to them their destiny as His son or daughter. They become part of our family, and more importantly part of God’s family as they learn what it means to follow Jesus and become His disciple. And guess what? They join the team and do what they were taught – the Kingdom expands.
Tasks: Three hours serving food downtown Minneapolis
Contact: Ellie Martin (Volunteer Coordinator), martinellie53@gmail.com
Location: Minneapolis
About: CEAP (Community Emergency Assistance Programs) is a community-based, non-profit agency dedicated to providing food assistance, housing assistance, senior services, children’s programs, and more to those in need.
Tasks: Grocery packing, curbside grocery pick-up, food receiving/sorting, special holiday projects.
Contact: Visit ceap.org/get-involved/ or call 763-450-3679.
Location: Brooklyn Center
About: A network of domestic violence and sexual assault community programs. They provide resources and support to people in our community in crisis.
Tasks: Delivery of individual boxed meals for Cornerstone participants and staff; outdoor maintenance work including staining fences and seasonal garden and yard work.
Cornerstone Contact: courtney.p@cornerstonemn.org
Location: Bloomington
About: DARTS is a nonprofit organization that provides personalized services for older adults and their loved ones.
Tasks: Spring/fall clean-ups, summer lawn mowing, winter shoveling.
Contact: Visit dartsconnects.org/group-volunteering, or call Angela at 651-234-2254.
Location: Dakota County
About: Feed My Starving Children is called to feed God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit. Their goal is to reach everyone who is hungry. This means reaching the hard-to-reach people and places, the “least of these.” They will be found, and they will be fed.
Tasks: Hand-pack rice, soy, dried vegetables, and a nutritionally complete blend of vitamins and minerals into bags which are then sealed, boxed, placed on pallets, and shipped to their partners working to reach the neediest children around the world.
Contact: fmsc.org/get-involved/volunteer-info
Location: Eagan or Chanhassen
About: Operating food shelves and hot meal programs in Bloomington and North Minneapolis, serving 2,500 individuals each month. First and Third Tuesday of every month at Cedar Valley.
Tasks: Volunteers needed to serve hot food, sort groceries, distribute groceries, bus tables, be a personal shopper to guests, carry groceries to cars, and clean up.
Food in The Hood Contact: Jamie Morrison, jamie@goodinthehood.org
CV Contact: Pastor Jonas Sjostrom, jonas@cvchurch.org
Location: Cedar Valley Church, Bloomington
About: An urban ministry transforming people suffering from homelessness, addiction and abuse.
Tasks: Serving Sunday service communal meal; sorting donated clothes and housewares; remodeling projects; Friday Street Team Outreach.
Life Center Contact: David Yajko, david@changingourcity.org
CV Contact: Dawn Ahlm, ahlmd@yahoo.com
Location: Minneapolis
About: Loaves & Fishes provides healthy meals to Minnesotans in areas where the need is greatest.
Tasks: Cooking and serving meals at a dining site.
Contact: Visit loavesandfishesmn.org/volunteer/, or email Lonny at volunteer@loavesandfishesmn.org.
Location(s): Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, Crystal, Eagan, Farmington, Hopkins, Inver Grove Heights, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee
About: The mission is to assist men, women, and teens in gaining freedom from chemical addictions and other life-controlling problems by addressing their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge’s Volunteer Program offers you a variety of volunteer opportunities, with the goal of making a difference in the lives of clients and giving you a chance to be a part of our community. Whether you want to volunteer as an individual or a group at one of our many locations, or at our events, there is a place for you at MnTC!
Tasks: Facility Improvements, Community Service events
Contact: Matthew Wyka (Volunteer Program Manager), matthew.wyka@mntc.org
Location: Minneapolis
About: Richfield local Police and Fire Fighters
Tasks: Meals, Serving, Care for families
Contact: Brice Eichlersmith (Chaplain), brice@oakgrovelutheran.org
Location: Richfield
About: Offers practical help by hosting children during times of parental crisis and ongoing relational support.
Tasks: Adopt a family; support for single moms; hosting children in your home; providing meals for host families.
TFG Contact: info@tfgood.org
Location: Varies
treehousehope.org
About: Serves Teens by giving them a safe space to find support and belonging.
Tasks: Help feed hungry Tree House teens by preparing a meal at home or on-site and serve 25-35 teens before programs as well mentoring and tutoring opportunities.
CV Contact: Erica Scott, 612-598-7414, ericascott14@gmail.com
Location: Bloomington
About: Serves people facing homelessness, poverty, or addiction by meeting physical, spiritual, emotional, and education needs.
Task: Serving meal opportunities at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
UGM Contact: Josh Windham, jwindham@ugmtc.org
CV Contact: Jonas Sjostrom, jonas@cvchurch.org
Location: Minneapolis
About: VEAP is a basic needs organization whose programs include access to healthy foods, social services, housing stability, and supportive services.
Tasks: Food drive-through intake, lobby greeter, lobby intake, pantry support, prep and stock support.
Contact: Visit veap.org/volunteer or call 952-955-8323.
Location: Bloomington