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Featured Volunteer Opportunities

Agency for Community EnPOWERment of NEPA (Headstart Preschools) a federally-funded program that provides education, health and social services to families with children aged 3, 4 and 5. Head Start programs help children develop academic and social skills that prepare them for school and life.  Classroom volunteers who enjoy working with children are needed in centers across Lackawanna county, including within walking/bus distance of the The University.  Clearances are required.  Training will be provided.   Contact Cindy Johnson at cjohnson@acenepa.org or call 570-963-6633 x2262

ALS Walk - help at the walk to fight to ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.  Walk is at PNC Field, Moosic (about 5 miles from campus) on Saturday April 27.  Volunteers are needed between 730-1130am, also for recruitment before the day of the walk (on your own schedule).  Setting up tables, chairs, putting out supplies and merchandise, handing out shirts and stickers, and cheering on participants. Contact Michelle Rogers or call 717-329-9628 to sign up.

American Red Cross-  looking for volunteers to screen blood donors for temperatures, making sure donors are registered, distributing beverages and snacks.  Training provided and background checks are necessary and will be run by the agency.  Multiple locations in Lackawanna County.  Contact Danielle.Dietze@redcross.org or call 570-202-7961.

Bread Basket of NEPA- seeking volunteers at their various food pantries, unpacking deliveries from local food bank, packing food bags for clients, organizing donated food, interacting with clients.  Several locations in Lackawanna county including a Veterans food pantry in West Scranton.  Contact Phoebe Wilson at breadbasketnepa@verizon.net or call 570.343.2324

Center for Service & Social Justice- We Care Meal program every Wednesday in spring semester from 9am-12pm at Arrupe House on campus.  On Thursdays during March and April (less breaks), we invite student groups--clubs, floors, etc) to sign up for a group day.  Volunteers will cook, package and distribute a weekly meal to those most in need in our community.  For more info please contact Lorena.Pacheco@scranton.edu Sign up via our linktree. 

Center for Service & Social Justice- seeking volunteers to help unload, unpack and put away food from our local food bank to Royal Restore food pantry and Arrupe House.  At Arrupe House, Mulberry @ Clay Ave on Fridays from 12-1pm.  Register via our Linktree

Child Hunger Outreach Partners - located in South Scranton, they are a Non-Profit providing In School Pantries and week-end bags of shelf stable food in an attempt to bridge the gap of food insecurity for students from pre-school through college. Our food is sourced through food banks and our program is funded through grants, donations and fundraisers. We cannot complete our mission without the help of volunteers. Our volunteers complete tasks such as preparing bins and bags for the packing line, packing bins and week-end food bags, breaking down cardboard boxes, light cleaning and delivery assistance. Monday - Thursday 9:00am to 2:00pm, Friday 9:00am to 12:00pm, Saturday and evening hours available. Groups are encouraged to request special volunteer events. Email Lynne@chopouthunger.org or call 570.209.7675

City of Scranton- Spruce up Scranton outdoor clean up event. West Scranton neighborhood, about 3 miles from campus.  Saturday March 16 from 11am-1pm.  Supplies provided.  Tripp Park, Dorothy St Scranton.  No advanced registration. Questions? Isiah Watson 570.702.6350 or email iwatson@scrantonpa.gov

Clothesline for Men- Friends of the Poor is seeking volunteers on Wednesdays between 10am-6pm at the new location (on campus), 501 Quincy Ave.  In addition to Wednesdays, they will have volunteer hours on a Saturday in  April (date coming soon).  Volunteers will sort, organize and process clothing and fill orders for clients.  .  Contact Ann Williams to register at development@fotp-ihm.org or call 570-340-6057

Dress for Success Lackawanna- located on the 2nd floor of the Mall at Steamtown, volunteers will assist clients with picking out work/dress clothing, assisting in the career center and assisting with inventory.  Monday- Friday between 10-4.  Easy walk from campus or take the COLTS bus, free with your royal card .  Contact Jen Adams at lackawannacountygpn@dressforsuccess.org or call 570-941-0339 x1.

Dunmore Health Care Center- seeking an activities volunteer who can play music for our residents, play games like chess, checkers, card, bingo.  Week days at lunchtime or weekends.  Contact Stephanie.Hensle@saberhealth.com or call 570-342-7624

Elan Senior Living - formerly the Jewish Home of NEPA, this site for older adults is located right near campus on Vine St.  They would love to have volunteers that can do friendly visits, play games, sing, play musical instruments, help with "spa days", arts & crafts, easy exercise and games, all the things!  They are open to consistent volunteers throughout the semester, as well as one time visits.  Contact Ahava at amenachem@elanseniorlife.org or Melissa at mbednar@jhep.org or call 570-344-6177 x111

Friends of the Poor  bringing together in friendship those who have the desire to give with those who are in need of assistance, in order to ease the burden of living in poverty and enhance the quality of life for all.  Seeking student volunteers to help in their many food pantries and pop up food giveaways, furniture giveaways, sorting and distributing clothing, children's programming, senior living, and many more.  Hours are flexible.  Volunteer Application.  Contact Ann Williams at development@fotp-ihm.org.  

Geisinger- Hospital volunteers: Make a positive impact by volunteering your time and talents to enhance the care we give to our patients, visitors and community every day. Contact them directly through the link or call 570-271-6230 

Gino Merli Veterans Center- 401 Penn Ave Scranton (less than one mile from campus) would welcome student volunteers to spend time with veterans, playing games, chatting, etc.  Download their application and apply via their site at https://www.dmva.pa.gov/paveteranshomes/Volunteer/Pages/default.aspx

Greater Scranton YMCA:  Some volunteers projects are assisting with general administrative duties, greeter for members, assisting with nursery school, coaching youth sports,  helping with fundraising. Also open to other ideas! Contact Meghan at mcarnevale@greaterscrantonymca.org or call 570-828-3113.  The Y is located in Dunmore, about 15 minutes from campus.

Griffin Pond Animal ShelterDog walking, helping cleaning kennels, cat room, sorting donations, outdoor maintenance, fundraisers.  Contact Volunteer@griffinpondas.com for more information or call (570) 586-3700.   The shelter is open everyday from 12-4pm except Tuesdays.  They take bedding and towel donations too!  This site is about 20 minutes from campus and would require your own vehicle.

Indraloka Animal Shelter - Our volunteers are an integral part in helping us care for our over 200 formerly farmed animals. Gain experience in animal care, animal feedings, sanctuary tours, fundraising, and more, all while helping to create a kinder world. About 20 minutes from Scranton.  Fill out their volunteer volunteer interest form and contact them at 570-763-2908
 

Junior Achievement of NEPA  Volunteers serve as role models helping to positively impact young people’s perceptions about the importance of education, as well as critical life skills. Preparation involves our proven lessons that promote financial capability, work and career readiness, and business ownership. Volunteer opportunities are both in person and virtual!  Call Terri at (570) 602-3600 , email terri.yencha@ja.org or visit https://nepa.ja.org/volunteer/ways-to-volunteer.

Lackawanna County Libraries- Shelving Books, Craft Prep, Book Discussions, Program Facilitators, and Special projects.  There are many locations, some are walkable from campus.  Clearances are required.  Each library locations take their own applications for volunteers, so please contact the site of your choice.  https://lclshome.org/volunteer-at-your-library/

Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority:  Outside hands on activities are awesome!  Volunteers are needed to help with trail clean-ups, heritage events, office support, and more! There are opportunities for everyone. All tasks offer flexibility in scheduling and consideration of any physical limitations. Contact: John Morrow at LHVA at  570-963-6732 or oworozbyt@LHVA.org

Lackawanna River Conservation Association Office opportunities include administration assistance, communications, and PR assistance. Field opportunities include River, Trail, and Conservancy Preserve Stewardship, native plant rescue, River and Trail policing and more.  Your own car necessary.  Contact (570) 347-6311 or email lrca@lrca.org

Lehigh Valley Health Network- Dickson City (about 15 minutes from campus)Volunteers are needed for their Main Entrance.  Wayfinding volunteers will approach all who enter the hospital through the Main Lobby, escort all patients and visitors to their destination and provide instructions as appropriate and offer to get a wheelchair for patients and visitors that appear to need one.  Visit their Volunteer Application or call (570) 330-5000.  

Lighthouse of Scranton-outreach to hospitality, faith sharing, and pastoral counseling, with recovering addicts, those suffering from emotional distress, and trauma.  Seeking volunteer musicians, marketing, online research, and office work.  In person (West Scranton) or virtual.  Contact Lindy at  570-341-5858 or Lmnrl1@aol.com

Meals on Wheels-  Delivery drivers pick up meals in coolers/cases from dropoff locations throughout Lackawanna County and delivers to clients on routes. Routes are delivered M-F between 10am and 1pm. They can usually be completed in under an hour and half.  Delivery drivers need a valid Drivers License and use their own vehicles. State background checks necessary. This site is on COLTS bus route 42 Olive/Providence. Contact Lindsey Skripka (a University of Scranton alum) at lskripka@mownepa.org  or call 570-346-2421

Montessori Preschool @ Elm Park Church- volunteers to help with preschool age children, ages 3-5, reading, working with letters and numbers, arts & crafts, life skills.  Week days from 9am-3:30pm.  Located right on campus at Jefferson Ave & Linden St.  Contact the school at 570.963.5458.  

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - seeking volunteer to help to create an engaging membership appeal letter that uses personal stories to engage our current and lapsed members and our community,  coordinate email and direct mail campaigns, create social media content to complement appeal letter and follow up and reminders to appeal.  Also looking for someone to update their membership list.  Training and sample documents provided, as well as a basic introduction to Canva.  Contact Marie Onukiavage at marieo@naminepa.org or call 570-342-1047.

NeighborWorks Northeastern PA Aging in Place program - help seniors aging in place with home repair/yard work, landscaping, painting, safety kit installation.  Hours are flexible and depend on event days.  Training provided. Also available is a data entry position for the Aging in Place program, inputting client records (at their site located in West Scranton).   Contact Alyssa at aespinoza@nwnepa.org or call 570-558-2490.

NEPA Youth Shelter- (IN PERSON) seeking volunteers to monitor the teen room, making sure they are on task with their school work, and serving dinner, additional tasks as needed. Volunteers will need valid clearances. Social distancing, masks and sanitizing are necessary. Within walking distance of the U of S (541 Wyoming Ave) and also on the COLTS bus route. Contact Maureen Maher-Grey at nepayouthshelter@gmail.com or call 570-909-9671.

Oakwood Terrace Memory Care- great for nursing majors, health and human service majors, etc!  Working with the elderly, volunteers will assist the activities director for any seasonal activities, games, etc.  Any day between the hours of 9-5, including weekends.  Orientation and training provided.  Located in Moosic, your own transportation necessary or bus route Pittston.  Contact Caitlynn Larnerd at 570-451- 3171 or clarnerd@pslgroupllc.com

Order of the Alhambra- Special Olympics Bowling every Saturday at Chacko's Bowling Center, Wilkes Barre, 10:30am. ends around 12pm.  Volunteers would cheer on and support special need athletes during bowling games.  Contact Ada at amagni@earlink.net or call 570-693-1338.  Your own transportation necessary. About 20 minutes from campus.

Outreach Works Skyview- afterschool program in South Scranton for kids in grades 1-7 at Skyview Housing Development.  Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-4pm.  Semester commitment and clearances necessary.  Contact Travis Prince at tprince@outreachworks.org or call 570.558.7564

PA MEDI-  seeking volunteers to retrieve phone messages/medication lists/outreach events and possibly some counseling.  Training is provided and clearances are necessary.  This work can be both in person and by phone/virtual.  Great for Health Adm majors, counseling, etc.  Contact Marg Strein at streinm@diakon.org or call 570-822-1158 x 2395. 

Scranton Cultural Center- located just a few blocks from campus, the Cultural Center is seeking volunteers to usher and help out at various children's programming and Broadway Shows.  See great shows for free!  Contact Donna at donnap@scrantonculturalcenter.org for dates and times (mostly weekend Fri-Sat-Sun, evenings and matinees).  570-346-7369 x121

Scranton School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children - a non-profit, tuition-free school located in Northeast Pennsylvania, provides a variety of academic and extracurricular programs to deaf and hard-of-hearing children from birth through the 8th grade, preparing for all aspects of life through high-quality, student-centered education, and extracurricular programs in an All-Inclusives Communication Environment (AICE). We treat volunteers as one of our greatest assets! We will place volunteers in a setting that mutually benefits both parties, doing our best to meet your goals.  Within a few days after you submit a Volunteer Pre-Application form we will contact you with suggestions for potential volunteer placement.  Your own transportation necessary.  Contact (570) 585-1000 .  

Scranton Tomorrow- seeking volunteers and volunteer groups to plant hardy spring annuals in the landscaping beds of a new downtown Scranton pocket park, located at 400 Linden St..  Easy walk from campus.  Tools and supplies provided.  Saturday April 6 from 12-2pm.  Contact steve@scrantontomorrow.org or call 570-877-2513.  

SPCA of Luzurne County- Animal shelter volunteers!  Dogs, cats, small animals.  Located in Wilkes-Barre, vvolunteers are involved in many aspects of the shelter and assist us with daily animal care, special events, fund raising, and community outreach programs.  This site located about 30 minutes from campus.  Fill out their application and contact them at (570) 825-4111

St. Francis of Assisi Commons

  • Clothing Store - 504 Penn Ave Scranton. Walking distance of U of S. Especially in need of volunteers to sort clothing on MTWTh from 11:00 am- 2 pm. Sorting clothing and assisting shoppers.  Contact Linda Mangino at 570-342-5556 option 3 or email kitchen@stfranciskitchen.org
  • Kitchen - 500 Penn Ave Scranton. Volunteers needed for meal prep such as cutting and peeling fruit and vegetables, plating desserts as well as meal service, cleaning counters, tables and chairs.  9:00am - 12:30pm on MTuWThFSaSu or 3:30pm-6:30pm on TWTh.  Contact Bo Fuller at 570-342-5556 ext. 2 or email chef@stfranciskitchen.org
  • Client Choice Food Pantry - 500 Penn Ave Scranton.  Volunteers will stock shelves, light cleaning and help shoppers.  TWThF fr om 10am-2pm.  Contact Adam Lynch at pantry@stfranciskitchen.org or call 570-342-5556 option 5. 

Steamtown National Historic Site- Volunteers needed to use a personal computer with Internet access and MS Word, transcribe digitized historical records from the Steamtown NHS Archives. The digitized docs will be emailed to the transcriber, who will email back the transcriptions. Most records currently being transcribed deal with routine operations of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad early in the last century. Work at your own pace. A park historian is always available to answer questions. Contact megan_stevens@nps.gov or call 570-340-5339

Traditional Home Health & Hospice- seeking volunteers to hospice patients at both facilities and homes, to provide increased companionship/socialization as well as respite to the families/primary caregivers.  Training is provided.  Clearances and TB test necessary (provided by agency).  Office volunteers needed too!  Interns welcome.  Days and hours are flexible.  Contact- call 570-207-9286 or email Kellie.sheakoski@traditionalhomehealthcare.com

United Neighborhood Centers 

  • ESL tutors - Become a tutor or teacher to adult learners in a small group setting for reading, writing, citizenship education, and English as a second language. In person or virtual. Qualifications necessary are fluency in English, good communication skills, an enthusiasm for teaching and learning, (virtual: understanding of Zoom).  Evenings.  In person location 631 Cedar Ave Scranton.  Training provided.  Contact Arlene Jaramillo, tutor coordinator at 272-228-1380 or email ajaramillo@uncnepa.org 
  • Food Pantry - Prepare food bags to hand out to clients, bagging produce, sometimes carrying bags out to their cars, sorting clothing,  & hanging clothing at Angels Attic pantry.  Located at 410 Olive St Scranton.  Within walking distance of campus or on the COLTS bus route 40 or 36 (Wyoming Ave).  Open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm.  Volunteers mostly needed in the afternoons but mornings could work too!  Contact Megan Lee at mlee@uncnepa.org or call 570-343-8835.  Training provided and a simple volunteer form.  
  • Musicians - Do you play the guitar, keyboard, violin, or drums? Would you be interested in donating an hour or two of your time each week to help teach youth ages 13 to 18 the basics of one of these instruments? UNC is looking for volunteers for a new youth music program. The hours are flexible and instruction can be done in-person or virtually. If you're interested in volunteering, please call (570) 961-1592 ext. 105

University of Scranton End of the Year Drive- volunteer to help during finals week, May 13-17, to pick up donations from residence halls and deliver to Arrupe House, Clay at Mulberry St.  The End of the Year Drive collects all the usuable things that students normally would discard or donate at the end of the semester, sorting and donating them to local community agencies in Scranton for distribution to families in need.  Contact Abigail.Casal@scranton.edu or call the CSSJ office at 570-941-7429. 

Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity-  help with home building for a family in need in Pittston (about 15 minutes from campus,  your own car required), on the job training, no previous experience necessary.  Every Saturday (except holidays) from 9-3.  Great for individuals and groups.  Contact Mary Beth Allen at volunteer@wv-hfh.org or call 570-820-8002. 

Valley in Motion - the Office 5k.  Volunteers are needed on Friday May 3, Saturday May 4 or both.  Help with the bounce house, clean up crew, race day walking guides, water stations, registration tables, family fun zone police, or any service you have to offer.  Questions? gus@valleyinmotion.org Register at  Volunteer | Scranton Office 5K (theoffice5k.com).




 

 

 

 

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