Giving back: Where to volunteer in Kansas City
If you’re looking for ways to give back to Kansas City, we’ve got you covered. There are plenty of causes in the metro who are actively looking for volunteers.
These programs and organizations are working tirelessly to make the lives of those within our community better, and with your help, you can make a difference.
Below are programs and organizations looking for volunteers — it is not an exhaustive list, but we hope a place to start for those looking to help their neighbors. Organizations are listed by cause so you can find the mission that fits within your capabilities and matters most to you. We’ve linked to their website where you can find more detailed information.
Community Services
Catch-a-Ride Volunteer Transportation
Catch-a-Ride or CaR connects volunteer drivers with Johnson County residents who need a ride to medical appointments, food pantries and other social services. Learn more here.
Happy Bottoms
Happy Bottoms not only provides diapers to families in need, they have partnerships with organizations that families can trust for educational services, emergency assistance, healthcare, childcare and case management services. Learn more about volunteering here.
Kansas City Public Library’s RISE
RISE stands for Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment. This program helps Kansas City immigrants and refugees in a multitude of ways from providing English tutoring to study sessions for the Naturalization Civics Tests. Apply to volunteer.
The Sewing Lab
At its core, The Sewing Lab is about empowering people and providing them with the skills they can use to pursue sustainable career paths. And they do this through sewing. The program teaches people how to sew and operate sewing machines and connects them with the jobs that require those skills. Learn more about volunteering with The Sewing Lab.
Children and Adult Youth Services
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City
This program aims to help children achieve their greatest potential through matching them with mentors, leaders and positive role models within their communities. Learn more here.
City Year Kansas City
City Year works against systemic issues that disproportionately effects students of color and students in low-income households by providing them with the resources they need to excel in school. Learn more about City Year Kansas City here.
i9 Sports
There are a lot of benefits for children in sports, including teamwork, building confidence and having fun. i9 Sports is looking for volunteer coaches to participate in their training program and help coach childrens’ sports teams. Apply to become an i9 Sports volunteer coach.
Lead to Read
Reading is a foundational skill set that helps people in many aspects of life. Lead to Read invites volunteers to become Reading Mentors to help children improve their literacy and build confidence along the way. Learn more about volunteering with Lead to Read here.
Education Services
Band of Angels
Band of Angels promotes music education by providing students with instruments, scholarships and support. They’re in need of volunteers to help with fundraising for events throughout the year. Learn more about Band of Angels here.
Operation Breakthrough
Operation Breakthrough’s mission is to create safe and loving environments for children in need to learn. There’s a lot you can do as a volunteer with Operation Breakthrough from doing arts and crafts with children to rocking babies to sleep. Apply to volunteer.
The Kansas City Library
The Kansas City Library is a hub for a multitude of resources ranging from books and archives to computer and tech facilities. Check out their Volunteer Opportunities page where they list their current needs.
The Learning Club
The Learning Club is a tutoring service that provides after school learning for high risk children in Kansas City. Volunteers help tutor students in a variety of subjects, giving them academic support, encouragement and mentorship.
Food for the Community
After the Harvest
After the Harvest is on a mission to feed communities with fresh produce that would otherwise be thrown out. Volunteers help spread the word about reducing food waste and help with fundraising for the organization. Learn more about After the Harvest here.
Cultivate KC
If urban gardening interests you, check out Cultivate KC. They are a non-profit organization on a mission to grow food and create a sustainable local food system. See the ways you can volunteer with Cultivate KC here.
Harvesters
Harvesters is a food bank that provides fresh and nutritious foods to those living in northwestern Missouri and northeastern Kansas who are in need. Volunteers help out with tasks like sorting goods, serving meals and distributing groceries. Find ways to volunteer with Harvesters here.
Kansas City Community Gardens
Community gardens are not just a place to learn about agriculture, they also provide nutritious foods to those who need it most. Kansas City Community Gardens turns empty lots into sustainable sources of fresh food while providing a nurturing environment for those who enjoy the restorative power of gardening. KCCG needs volunteers to assist with seed packaging, garden maintenance and helping out with other programming they offer. Learn more about volunteering with Kansas City Community Gardens here.
NourishKC
Under the belief that food is a basic human right, NourishKC has several programs that ensure communities are fed. Volunteers help out with a multitude of tasks from cutting vegetables to plating the food that is served. Learn more here.
Healthcare and Hospital Volunteers
Children’s Mercy Kansas City
Children’s Mercy is dedicated to all aspects of children’s healthcare. Volunteers can help in a variety of ways including assembling “Happy Kits,” activity kits that entertain patients during their visit and providing support and comfort to families. Learn more about how you can help here.
Kansas Hospice Care
Make a difference in the lives of people facing serious illnesses and their families by volunteering with Kansas Hospice Care. Volunteers can help in many ways including making arts and crafts with patients, sorting donations, organizing, cleaning and fundraising. Learn more about Kansas Hospice Care here.
KC Care Health Center
KC Care Health Center is dedicated to making sure everyone in the community has access to quality healthcare. They provide primary care as well as women’s health, transgender health, dental care, pharmacy, testing and screening and more. There are a lot of ways to volunteer from being a greeter to giving medical support. This is an excellent volunteer opportunity for people who have healthcare experience. Learn more here.
Medical Reserve Corps
The Medical Reserve Corps of Greater Kansas City invites both public health volunteers and non-medical community members to assist with ongoing public health initiatives. These volunteers respond during disasters as well as other times of need. Learn more about volunteering with the Medical Reserve Corps here.
Housing
Amethyst Place
Amethyst Place provides housing and other programs to women recovering from substance abuse and their children. Learn how you can help Amethyst Place here.
Community Housing of Wyandotte County
Working within the neighborhoods of Kansas City, Kansas, Community Housing of Wynadotte County works toward transforming vacant lots and blighted properties into welcoming homes for families in need. Volunteers can bring a multitude of skills to the table including art, healthy living, event planning, writing, administration and design. Learn more about how to volunteer with Community Housing of Wyandotte County here.
SAVE, Inc.
Under the guiding principle that housing is a basic human right, SAVE, Inc. gives vulnerable people assistance with permanent, transitional and emergency housing. Volunteers are on an as-needed basis, so sign up for their email newsletter to be altered when an opportunity arises. Find out more about volunteering with SAVE, Inc. here.
LGBTQ
Kansas City Center for Inclusion
The Kansas City Center for Inclusion is a safe community space created to affirm and support LGBTQ adults and youth. As a local resource for the LGBTQ community, they also engage in outreach and education. Learn more about the Kansas City Center for Inclusion here.
Kansas City Pride Community Alliance
Through celebrating LGBTQ history, the Kansas City Pride Community Alliance organizes educational opportunities and social activities that advocate and enrich the lives of the LGBTQ community. Volunteers can help the KCPCA with Pride events, fundraising, outreach, education, and contributing other skill sets like web design and graphic design. Learn more about volunteering with the Kansas CIty Pride Community Alliance.
Our Spot KC
Our Spot KC is an initiative that provides a wide variety of safe, supportive and affirming support to the LGBTQ community. In addition to outreach and hosting events, they have an LGBTQ specific program that provides short term housing to community members in need. Learn more about Our Spot KC here.
SAVE, Inc.’s Pride Haven
Pride Haven is part of SAVE, Inc. that focuses on providing overnight shelter to LGBTQ people ages 18-24 while providing a safe and affirming environment. Learn more here.
Nature Conservation Efforts
Bridging the Gap
Bridging the Gap creates programs that help preserve the land while teaching the community about land stewardship. Their volunteer opportunities include protecting trees and wildlands as well as clean ups, recycling programs, and energy saving education. Learn more about Bridging the Gap here.
Friends of the River
Working to care for the Kansas City Riverfront, the Friends of the River are a team of volunteers who help clean, care for and educate people about the mighty Missouri River. Learn more about Friends of the River here.
Johnson County Park & Recreation
Johnson County Park & Recreation maintains numerous green spaces and parks in Johnson County that are meant for people within the community to enjoy. Volunteer opportunities range from park maintenance and moderating educational programming to monitoring bluebirds and helping out with Theater in the Park. Find out how you can volunteer with Johnson County Park & Recreation here.
Powell Gardens
Powell Gardens is Kansas City Botanical Garden where the community can enjoy nature trails, seasonal festivities and learn about plant life native to the Midwest. Volunteers of Powell Gardens commit to keeping the botanical garden clean and beautiful for all to enjoy. Learn more about volunteering with Powell Gardens here.
Programs for Adults and Children with Disabilities
Ability KC
Ability KC assists individuals with disabilities at several touch points throughout their lives. The organization helps with outpatient medical rehabilitation, therapeutic preschool, employment services, specialty services and more. Find out how you can volunteer with Ability KC here.
Down Syndrome Innovations
This organization provides services that allow people with Down syndrome to live to their fullest potential. Their holistic approach assesses the unique needs of each person they work with, so there are a multitude of ways to volunteer and support this cause. Apply to volunteer here.
Northland Therapeutic Riding Center
Northland Therapeutic Riding Center improves the quality of life of people with physical, psychological and behavioral challenges through horseback riding. Volunteers assist with the programs by grooming horses, fundraising, event planning and more. Learn more about volunteering with Northland Therapeutic Riding Center here.
The Whole Person
Acting as an advocate for creating more accessibility, The Whole Person connects disabled people and their families to a broad range of resources to help foster confidence, independence as well as make individuals feel more connected to the community. Learn more about how you can volunteer with The Whole Person here.
Special Olympics Kansas
The Special Olympics Kansas provides sports training and facilitates athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, empowering them through sportsmanship. There are opportunities to volunteer as coaches and trainers as well as scorekeepers, timers, fundraisers and more. Learn more about Special Olympics Kansas here.
Shelters and Services for Animals
Great Plains SPCA
Great Plains SPCA is a no kill animal shelter that helps find pets their forever homes. Volunteers provide a safe and loving environment for pets and help with community outreach. Learn more about Great Plains SPCA.
KC Pet Project
KC Pet Project is a no-kill animal shelter that provides care for lost, abandoned or abused animals. Volunteers help out at the shelter as well as foster pets within their homes, feed kids, and play with animals. Learn more about KC Pet Project here.
Wayside Waifs
Wayside Waifs is a no kill animal shelter that is committed to animal rescue, animal foster care, veterinary care and pet adoptions. Learn more about how you can volunteer with Wayside Waifs.
There are an immense number of programs you can donate your time to around Kansas City. For a more extensive directory of organizations check out Uncover KC. The volunteer portal through the United Way of Greater Kansas City is another great resource that will help match you with the opportunities that fit your location, interest and time. If you are between the ages of 11 - 18 or know someone who is, take a look at the Youth Volunteer Corps, an organization that specializes in connecting youth with team-based service programs designed to help the community while providing vital education.
