Opportunities From: United Way of Kaw Valley

Volunteer: Distribution Volunteer - Saturdays 8:30am-11:00am

Volunteer will be helping distribute food/clothing to patrons during our regular distribution. Tasks can include building food boxes, loading food into cars, folding/sorting clothes, and assisting shoppers in our clothing closet. Volunteers should be able to stand and lift 20 lbs and will primarily be working in the warehouse. 

Agency: Be Filled Of South Topeka

Volunteer will be helping distribute food/clothing to patrons during our regular distribution. Tasks can include building food boxes, loading food into cars, folding/sorting clothes, and assisting shoppers in our clothing closet. Volunteers should be able to stand and lift 20 lbs and will primarily be working in the warehouse. 

Agency: Be Filled Of South Topeka

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Multiple Shifts Available

Zip Code: 66619

Allow Groups: Yes

Volunteer: Book Sale Prep (Friends of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library)

Sort and box donated books by category for the quarterly book sales. Position requires one day a week for a 2–3-hour shift. Time of day can be flexible. Training provided

Agency: Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Sort and box donated books by category for the quarterly book sales. Position requires one day a week for a 2–3-hour shift. Time of day can be flexible. Training provided

Agency: Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 66604

Allow Groups: No

Volunteer: Book Sorter (Friends of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library)

Sort donations on the loading dock for the Friends of the Library book sales, booktique, and online sales.

This position requires working with donated items, bending, standing, and working on the loading dock (temperatures vary).

Volunteers need to commit to one day a week (ongoing) for a 2-3 hour shift.

Training provided.

**Saturday and Sunday shifts needed (Join with a friend)!

Agency: Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Sort donations on the loading dock for the Friends of the Library book sales, booktique, and online sales.

This position requires working with donated items, bending, standing, and working on the loading dock (temperatures vary).

Volunteers need to commit to one day a week (ongoing) for a 2-3 hour shift.

Training provided.

**Saturday and Sunday shifts needed (Join with a friend)!

Agency: Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 66604

Allow Groups: Yes

Volunteer: Play Crew

Are you passionate about creating a safe, fun, and engaging space for children to explore and learn? Join the Play Crew at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center!

As a nonprofit children's museum, the Discovery Center is dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of learning for every child. Volunteers play a key role in bringing this mission to life by helping create memorable experiences for every family that visits.

As a Play Crew volunteer, you'll:

Encourage Playful Learning: Facilitate interactive exhibits and inspire children and their families to discover the joy of hands-on learning.Promote Clean, Safe Play: Help keep our exhibit floor and outdoor classroom tidy, organized, and sanitized to ensure a welcoming environment for all.Connect with Visitors: Interact with kids, parents, grandparents, and caregivers, sharing the importance of informal learning while building connections through play.

This position is perfect for those who:

Enjoy staying active and working in a dynamic, high-sensory environment.Have a sense of humor, high energy, and a passion for working with children.Possess good communication and customer service skills.

Play Crew volunteers should be comfortable standing, bending, and working at kid-level to ensure our visitors have an unforgettable experience. Join us in making the Kansas Children's Discovery Center a magical place for children and families!

Apply on our website at: https://kansasdiscovery.org/support/volunteer/

Agency: Kansas Children's Discovery Center

Are you passionate about creating a safe, fun, and engaging space for children to explore and learn? Join the Play Crew at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center!

As a nonprofit children's museum, the Discovery Center is dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of learning for every child. Volunteers play a key role in bringing this mission to life by helping create memorable experiences for every family that visits.

As a Play Crew volunteer, you'll:

Encourage Playful Learning: Facilitate interactive exhibits and inspire children and their families to discover the joy of hands-on learning.Promote Clean, Safe Play: Help keep our exhibit floor and outdoor classroom tidy, organized, and sanitized to ensure a welcoming environment for all.Connect with Visitors: Interact with kids, parents, grandparents, and caregivers, sharing the importance of informal learning while building connections through play.

This position is perfect for those who:

Enjoy staying active and working in a dynamic, high-sensory environment.Have a sense of humor, high energy, and a passion for working with children.Possess good communication and customer service skills.

Play Crew volunteers should be comfortable standing, bending, and working at kid-level to ensure our visitors have an unforgettable experience. Join us in making the Kansas Children's Discovery Center a magical place for children and families!

Apply on our website at: https://kansasdiscovery.org/support/volunteer/

Agency: Kansas Children's Discovery Center

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 66604

Allow Groups: Yes

Volunteer: Saturday Sandwich Maker for Sack Lunches

     Make a difference in the neighborhood! Consider joining our Sandwich Sack preparation teams on Saturday mornings, from 8-11:30, one Saturday a month.  Or, if you prefer to be a substitute worker for a team, that would be helpful as well. This is a great opportunity for students looking for community service hours. Grace Cathedral serves an average of 950 sack lunches each month to our community neighbors.  Each sack consists of 2 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, a bag of chips and 2 cookies.  So, that's an average of 1900 sandwiches each month (for months with 4 Saturdays). We have teams of volunteers who work one Saturday each month to prepare these sack lunches. All ingredients are provided by the church.  We are looking for a few eager volunteers to supplement our teams.



 

Agency: Grace Episcopal Cathedral

     Make a difference in the neighborhood! Consider joining our Sandwich Sack preparation teams on Saturday mornings, from 8-11:30, one Saturday a month.  Or, if you prefer to be a substitute worker for a team, that would be helpful as well. This is a great opportunity for students looking for community service hours. Grace Cathedral serves an average of 950 sack lunches each month to our community neighbors.  Each sack consists of 2 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, a bag of chips and 2 cookies.  So, that's an average of 1900 sandwiches each month (for months with 4 Saturdays). We have teams of volunteers who work one Saturday each month to prepare these sack lunches. All ingredients are provided by the church.  We are looking for a few eager volunteers to supplement our teams.



 

Agency: Grace Episcopal Cathedral

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Runs Until Jun 30, 2026

Zip Code: 66603

Allow Groups: No

Volunteer: Community Garden Care

The Growing Together Community Garden located on the south end of our building at 200 Maine street needs periodic care. Watering, weeding, and plant identification are all necessary. If you're interested in helping out, let us know, and we'll put you in contact with our garden overseer to get you set up to become a part of Growing Together.

Agency: Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center

The Growing Together Community Garden located on the south end of our building at 200 Maine street needs periodic care. Watering, weeding, and plant identification are all necessary. If you're interested in helping out, let us know, and we'll put you in contact with our garden overseer to get you set up to become a part of Growing Together.

Agency: Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 66044

Allow Groups: No

Volunteer: Host a Food and Fund Drive for your Community!

Host a food & fund drive in your neighborhood, place of business, school or community organization. Food & fund drives are great fun, especially when friendly competition between participants is encouraged! Contact us at fighthunger@harvesters.org.

Don’t have room for a food drive barrel or have time to make a special trip to the grocery store? Host a virtual food drive for your workplace or organization! It’s a convenient, hassle-free, 24/7 way to help Harvesters with the click of a mouse! Go to www.harvesters.org and click on "Give Food" to download our step-by-step guides and "how to" kits. 

Agency: Harvesters - the Community Food Network

Host a food & fund drive in your neighborhood, place of business, school or community organization. Food & fund drives are great fun, especially when friendly competition between participants is encouraged! Contact us at fighthunger@harvesters.org.

Don’t have room for a food drive barrel or have time to make a special trip to the grocery store? Host a virtual food drive for your workplace or organization! It’s a convenient, hassle-free, 24/7 way to help Harvesters with the click of a mouse! Go to www.harvesters.org and click on "Give Food" to download our step-by-step guides and "how to" kits. 

Agency: Harvesters - the Community Food Network

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 66049

Allow Groups: No

Volunteer: Pack Healthy Family Meal Kits

Healthy Family Meal Kits provide all the necessary ingredients for an easy, complete nutritious meal for children and families in need in our community. Each box includes enough ingredients to make 8 servings, as well as a recipe card.  

How It Works: 
The Family Meal Box program has two components:  a food or fund drive followed by a volunteer activity. 

Food/Fund Drive: 
Each box needs to include all of the items for one recipe listed below for the box to be complete. Collecting items in bulk or asking several volunteers to purchase food in bulk after collecting monetary donations works very well for this drive.    

Volunteer Activity: 
At the end of your food drive, coordinate with Harvesters to receive boxes, recipe cards, stickers.   Then, your volunteers will spend a few hours packing the individual boxes so they can be easily transported back to our facility for distribution.  

Need community service hours?
For every complete meal kit donated, you will receive 1 volunteer hour!*

Agency: Harvesters - the Community Food Network

Healthy Family Meal Kits provide all the necessary ingredients for an easy, complete nutritious meal for children and families in need in our community. Each box includes enough ingredients to make 8 servings, as well as a recipe card.  

How It Works: 
The Family Meal Box program has two components:  a food or fund drive followed by a volunteer activity. 

Food/Fund Drive: 
Each box needs to include all of the items for one recipe listed below for the box to be complete. Collecting items in bulk or asking several volunteers to purchase food in bulk after collecting monetary donations works very well for this drive.    

Volunteer Activity: 
At the end of your food drive, coordinate with Harvesters to receive boxes, recipe cards, stickers.   Then, your volunteers will spend a few hours packing the individual boxes so they can be easily transported back to our facility for distribution.  

Need community service hours?
For every complete meal kit donated, you will receive 1 volunteer hour!*

Agency: Harvesters - the Community Food Network

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Allow Groups: Yes

Volunteer: Brighten a Senior’s Day with a Handmade Card!

Each month, Harvesters distributes nearly 5,000 CSFP food boxes to food-insecure seniors. These boxes include shelf-stable items like cereal, pasta, canned vegetables, and juice.

We need your help to make these deliveries extra special! Create a cheerful, handmade card with an upbeat message to include in each box. This is an all-ages activity, and handwriting from kids is absolutely welcome—just make sure it’s legible and take time to make each card unique.

Your Mission

Add an upbeat message that will brighten someone’s day. Decorate, scrapbook, or design your card. Include a fun food pun or cheerful phrase! Need inspiration? Try these ideas: Have a GRATE day! Olive you so much! Pea Happy! Don’t worry, be happy! Seasonal phrases like “Happy Holidays,” “Happy Valentine’s Day,” “Hopping into Spring,” and “Summer Fun” are also great choices.

Getting Started

Have fun, get creative, and share your photos with us on social media: @harvestersorg Gather your own art supplies (please avoid notebook paper). Cards with faith-based or political messages cannot be used. If creating cards for a specific holiday or season, please send them at least one month in advance: New Year cards: by first week of December Valentine’s cards: by first week of January Spring cards: by first week of March Summer cards: by first week of April Fall cards: by first week of September Winter cards: by first week of October

Quantity & Service Hours

Any number of cards is welcome! Great for individuals or groups—office teams, schools, service organizations, and more. Service Credit: 1 hour for every 10 handmade cards completed, limited to 4 hours (40 cards) per month. Please note:

Purchased cards may receive credit at Harvesters’ discretion. Service hours are for non-legal purposes only.Do not place cards in sealed envelopes—we review all cards before distribution.

Where to Send Completed Cards

Mail or drop off Monday–Friday, 8 AM–3:30 PM:

Harvesters Kansas Distribution Center

Attn: Community Engagement Team

1220 Timberedge Road

Lawrence, KS 66049

Include your first & last name, email, and phone number so we can log your service hours.

Agency: Harvesters - the Community Food Network

Each month, Harvesters distributes nearly 5,000 CSFP food boxes to food-insecure seniors. These boxes include shelf-stable items like cereal, pasta, canned vegetables, and juice.

We need your help to make these deliveries extra special! Create a cheerful, handmade card with an upbeat message to include in each box. This is an all-ages activity, and handwriting from kids is absolutely welcome—just make sure it’s legible and take time to make each card unique.

Your Mission

Add an upbeat message that will brighten someone’s day. Decorate, scrapbook, or design your card. Include a fun food pun or cheerful phrase! Need inspiration? Try these ideas: Have a GRATE day! Olive you so much! Pea Happy! Don’t worry, be happy! Seasonal phrases like “Happy Holidays,” “Happy Valentine’s Day,” “Hopping into Spring,” and “Summer Fun” are also great choices.

Getting Started

Have fun, get creative, and share your photos with us on social media: @harvestersorg Gather your own art supplies (please avoid notebook paper). Cards with faith-based or political messages cannot be used. If creating cards for a specific holiday or season, please send them at least one month in advance: New Year cards: by first week of December Valentine’s cards: by first week of January Spring cards: by first week of March Summer cards: by first week of April Fall cards: by first week of September Winter cards: by first week of October

Quantity & Service Hours

Any number of cards is welcome! Great for individuals or groups—office teams, schools, service organizations, and more. Service Credit: 1 hour for every 10 handmade cards completed, limited to 4 hours (40 cards) per month. Please note:

Purchased cards may receive credit at Harvesters’ discretion. Service hours are for non-legal purposes only.Do not place cards in sealed envelopes—we review all cards before distribution.

Where to Send Completed Cards

Mail or drop off Monday–Friday, 8 AM–3:30 PM:

Harvesters Kansas Distribution Center

Attn: Community Engagement Team

1220 Timberedge Road

Lawrence, KS 66049

Include your first & last name, email, and phone number so we can log your service hours.

Agency: Harvesters - the Community Food Network

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 66603

Allow Groups: Yes

Volunteer: Sort & Pack food for Harvesters!

Harvesters mobilizes the power of our community to create equitable access to nutritious food and address the root causes and impact of hunger. Volunteers serving in Harvesters’ Volunteer Engagement Center (VEC) sort and repack food, which assists Harvesters and its pantry partners in feeding more than 250,000 people each month.  

Volunteer tasks are assigned based on product availability and project prioritization. Volunteer Engagement Center opportunities include: 

Sorting fresh produceSorting and boxing breadPacking Senior Commodity Food BoxesSorting nonperishable food drive donations

Harvesters weekly volunteer schedule: 

Tuesdays from 1-3 PMThursdays from 9-11 AM & 1-3 PMSaturdays 9-11 AM & 12-2 PM

Advance registration is required, click here to register and sign the volunteer waiver.

Agency: Harvesters - the Community Food Network

Harvesters mobilizes the power of our community to create equitable access to nutritious food and address the root causes and impact of hunger. Volunteers serving in Harvesters’ Volunteer Engagement Center (VEC) sort and repack food, which assists Harvesters and its pantry partners in feeding more than 250,000 people each month.  

Volunteer tasks are assigned based on product availability and project prioritization. Volunteer Engagement Center opportunities include: 

Sorting fresh produceSorting and boxing breadPacking Senior Commodity Food BoxesSorting nonperishable food drive donations

Harvesters weekly volunteer schedule: 

Tuesdays from 1-3 PMThursdays from 9-11 AM & 1-3 PMSaturdays 9-11 AM & 12-2 PM

Advance registration is required, click here to register and sign the volunteer waiver.

Agency: Harvesters - the Community Food Network

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 66049

Allow Groups: No

Volunteer: Team Rat Pack

Minimum time requirement: 3 hours/week/same day includes holidays

Age Requirement: 12 – 15 years old with parent  16 + years old can work independently

Help care for the mice and rats that feed our wildlife!  As a part of our Rat Pack, you’ll get hands-on experience caring for the “live” animals that are vital to rehabilitating foxes, coyotes, birds of prey, and more.   This task can be done in the morning, afternoon or after school.

Duties will include:  refilling food & water, cleaning cages, tracking key data like new births, reporting any injuries or illness.

Training provided – no prior experience required!

As a rodent helper, you’ll gain animal husbandry skills while playing a key role in our rehabilitation work.

Agency: Operation Wildlife

Minimum time requirement: 3 hours/week/same day includes holidays

Age Requirement: 12 – 15 years old with parent  16 + years old can work independently

Help care for the mice and rats that feed our wildlife!  As a part of our Rat Pack, you’ll get hands-on experience caring for the “live” animals that are vital to rehabilitating foxes, coyotes, birds of prey, and more.   This task can be done in the morning, afternoon or after school.

Duties will include:  refilling food & water, cleaning cages, tracking key data like new births, reporting any injuries or illness.

Training provided – no prior experience required!

As a rodent helper, you’ll gain animal husbandry skills while playing a key role in our rehabilitation work.

Agency: Operation Wildlife

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 66052

Allow Groups: No

Volunteer: Silver Supper at Central Park Community Center

Join us in making a difference in our community.

You can help by :

Making bagged sandwichesDropping off food donationsServing mealsBaking delicious treats to be individually packaged and delivered.

Your support can bring joy and nourishment to those in need. Contact us today to get involved!

Agency: Silverbackks

Join us in making a difference in our community.

You can help by :

Making bagged sandwichesDropping off food donationsServing mealsBaking delicious treats to be individually packaged and delivered.

Your support can bring joy and nourishment to those in need. Contact us today to get involved!

Agency: Silverbackks

Opportunity Type: Volunteer

Date: Is Ongoing

Zip Code: 66604

Allow Groups: No