Volunteer Opportunities in Portage
Make a difference in Portage County! Volunteer with local nonprofits, and help strengthen lives and communities.
About RSVP
RSVP is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people 55 and over. You can use the skills and talents you’ve learned over the years or develop new ones while serving in a variety of volunteer activities within your community.
Contact Shannon to Learn More
To volunteer, contact Shannon Lehn. Shannon is the Foster Grandparent and Retired Senior Volunteer Program Coordinator for Portage and Stark Counties, having joined the organization in October 2023 as an Outreach Coordinator. A dedicated community builder, she is also an avid yogi who enjoys researching family history, traveling, and spending time with family, friends, and her two dogs, Charlotte and Malley.
Current Volunteer Opportunities in Portage
Absolute Hospice provides personalized, comprehensive, and compassionate hospice care services with concern and respect for all individuals.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Provides respite services and companionship services to hospice care patients
- Visits in-home and provides support through conversation
- Participate in general orientation and must submit to a background check
The Brimfield Community Cupboard is organized to provide food and personal care assistance to Brimfield Township residents. This program is 100% volunteer managed and maintains guidance from a volunteer trustee board.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Assist with weekly food distribution on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Help pick up weekly donations from the Akron Canton Food Bank
- Help unload and stock donation from the Akron Canton Food Bank
- Provide assistance for special events: as assigned by trust board (special events include Fill-A-Cruiser, Brimfest Food Collection, and Holiday meal distribution days
The Brimfield Historical Society and Kelso House Museum aims to inspire the community by collecting, preserving and exhibiting artifacts from the township’s past and fostering connections to people and ideas.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Participate in regular historical society programming, events and fundraisers
- Tasks to include: event set up and tear down, advertisement, assisting with needs during the event, and clean up afterwards
- Assisting in the on-site herb garden and light grounds maintenance
- Volunteers choose when and how often they can volunteer; based on what is available at the time
- Complete orientation and review with curator prior to service
The Center of Hope is based in Ravenna and provides hot meals and food pantry assistance to disadvantaged residents of Portage County.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Schedule and sign in food pantry appointments
- Help pack and distribute the food pantry orders
- Assist in serving the daily hot meal
- Assist in kitchen clean up and prep
- Provide general cleaning and organization of the eating area
- Help with emergency warming and cooling (on-site)
The Cozy Christian Quilters have been together for 22 years, making and distributing their quilts to local non-profit organizations, hospitals, veteran programs and community centers.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Assist with the assembly of the quilts
- Be willing to fill any tasks that may be needed; sewing quilt tops
- Be able to make a commitment of at least 6 months; can work from home
- Assist with quilt distribution to those in need
Volunteer Opportunities
- Companionship
- Transportation Services
Kent Social Services’ mission is to provide emergency services to those in need through the pantry and hot meal program. Support through local donations and volunteer support, benefit those in need.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Assist with the assembly of the quilts
- Be willing to fill any tasks that may be needed; sewing quilt tops
- Be able to make a commitment of at least 6 months; can work from home
- Assist with quilt distribution to those in need
The Kent State University Museum advances the understanding of world cultures through collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting fashion, textiles, and related arts to students, scholars, and the general public.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Sewing and repairing the garments
- Repairing vintage cloth hangers
- Managing and organization of the on-site library
- Serve as greeters and/or docents for the museum
The Phyllis Zumkehr Portage County Clothing Center offers gently used clothing, household items, and even appliances as available to those in need. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10:00am–2:00pm and Tuesday/Thursday evenings from 6:00pm–8:00pm.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Collecting and weighing donations as they come in
- Sort and manage donations
- Hang and stock shopping area
- Clean and organize shopping area
- Assist with special events
The Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority is dedicated to meeting the housing needs of low-income families and individuals of Portage County by developing, managing, and supporting programmatic services
Volunteer Opportunities
- Mentor
The Portage Senior Center offers social and recreational activities to all Portage County seniors. Educational programs, BINGO, art therapy, Tai Chi and more are offered either free or low cost
Volunteer Opportunities
- Provide support services to program director
- Help with special events on-site
- Support one-time programs like the Farmers Market Voucher Program
- Instruct fitness and/or art therapy programs; as needed
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is one of the largest volunteer networks in the nation for people over 55. Using your lifetime of experience to give back to your community and make a difference for years to come. Variety of opportunities available with little to no experience needed.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Provide transportation to home-bound seniors and those with a disability. Travel is reimbursed at $.25/mile with discretion by the program. Travel is supported for needed and reasonable medical trips, grocery store pick ups and/or access to needed health and safety resources
- Become a friendly visitor to home-bound seniors and those with a disability
- Lead and instruct programs that teach overall independence; falls prevention programming, File of Life packets, Medication Assistance Program (MAP), etc.
- Support general clerical assistance; recruitment packets and help with mass mailings
The Salvation Army of Portage County supports Portage County through needed outreach services ranging from food pantry assistance to clothing assistance to providing other resources needed for safety; as available.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Opportunities for both locations: Ravenna and Windham
- Support the Food Shelf; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday by stocking the shelves, filling grocery orders, and breaking down boxes
- Pick up the food donations from the Akron Canton Food Bank
- Assist the Red Shield Pantry; 4th Tuesday of every month. Tasks include but not limited to: stocking tables, monitor food distribution, checking in the shoppers, clean up and breakdown boxes
The Skeels Mathews Community Center seeks to improve the educational, physical, cultural, social, recreational, and governmental aspects of the community and surrounding areas.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Weekly hot meal preparation and distribution
- Light cleaning and organization for events
- Providing transportation to home-bound seniors for the weekly hot meal
- Support the mentorship and tutoring programs
The purpose of the Streetsboro Senior Center is to provide health services, education, informational and referral and social services, volunteer opportunities and recreational programs to senior citizens over 55 in Streetsboro and surrounding area.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Help set up for parties and “Lunch and Learn” Programs
- Pick up weekly food donations from area grocery stores and restaurants
- Assist with clerical and office coverage (answer phones and schedule speakers)
- Call BINGO and assist with other programs
- Serve on the Streetsboro Foundation Board; as a volunteer member
Volunteer Opportunities
- Clerical support to admin staff
- Transport/escort services to patients
- Mail delivery within the hospital
- Staffing the emergency room info desk and/or the main lobby info desk.
- Volunteers may also support the many specialty services offered through UH for their patients to include Musical Arts Team, Wags for Wellness, Veteran Visitation, and serving on the hospital's Auxiliary board or working in the gift shop.