Variety of Volunteer Opportunities Available

Join us May 6th and 7th for Artsfest! Presented by Great Southern Bank and hosted by the Springfield Regional Arts Council, Artsfest is one of the biggest outdoor art festivals in Southwest Missouri. Known for featuring over 100 artists from all over the country, live entertainment, and delicious food, patrons make it a priority to come back year after year.

Tourism Ambassador

Shelly Grauberger

shelly@springfieldmo.org

(417) 881-5300

Do you love Springfield and love sharing that passion for our community with visitors? Join our volunteer team! We are looking for knowledgeable Springfieldians who can share information about our great city with visitors from around the world. We offer a wide variety of volunteer shifts at our information centers located in Downtown Springfield and Springfield-Branson National Airport.

Mentoring

Ashley McLaughlin

amclaughlin@bgclubspringfield.org

(417) 862-9249

In line with our mission to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens, we are introducing a mentoring program where volunteers will establish a mentoring relationship directly with a young person at Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield!

Working with one or more youths in our Clubs to give members personal attention and guidance will open new doors of hope and opportunity! Mentoring allows youth to have a stable and positive relationship with an adult they might not feel they have otherwise.

Through this program, you can help us fill significant gaps in members’ education and emotional wellness, helping to guide them to great futures!

Community Volunteer Leader

Stacy Burks

stacy.burks@redcross.org

(417) 866-9813

A Community Volunteer Leader (CVL) is a leadership volunteer who works in partnership with the Executive Director as an important point of contact for a community or collection of communities. The primary goal is to cultivate, manage, and steward external partnerships in order to build capacity and connect their community to the Red Cross mission in one or more of the following ways:

Serve as an advocate and represent the Red Cross at local community events helping to build and enhance presence in the local community.

Utilizes established communication channels to communicate community needs and stay current on Red Cross programs and messaging.

Provide Red Cross updates to local service clubs and organizations (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.). Helping to recruit a volunteer workforce that is both inclusive and represents the demographics of the community.

Cultivate, manage and steward external partner relationships such as elected officials, community groups, faith-based organizations, key government agencies, colleges and universities, military organizations, etc.

Share the Red Cross mission within social networks/circles of influence.

You will be recognized as a community advocate, with speaking opportunities and a chance to build relationships with other community leaders, interacting with a variety of people, teaming with other Red Cross volunteers, and community partners.

Volunteer with Dynamic Strides Therapy

Jordan Pope

volunteer@dstherapy.org

(417) 343-1192

Horse Handler – This volunteer position reports directly to the Volunteer Coordinator, but may receive input from therapists, instructors, and other equine staff members.  Responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to, preparing the horse for the session, lead the horse during the session, put the horse away after the session, and correctly clean and put away tack and equipment.

Side Walker – Side Walkers are responsible for assisting the client physically, cognitively, and emotionally as necessary throughout the duration of the hippotherapy session, as directed by the therapist.  They must stay within reach of the rider and be aware of everything that is going on with the rider while assisting the rider in completing the tasks as directed by staff. They are encouraged to interact with the client to reinforce the instructions and praise of the therapist, while respecting the therapist’s need to communicate efficiently with the rider.

**Per federal medicaid mandates, volunteers must be vaccinated against COVID and wear a mask when interacting with patients.

Volunteer with the Child Advocacy Center

Bonnie Jansen

bjansen@childadvocacycenter.org

(417) 831-2327

At the Child Advocacy Center, our mission is twofold- serving the needs of abused and neglected children across 14 counties in Southern Missouri, and providing education to break abuse cycles and ultimately prevent child abuse in our region.

We see on average 1,500 children every year, providing them and their families access to critical services and support throughout the investigation process.

If you can commit to volunteering for a couple of hours every week at the Center or are interested in hosting a Supply Drive or Blanket-Making-Night or want to join our Junior Board and help us plan our next Fundraising Event, we would love to have your support.

Visit our website for a complete list of ways you can get involved and help us reach more children and families in need, bringing hope and healing to the most vulnerable in our community.

Volunteer Opportunities with Victory Mission

Kendra Zaldivar

kendra@victorymission.com

(417) 864-2223

At Victory, we believe that service is investing in lives. There are dozens of ways you can help equip our neighbors in Springfield who are trapped in cycles of addiction, poverty, and brokenness to overcome the barriers in their lives. You can distribute food to people in crisis at our shelter or through our Mobile Food Pantry. You can mentor men and women in our programs, and teach classes from your area of expertise, all while building intentional relationships. You can provide tools for people to gain workforce development training, instilling confidence and hope as they enter or re-enter the workforce. You can also help raise awareness for Victory’s programs, needs, and events. Be a part of transforming lives for good!

Volunteers Opportunities: Patient Care, Music Therapy & Memory Bears

Melody Roster

mroster@terracehealth.com

(417) 576-2536

Would you like to make a difference in the life of a hospice patient? We are looking for volunteers to sit with our patients and become companions to them. Some have nobody to visit them and nobody to be with them when they are  imminent. It takes such little time but means the world to a patient on hospice.

Do you know how to play an instrument? Are you looking for an opportunity to use the talents you have been given to help others? We are looking for music therapy volunteers to bring comfort to our hospice patients. Music is soothing to the soul and can help anyone going through a rough time.

Do you know how to sew? Would you like to use your skills to help our patients’ caregivers through a difficult time after their loved one passes? Would you like to sew memory bears made out of a patient’s favorite article of clothing? We would supply all of the supplies. Please contact me for further information.

Wish Granter

CeCe Etter

cetter@mokan.wish.org

(314) 384-5067

As a member of a wish team, wish granters meet with the wish family in pairs, help the wish child determine their one true wish and act as a liaison between Make-A-Wish staff and the wish family during the wish process. They get to know the wish child and help to make the wish journey truly magical for each child. Wish granters must be a minimum of 18 years old and pass a comprehensive background screening. Join our Make-A-Wish family by helping grant wishes to children across Missouri & Kansas!

Lunch Buddy

(417) 889-9136

As a Lunch Buddy you would make a one-year commitment to spend 30 minutes per week visiting your Little at his or her school during their lunch time. You would hang out with them one-on-one in the library, or another designated area, to play cards or just talk about their day.

Various Opportunities

(417) 886-0225

Our Ronald McDonald House volunteers do a little bit of everything including checking in families, baking special desserts, restocking rooms, cleaning, answering the phone, assisting with mailings, running errands and computer entry.

Hands of Hope

(417) 823-8998

Hands of Hope is a community service opportunity that allows volunteer work in Springfield, Mo., where our World Distribution Center is located at 330 S. Patterson Avenue. Most Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30, volunteers help sort, pack, count and label items that are distributed throughout the world. If Springfield Public Schools are canceled because of inclement weather, Hands of Hope will follow suit.

Volunteer Victim Advocate

(417) 863-7273

Our volunteer victim advocates are essential, front-line volunteers who provide victims with support, comfort, and resources in the aftermath of a crime. The Victim Center’s crisis hotline is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, thanks to our volunteer victim advocates.

Volunteer Income Tax Preparation

(417) 888-2020

Do you have a passion for helping others? Become a volunteer tax preparer through Community Partnership. VITA volunteers help file taxes for hard working individuals and families, so they get all the credits they have earned and maximize the amount of their refunds! Things you need to know about volunteering for the VITA program: you don’t have to be a math genius , expert accountant or have prior experience; you will receive free training and all needed materials/software; there are many volunteer positions open that don’t require preparing taxes; days and hours are flexible; volunteer sites are conveniently located the community at libraries, churches and not-for-profit agencies. As a volunteer you will join a program that helps thousands of people file their taxes at no charge. Your help will make a huge difference!

Volunteer at The Springfield Little Theatre

Michelle Sturm

msturm@springfieldlittletheatre.org

(417) 896-3869 x 113

At Springfield Little Theatre, we have a need for ushers, ticket takers, poster distribution, costume shop and tech/scene shop work for all of the productions that take place at: The Landers, The Education Building, and all off sight productions the Springfield Little Theatre might have! There truly is a place for everyone to have a role when it comes to volunteering at Springfield Little Theatre!

Advocate/Mentorship

Rebecca Weber

Rweber@casaswmo.org

(417) 864-6202

CASA is the only volunteer organization that empowers everyday citizens as appointed members of the court. In an overburdened social welfare system, abused and neglected children often slip through the cracks among hundreds of current cases. Appointed by judges, CASA volunteers typically handle just one case at a time—and commit to staying on that case until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. While others may come and go, CASA volunteers provide that one constant that children need in order to thrive. We need people to spend about 5-10 hours/month building a relationship with the child(ren) and consistently advocating for their best interest.

Childcare

Madison Gramling

madisong@isabelshouse.org

(417) 840-5632

As an Isabel’s House volunteer, you can become a valued part of #TeamIsabel in a number of ways, including-serving alongside our staff, taking care of our kids, cooking, cleaning, gardening, and fixing things up, working in our offices and on organization projects, fund raising and assisting with community outreach, advocating for child abuse and neglect prevention in the Ozarks. You have something great to offer our kids, and we’re looking for the best of the best to join us in our mission to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.