Volunteer
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Catholic Charities! We are a multifaceted agency with programs and services across the 14 counties of the Diocese of Albany.
We work to create safe environments in all our programs and agencies. All of our volunteers are required to fill out an application and some positions may require VIRTUS training (sexual abuse awareness training) or other specific training and background checks.
Once you have found a program in which you are interested or if you have questions, please contact:
E-mail: Volunteer@ccrcda.org
Phone: (518) 453-6650
Click here for Individual Volunteer Opportunities
Click here for Group Opportunities
Click here for a Volunteer Inquiry Form
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
As an individual you may be inspired to help your neighbors in need for a variety of reasons – desire to do good, need to do service hours, faith commitment, to learn new skills, opportunity to try something new, or ? The following list is not exhaustive but will begin to give you a sense of some of the areas of need and the opportunities available to you.
Albany County
- Mentor for After School Program (ages 9-12)
- Mentor for Residential Program with youth
- Early morning food pick up from businesses for food pantries/soup kitchens/residences
- Spruce Up at a residential program
- Food Pantry volunteer – unloading food, shelving, packing
- VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Preparation) tax preparer volunteer or greeter (Jan-Apr)
- Drive residents to appointments or on errands on a regular basis
- Event Coordinator for residents- discover/visit "no or low" cost events, natural areas, etc.
- BINGO volunteers- host monthly games for residents and provide prizes. Prizes are the key!
- On-site Meditation/Gentle Yoga instruction for residents
- Farm to table volunteers deliver/donate "bounty crop" fruits or veggies to our food programs. A special dish could be made for residents using ingredients as well
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program - volunteers help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life. Email volunteer@cathcharschdy.org for more information.
Columbia County
- Serving clients at a Food Pantry - Monday 9-12 and Wednesday 12-5
- Food Pantry delivery, unloading and shelving food – 2nd and 4th Friday of the month
Fulton & Montgomery Counties
- Food Pantry volunteers - serving family members, stocking shelves, pantry upkeep - M, W, Th, F, 1-3 hours per day
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program - volunteers help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life. Email volunteer@cathcharschdy.org for more information.
Greene County
- Serving clients at a Food Pantry - Tuesday 9-12
Hamilton County
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program - volunteers help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life. Email volunteer@cathcharschdy.org for more information.
Herkimer County
- Transportation service to appointments
Otsego & Delaware Counties
- Mentors for our Delaware County Mentoring Program – spend at least 6 hours per week with an at-risk youth ages 7 – 17 doing activities ranging from cooking, gardening, bowling, crafts, board games, hiking, etc. An extensive background screening is required and a one-year commitment once matched with a youth.
- Mediators – we will help you to become certified as a mediator before volunteering
- Drive residents to appointments or on errands on a regular basis
- Caring Connections Volunteers – assisting individuals and families seeking emergency assistance – intake, referral, local resourcing
- Event Coordinator for residents- discover/visit "no or low" cost events, natural areas, etc.
- BINGO volunteers- host monthly games for residents and provide prizes. Prizes are the key!
- On-site Meditation/Gentle Yoga instruction for residents
- Food Donation Partner- appeal to local businesses and coordinate pick up for residences
- Farm to table volunteers deliver/donate "bounty crop" fruits or veggies to our food programs. A special dish could be made for residents using ingredients as well.
Rensselaer County
- After school volunteer or Homework Mentor
- Food Pantry Intake Volunteer for a few hours a week
- Drive residents to appointments or on errands on a regular basis
- Caring Connections Volunteers – assisting individuals and families seeking emergency assistance – intake, referral, local resourcing
- Event Coordinator for residents- discover/visit "no or low" cost events, natural areas, etc.
- BINGO volunteers- host monthly games for residents and provide prizes. Prizes are the key!
- On-site Meditation/Gentle Yoga instruction for residents
- VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Preparation) tax preparer volunteer or greeter (Jan-Apr)
- Food Donation Partner- appeal to local businesses and coordinate pick up for residences
- Farm to table volunteers deliver/donate "bounty crop" fruits or veggies to our food programs. A special dish could be made for residents using ingredients as well.
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program - volunteers help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life. Email volunteer@cathcharschdy.org for more information.
Saratoga County
- Planting flowers, window washing, general sprucing up of a residence
- Mentor afterschool and/or weekends
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program - volunteers help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life. Email volunteer@cathcharschdy.org for more information.
Schenectady County
- Meals on Wheels driver
- Day Haven Adult Day Services volunteer
- Transportation for Seniors
- VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Preparation) tax preparer volunteer or greeter (Jan-Apr)
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program - volunteers help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life. Email volunteer@cathcharschdy.org for more information.
Schoharie County
- Food Pantry volunteer – serving clients, stocking, unloading food orders, pantry upkeep
- Thrift Store volunteer – Assist with sorting donations, stocking shelves, and pricing items
- Front desk volunteer – answer phones and greet clients
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program - volunteers help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life. Email volunteer@cathcharschdy.org for more information.
Warren County
- Domestic Violence Hotline volunteer
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program - volunteers help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life. Email volunteer@cathcharschdy.org for more information.
Washington County
- Long Term Care Ombudsman Program - volunteers help residents and their families understand and exercise their rights to quality care and quality of life. Email volunteer@cathcharschdy.org for more information.
GROUP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The following list is not exhaustive but will begin to give you a sense of some of the areas of need and the opportunities available to your group.
These first three items can be done with any size group, at anytime of the year.
Host a Drive:
- Food Drive for a Food Pantry or Residence:
- Items often needed: peanut butter, jelly, tuna, canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, spaghetti sauce, mac and cheese, rice, pasta, cake mixes and frosting; or Christmas/Thanksgiving meal items for the holidays.
- A monetary drive as through the Regional Food Bank (we can purchase food at sixteen cents a pound)
- Items often needed: peanut butter, jelly, tuna, canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, spaghetti sauce, mac and cheese, rice, pasta, cake mixes and frosting; or Christmas/Thanksgiving meal items for the holidays.
- Baby Items Drive for our Community Maternity Services or Mercy House and Family Apartment Programs:
- Items often needed: diapers (all sizes), baby wipes, desitin, baby shampoo, baby lotion, etc.
- Items often needed: diapers (all sizes), baby wipes, desitin, baby shampoo, baby lotion, etc.
- Can't get it with food stamps collection:
- Items often needed: toilet paper, shampoo, soap, tampons and pads, toothpaste/toothbrushes, deodorant, hair products, tissues, laundry detergent, razors, shaving cream
- Items often needed: toilet paper, shampoo, soap, tampons and pads, toothpaste/toothbrushes, deodorant, hair products, tissues, laundry detergent, razors, shaving cream
- Welcome Packets for Domestic Violence shelter residents in Schoharie County:
- Packets include towel, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, soap, razors, etc.
- Packets include towel, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, soap, razors, etc.
Spruce Up Days:
- Help is needed to clean up (paint, rake, organize etc.) at our residences, Sunnyside Center, and Camp Scully.
Sister Maureen Joyce Food Pantry in Albany:
- Help sort, stock, clean, organize etc. Contact: (518) 465-8262
College Campus Activity for Kids:
- Group of 5-10 to organize an activity, outing or event on their college campus for children in the Youth Enrichment Program that meets on Saturdays.
In Our Residences:
Catholic Charities manages a number of emergency shelters and affordable housing residences for formerly homeless individuals and families. Homelessness is neither is a disease or a failure of character nor is it a "choice." For the vast majority, homelessness is a symptom of poverty and below is a sampling of things that might make homelessness and poverty just a little more tolerable.
Make a Meal/Monthly Meal: Meals are served three times a day in our
residences. Perhaps your group would like to bring a meal or come and prepare a meal that is scheduled. Small (2-5) or Large (10+).- Read a story to children at Mercy House: this family shelter often has small children that would love to have another adult or older young person read and tell stories.
- Monthly Birthday Party: to recognize shelter residents who have a birthday that month.
- BINGO volunteers: host monthly games for residents and provide prizes. Prizes are the key!
- Seasonal or Holiday Decorating: pick one.
- Clothing room organizing at Mercy House: this very busy shelter has a clothing room for folks to "shop in" while in residence there. It needs to be regularly straightened and sorted and organized.
- Music concert: play music for the residents during dinner.
Interested in volunteering? Please contact (518) 453-6650 or volunteer@ccrcda.org.