Do you want to give back during the holidays? These Athens nonprofits need volunteers

Sarah Dolezal, Athens Banner-Herald

Are you seeking volunteer opportunities during the season of giving? Many organizations need volunteers to help with people and animals in need of an extra helping hand.

The first step is to contact an organization to see if you meet the requirements. Many places want you to fill out an application, go through training or get a background check.

Here’s a list of the places that seek volunteers for the holiday season and beyond:

  • Athens Area Humane Society seeks volunteers to clean kennels, feed dogs and cats, walk dogs and more. Volunteers must be at least 10 years old and accompanied by an adult if under 18 years old. Court-ordered community service volunteers are welcome with restrictions. Volunteers are especially needed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. 1030 Mitchell Bridge Rd., Athens. 706-400-4401, ex. 0007. For more information go to https://athenshumanesociety.org/get-involved/volunteer/.

  • Athens Community Council on Aging seeks volunteers to deliver groceries to elderly residents in Athens who experience food insecurity. You’ll need to be able to lift 20 pounds and walk up a few flights of stairs while carrying a box or bag, plus drive and navigate a GPS system. 135 Hoyt St., Athens. 706-549-4850. For more information go to https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3752272.jsp.

  • Food Bank of Northeast Georgia seeks volunteers to sort donations, bagging a month’s worth of food for the elderly and for the food bank’s mobile pantries. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Carpooling is encouraged. 861 Newton Bridge Rd, Athens. 706-354-8191. For more information go to https://foodbanknega.org/volunteers/.

  • Project Safe seeks volunteers for meal donations, childcare and working at the thrift store. 995 Hawthorne Ave., Athens. 706-549-0922. For more information go to https://www.project-safe.org/get-involved/volunteer-2/.

  • Wheels of Hope seeks volunteers to drive clients who are vision-impaired, elderly or disabled to doctor’s offices and other places as needed. 367 Prince Ave., Athens. 706-765-3616. For more information go to https://wheelsofhopegeorgia.org/volunteer.

  • The Bigger Vision of Athens Community Shelter seeks evening volunteers to serve meals, clean up the common area, manage the storage room and build relationships with their guests. Meal donations are also being accepted. Must be 18 years old or accompanied by a parent or guardian. 95 North Ave., Athens. 706-340-6062. For more information go to https://www.bvoa.org/volunteering.

  • Compassionate Care Hospice, an Amedisys Hospice, seeks volunteers to support patient’s caregivers. Duties may include offering companionship, writing letters, playing music and singing and light clerical duties. Must be at least 16 years old with a driver’s license, pass a background check and go through orientation and training. 1061 Dowdy Rd., Ste. 206, Athens 706-369-3550. For more information go to https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp3615613.jsp.

  • Affinis Hospice seeks volunteers to support patients for a number of duties such as companionship, light household duties, light clerical duties, running errands and providing personal care. Must be at least 18 years old with a driver’s license, pass a background check and go through orientation and training. 825 Baxter St., Athens. 706-705-6000. For more information go to https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp2960907.jsp.

  • Athens Area Homeless Shelter seeks volunteers to help with donating facility-related services, meals and spending time with kids. Some volunteers may perform different duties depending on the needs of the shelter. Must be 18 years old, or if younger, not a student at a Clarke County school. 620 Barber St., Athens. 706-354-0423. For more information go to https://www.helpathenshomeless.org/volunteer.

  • St. Mary’s Hospice Services seeks volunteers to provide direct patient care such as companionship, respite for caregivers and light household duties, or with administrative duties. Must be 18 years old. 1021 Jamestown Blvd., Ste. 215, Watkinsville. 706-389-2273. For more information go to https://www.stmaryshealthcaresystem.org/careers/volunteer-at-st-marys/adult-auxiliary-volunteers.

  • Goodwill of North Georgia seeks short- or long-term project based volunteers at all of their Athens area locations. Duties range from placement call specialist to corporate consultant to college interns or site volunteer coordinator. 4070 Lexington Road, Athens and 3898 Atlanta Highway, Bogart. 404-513-6083. For more information go to https://goodwillng.org/.

More: Which house has the best Christmas lights in the Athens area? Show us your favorite!

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Places to volunteer in Athens Georgia

Advertisement