Oftentimes, medical schools look for volunteering hours. It is important to choose something you are passionate about and are able to stand behind. This list contains many volunteer opportunities available in the community. Contact information is provided for each one.
Contact premed.amsa@gmail.com with questions, comments, or concerns.
Animals Welfare
Compassionate Action for Animals
The Compassionate Action for Animals encourages people to cultivate empathy for animals and move towards a plant-based diet.
Located in Minneapolis.
Contact Information: Laura Matanah laura@exploreveg.org, 612-276-2242, Volunteer Link
The Animal Rights Coalition is dedicated to ending the suffering, abuse, and exploitation of non-human animals through education, information, and advocacy. They advocate for all species and seek volunteers with a wide range of skills.
Located in Minneapolis.
Contact Information: Chelsea Youngquist chelsea@animalrightscoalition.com, 612-822-6161, Volunteer Link
Youth Programs
YMCA of the North – University Y
The Y’s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. They are an inclusive organization of people committed to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting health and wellness and encouraging social responsibility. Learn more about their mission and view impact reports and financial statements.
Located on the UMN campus!
Contact Information: Patti Neiman patti.neiman@ymcamn.org, Volunteer Link
Peers Enjoying A Sober Education provides a high school education in an alternative setting for students recovering from drug or alcohol use.
Contact Information: Michael Durchslag mdurchslag@mtcs.org, 612-378-1377, Volunteer Link
Elderly
Ebenezer Minneapolis Campus
Ebenezer is Minnesota’s largest senior living operator with 100 years of experience serving older adults.
Contact Information: Kirsten Lehman klehman1@fairview.org, 612-872-8515
https://www.ebenezercares.org/
When you volunteer for Meals on Wheels during your lunch hour, you’re doing your part to guarantee meals are delivered to the more than 4,000 people in need across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. You can volunteer to deliver meals once a week, once a month, with a friend, with a group or on your own – whatever works best for you!
Health Care
Family Tree Clinic is a leader in sexual and reproductive health care in the Twin Cities and Minnesota. Their mission is to eliminate health disparities through innovative, personalized sexual health care and education for diverse needs by providing patient-centered health care services, community education and outreach, and through developing alliances across the state to promote sexual health and freedom in our communities. Volunteers have a variety of opportunities in the Patient Resources department or in the General Clinic.
The Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city. Every Hope Lodge also offers a variety of resources and information about cancer and how best to fight the disease. Volunteers can help out in a variety of areas detailed on the Hope Lodge website.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a non-profit organization based in New York City with chapters located throughout the United States. The organization funds research, advocates for social and political change, provides education, and sponsors services that help people with multiple sclerosis and their families. Volunteers can help with community outreach, office support, or participate in other opportunities.
NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center is a multi-specialty medical, dental and mental health center and human service agency located in North Minneapolis. NorthPoint strives to improve the physical and socio-economic health of the North Minneapolis community through an integrated model of health and human services. Both short- and long-term volunteer opportunities are available at their events and clinic.
Open Arms of Minnesota is a nonprofit that cooks and delivers free, nutritious meals to people living with life-threatening illnesses in the Twin Cities. All food is cooked in-house, including all breads and baked breakfast items, and much of the produce comes from local urban gardens. Volunteers can help out in the kitchen, on the farm, or as delivery drivers.
Ronald McDonald House Charities provides a home-away-from-home to keep families together during a child’s serious illness at all four of their Twin Cities locations, one of which is conveniently located just off campus near Superblock. They also offer services that range from schooling to meals to family-friendly activities. Volunteers have access to a large variety of opportunities at all four locati
Twin Cities RISE assists individuals in poverty on the path to long-term and stable employment. Work skills training, internship opportunities, job search assistance, and employment placement services and just some of the services they offer. Volunteers can assist in the office, in the classroom, and more.
Hospitals
Children’s Minnesota is One of the largest freestanding pediatric health systems in the United States—with two hospitals, 12 primary care clinics, a Level I Trauma Center, and six rehabilitation and nine specialty care sites. Volunteers provide support to patients and staff throughout the hospital as an ER volunteer, Patient Pal, and much more.
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare cares for patients who have some of the most complex, rare and traumatic conditions in pediatric medicine, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Volunteers have several patient and family interaction opportunities to choose from.
Hennepin County Medical Center
HCMC is an integrated system of care that includes a nationally recognized Level I Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center and an acute care hospital. They offer a broad range of experiences to fulfill your personal goals as a hospital volunteer. There are positions in many different departments with opportunities behind the scenes, working with the public, working with patients, supporting staff, and assisting families.
Regions Hospital is best known for their specialty care. Patients go to Regions for care in places like their Burn Center, Cancer Care Center, Heart Center, Level I Trauma Center, and Neuroscience Centers. Volunteers have access to a wide range of opportunities in the aforementioned departments, with more opportunities listed on their website.
University of Minnesota Medical Center/Masonic Children’s
UMMC offers a broad range of primary and specialty care services for children, teens and adults. With campuses on both the East and West Banks, volunteers will have easy access to opportunities in the Emergency Departments, Nursing Units, and more.
LGBTQ+
OutFront Minnesota’s mission is to create a state where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are free to be who they are, love who they love, and live without fear of violence, harassment or discrimination. Volunteers have access to regular opportunities at the office as well as seasonal and event-based opportunities.
RECLAIM increases access to mental health support so that queer and trans youth ages 12-26 may reclaim their lives from oppression in all its forms. We provide therapy to 65+ youth each week, 80% of whom are trans or gender nonconforming. Volunteers can provide office support, event support, and more.
The Aliveness Project was founded as a community center for and driven by people living with HIV. For over 30 years, they have been facilitating connection to community, offering nutrition and wellness services, and linking our members to resources to lead fulfilling and healthy lives. Volunteer positions include kitchen assistants, front desk receptionists, food shelf workers, office and administrative assistants, gardeners, and skill-based volunteers.
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. Volunteers are trained to answer chat messages or texts online from young people who are struggling with issues such as coming out, LGBTQ identity, depression, and suicide.
Mental Health
Avivo specializes in helping individuals and their families who face complex barriers to success – poverty, homelessness, unemployment, chemical addiction or mental health concerns. Volunteers have opportunities to work with people with substance abuse or mental health concerns or to work behind the scenes.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI Minnesota is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families. Volunteer opportunities include facilitating local support groups, working in outreach and advocacy, and more.
Walk-In Counseling Center was founded by a group of psychologists in response to the unmet need for accessible mental health services in the Twin Cities. They provide free mental health counseling to help thousands of people address issues of depression, anxiety, chemical abuse/dependency, trauma, domestic violence and a variety of other emotional and interpersonal concerns. By joining as a receptionist or administrative assistant, volunteers learn about counseling and therapy through group consultation, access to resources on mental health topics, contact with professionals in the mental health field, and more.
Other
The Aurora Center for Advocacy and Education is a department of the Office for Student Affairs at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. They provide free and confidential crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and harassment. Volunteer opportunities are focused on providing support to survivors and educating to the campus.
U of MN Pre-Med AMSA 