Volunteer Opportunities From: United Way of Mower County

Volunteers will provide childcare while families attend meeting in the building!

****Volunteer must be a high school student!

The United Way's Backpack Program provides weekend food for children in need. Volunteers will pack child-friendly, easy-to-prepare meals and snacks into bags for discreet distribution.

This volunteer opportunity is open to all community members, including adults, students, and families, who are interested in helping with the Backpack Program.

Tasks: Food bag assembly, lifting, bending, and ensuring accuracy in packing.

Location: Austin Aspires Building, 318 North Main Street, Austin, MN 55912. 

For questions or to schedule a private packing date for a large group, please contact Velerie at velerie@uwmower.org

Volunteer needed to assist with registration, serving continental breakfast for event participants, and handing out programs for the performance for Merry Tuba Christmas.  Event held at the Paramount Theater in Austin.

Volunteers needed at the Paramount Theatre to assist with check-in for Tuba Players and to hand out programs for our annual Merry Tuba Christmas event. Check-in responsibilities include getting registration form to players to fill out - receiving fee from individuals - handing out music.  Also, will assist with the breakfast for players that follows their practice time.

We are in need of individuals to help serve and clean up after our dinner meal. You will work with our Kitchen Coordinator throughout the evening.

Details: Serving consists of asking our participants their food selections then placing a serving on their tray. After serving is completed, you will be asked to help wipe down tables, chairs, kitchen counters, serve tables, wash dishes, put dishes away, possibly sweep the floor.

Requirements: Must wear close-toed shoes. Long hair must be pulled back and up into a ponytail. Must be able to stand entire shift. Client confidentiality is a must.

Arrival: When reporting to the Salvation Army, please come to the back door (This is on the North side of our building) Volunteer entry sign is posted on door - There are 3 steps leading up to the back door of our building - knock on the door and someone will let you in to the kitchen.

Get into the holiday spirit and help us set up for the annual Hometown Christmas event!

Held outdoors on MainStreet in Austin, this event has an outdoor stage with music, horse-drawn wagon rides, children's train rides, Santa, Photo ops, and more!

We need your help to make it magical! 

Meet on Main Street by the Outdoor Stage at 2:00pm on Friday, November 28th (the day after Thanksgiving) and help us decorate, prepare main street, move items, hang signs, and prepare for holiday fun!  Dress warm - this in an outdoor event!!

There will be a variety of tasks, and some of them will require carrying, lifting, and stairs.

Get into the holiday spirit and help us at the annual Hometown Christmas event!

Held outdoors on MainStreet in Austin, this event has an outdoor stage with music, horse-drawn wagon rides, children's train rides, Santa, Photo ops, food trucks, and more!  The event runs from 5:30-7:30 pm, and we need your help from 5:00 - 7:45.

Help us make it magical for the children!  

As a supervisor for the Children's Craft Workshop, you get to work where it's warm.  In the lower level of the Town Center Building, you'll help children have fun by watching over the craft tables, restocking the crafts, helping if asked, making sure everyone gets a turn, and keeping the workspace tidy.

When the fun is done, all you need to do is tidy up the area, pack the supplies and decorations into the boxes, move the tables and chairs back into place, and make sure no crafts are left on the floor. 

Friendliness and good people skills are a must - and don't forget to wear something festive!  Break out that ugly Christmas sweater, Santa hat, or reindeer antlers and get ready to have some holiday fun!

Meet in the lower level of the Town Center at 5:00pm on Friday, November 28th (the day after Thanksgiving) and help us make holiday magic!

Building on the incredible success of the inaugural 2024 Hometown Turkey Takeover, Hormel Foods is proud to continue its tradition of giving back to the Austin community. This year’s drive-thru turkey distribution event will provide local households with a generous gift of two JENNIE-O® Tender & Juicy Turkey Breasts, totaling approximately 10 pounds of product per household, in partnership with local organizations.

In total, up to 7,000 turkey breasts will be distributed directly to families in Austin. Additionally, 3,000 turkey breasts will be donated to food shelves across Mower County, bringing the one-day donation total to 10,000.

Task: This volunteer opportunity is to load turkeys into vehicles.

Remind Communication: As part of your registration, please use this link to sign up for Remind. remind.com/join/takeover25 This will ensure you receive important messages and reminders about your volunteer assignment leading up to the event and on the day it takes place.

Physical Requirements:

Multiple Shifts Available

Building on the incredible success of the inaugural 2024 Hometown Turkey Takeover, Hormel Foods is proud to continue its tradition of giving back to the Austin community. This year’s drive-thru turkey distribution event will provide local households with a generous gift of two JENNIE-O® Tender & Juicy Turkey Breasts, totaling approximately 10 pounds of product per household, in partnership with local organizations.

In total, up to 7,000 turkey breasts will be distributed directly to families in Austin. Additionally, 3,000 turkey breasts will be donated to food shelves across Mower County, bringing the one-day donation total to 10,000.

Task: This volunteer opportunity is to set up traffic routes and direct traffic within the fairgrounds, as well as open and break down turkey boxes.

Remind Communication: As part of your registration, please use this link to sign up for Remind.  remind.com/join/takeover25 This will ensure you receive important messages and reminders about your volunteer assignment leading up to the event and on the day it takes place.

Special Note: You must be 18 or older to serve as a Traffic Marshal for the 6–8 a.m. shift.  For all other shifts, volunteers may be 14 or older.

Physical Requirements:

Multiple Shifts Available

Building on the incredible success of the inaugural 2024 Hometown Turkey Takeover, Hormel Foods is proud to continue its tradition of giving back to the Austin community. This year’s drive-thru turkey distribution event will provide local households with a generous gift of two JENNIE-O® Tender & Juicy Turkey Breasts, totaling approximately 10 pounds of product per household, in partnership with local organizations.

In total, up to 7,000 turkey breasts will be distributed directly to families in Austin. Additionally, 3,000 turkey breasts will be donated to food shelves across Mower County, bringing the one-day donation total to 10,000.

Task: This volunteer opportunity is to check in volunteers, provide them with beanie hats and freezer gloves, and inform them about their volunteer station. 

Remind Communication: As part of your registration, please use this link to sign up for Remind. remind.com/join/takeover25 This will ensure you receive important messages and reminders about your volunteer assignment leading up to the event and on the day it takes place.

Physical Requirements: 

Multiple Shifts Available

Building on the incredible success of the inaugural 2024 Hometown Turkey Takeover, Hormel Foods is proud to continue its tradition of giving back to the Austin community. This year’s drive-thru turkey distribution event will provide local households with a generous gift of two JENNIE-O® Tender & Juicy Turkey Breasts, totaling approximately 10 pounds of product per household, in partnership with local organizations.

In total, up to 7,000 turkey breasts will be distributed directly to families in Austin. Additionally, 3,000 turkey breasts will be donated to food shelves across Mower County, bringing the one-day donation total to 10,000.

Task: This volunteer opportunity is to load additional product into vehicles. 

Remind Communication: As part of your registration, please use this link to sign up for Remind.  remind.com/join/takeover25 This will ensure you receive important messages and reminders about your volunteer assignment leading up to the event and on the day it takes place. 

Physical Requirements:  This volunteer opportunity involves frequent stooping, bending, and squatting, as well as standing for long periods (up to 2 hours). Volunteers will need to lift turkeys weighing up to 24 lbs. at a high frequency and place them in vehicles for the same duration. Please note that this is an outdoor event, so dress appropriately for the weather. Beanie hats and freezer gloves will be provided.

Multiple Shifts Available

Building on the incredible success of the inaugural 2024 Hometown Turkey Takeover, Hormel Foods is proud to continue its tradition of giving back to the Austin community. This year’s drive-thru turkey distribution event will provide local households with a generous gift of two JENNIE-O® Tender & Juicy Turkey Breasts, totaling approximately 10 pounds of product per household, in partnership with local organizations.

In total, up to 7,000 turkey breasts will be distributed directly to families in Austin. Additionally, 3,000 turkey breasts will be donated to food shelves across Mower County, bringing the one-day donation total to 10,000.

Task: This volunteer opportunity is set up to empty cardboard boxes from designated areas, safely breaking them down using provided tools, sorting and stacking them for recycling or disposal, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace.

Remind Communication: As part of your registration, please use this link to sign up for Remind.  remind.com/join/takeover25 Before you sign up on Get Connected, be sure to sign up for remind. This will ensure you receive important messages and reminders about your volunteer assignment leading up to the event and on the day it takes place.

Physical Requirements: This volunteer opportunity involves frequent stooping, bending, and squatting, as well as standing for long periods (up to 2 hours).Please note that this is an outdoor event, so dress appropriately for the weather. Beanie hats and freezer gloves will be provided. If you have any mobility concerns or limitations, please inform us immediately so we can accommodate your needs appropriately.

Multiple Shifts Available

Get into the holiday spirit and help us at the annual Hometown Christmas event!

Held outdoors on MainStreet in Austin, this event has an outdoor stage with music, horse-drawn wagon rides, children's train rides, Santa, Photo ops, food trucks, and more!  The event runs from 5:30-7:30 pm.

We need your help to make it magical! You can help the kids have fun by being the line leader and helping the little riders in and out of the train cars.  You need to have a cheery and welcoming attitude to help spread holiday cheer!

When you arrive, meet in the lower level of the Town Center Building to receive your volunteer vest and instructions. Please arrive at 5:00pm on Friday, November 28th (the day after Thanksgiving).  

Important! Dress warm - this in an outdoor event!!  You will be stationed outside, so please dress in layers, wear a warm coat, mittens and a hat.

Get into the holiday spirit and help us at the annual Hometown Christmas event!

Held outdoors on MainStreet in Austin, this event has an outdoor stage with music, horse-drawn wagon rides, children's train rides, Santa, Photo ops, food trucks, and more!  The event runs from 5:30-7:30 pm.

We need your help to make it magical! Grab a friend and be an inflatable holiday character!  You'll get a basket of goodies to hand out to children as you wander around MainStreet spreading holiday cheer!

People skills and friendliness are a must as you will be spreading holiday cheer to everyone you meet.

Arrive at 5:00pm on Friday, November 28th (the day after Thanksgiving).  Meet in the lower level of the Town Center Building where you'll get a fun costume to wear and a basket of treats to hand out during the event!

Important! Dress warm - this in an outdoor event!!  Wear warm layers, a warm coat, gloves and hat.

Welcome to Hometown Christmas!

Held outdoors on MainStreet in Austin, this event has an outdoor stage with music, horse-drawn wagon rides, children's train rides, Santa, Photo ops, food trucks, and more!  The event runs from 5:30pm-7:30pm.

After the event, when Santa has left for the North Pole, we need to put away the Hometown Christmas magic.

Meet on Main Street in front of the outdoor stage at 7:20pm on Friday, November 28th (the day after Thanksgiving) and help us un-decorate the stage, take down inflatables, take down signs and banners, pack up decorations, carry boxes and put them on the trailer, etc.  Dress warm - this in an outdoor event!! Wear warm layers, warm coat, gloves and a hat.

There will be a variety of tasks, and some of them will require carrying, lifting, ladders, and stairs.

Help deliver food totes to local Austin schools so students can have food for the weekend. This is for delivering totes, not packing food.

You have three shift options to choose from: 3:45 PM, 4:00 PM, 4:15 PM

What to Expect:

Requirements:

Contact Velerie at 507-437-2313 or Velerie@uwmower.org

Every day people are forced from their homes due to disasters. Single- and multi-family fires account for 90% of disaster responses. YOU can help us respond to disasters in your community. YOU can be there for the family in need. As a member of the Disaster Action Team you respond to emergencies, ensuring that those affected have access to resources for basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing.

To learn more Click Here.

Questions or assistance email: MNDAKVolunteer@redcross.org

Help coordinate disaster response efforts from the comfort of your home!

The Duty Officer plays a critical role in ensuring timely and effective disaster response. As a virtual volunteer, you’ll be the first point of contact for disaster notifications and will help dispatch teams to assist those in need.

What You'll Do:

What You’ll Need:

100% Virtual | Flexible Shifts | Make a Real Impact

If you're organized, calm under pressure, and want to make a difference from wherever you are, we’d love to have you on the team!

Click Here to learn more and sign up!

Questions or need assistance email: MNDAKVolunteer@redcross.org

*Please note that this volunteer opportunity does not compensate you for your tutoring services*

The pandemic has forced all of us to change the way we do things, including how our students received instruction. For some of our students, this change proved to be a challenge. They now are finding themselves in need of extra support to better understand their grade level content in the areas of math, science and reading.

Our current tutors are supporting students one day a week for one hour. Hours are flexible and current tutoring locations are at Austin Public Schools, the YMCA or Austin Public Library. 

Once you have registered to be a volunteer Aspire Tutoring tutor and you are not on our current tutor list, we will email you a tutor application/questionnaire for more information OR you can click the link to complete the application here https://airtable.com/app3CzHIhvZQWIhXa/pagqPzESUOSUWxOTL/form

For more information, please call Austin Aspires at 507-437-0920.

Volunteer would call senior citizens on Thursdays from 8am-9am to check on their well-being and safety. You can do this from your own home. The recipients of the calls love to talk about the weather and any upcoming events. If you would like more information, please call Melissa at 507-433-8376. 

Volunteer advocates allow CVRC to provide 24-hour (evenings, weekends, and holidays) assistance to victims of crime by answering our crisis line via a cell phone that we provide to you.

Volunteers will help provide support, information, referrals, and assistance to victims of many different types of crime. When on-going support is needed, our volunteers help provide a warm hand off to our in-office advocates, that will continue to provide support. With use of the cell phone provided, calls are answered in the comfort of your own home. During your volunteer time, a staff member is always available to answer your questions.

We will provide you with the tools and skills needed to prepare you for this opportunity. First, we will have you come to our office to shadow us to better understand the work we do. Then you will complete the online training and , some in-office training with us.

Please contact our office to request a volunteer application, meet with the volunteer coordinator to review requirements for volunteering, shadow in office, and complete the online and in-person training.

We are flexible in working with you so that you can volunteer when it works best for your schedule. 

We need volunteers for Bingo at Lansing Corners. We need volunteers to call bingo, sell bingo packets, meat boards & pull tab style racing. Selected volunteers must be 18 or over, and able to move around freely in a bar environment. Must be trustworthy and reliable. Each volunteer will get a free standard meal. Plan on about 2.5 hours on Wednesday evenings. Bingo is such a fun activity and we would love to have people who love to be around a fun environment to help us out. Volunteers are asked to contact the Mower Council for more information. 507-433-9609 or email us at mowercouncilhandicap@hotmail.com . 

United Way is seeking dedicated volunteers to serve as Bus Aides for the Rainbow Route Preschool Bus. As a Bus Aide, you will help supervise and engage with preschool children during their ride to and from school. This is a fun and meaningful way to support young children while ensuring their safety on the bus.

Schedule

Responsibilities

Requirements

NEXT STEPS: 

This role focuses on working with our youngest 4-H members, in grades K-2, providing hands-on learning experiences that encourage curiosity and skill-building. Responsibilities include: 

View the full role description here. Note: To be in this role, you must complete the Minnesota 4-H Volunteer Application process, which includes an application, a background check, and a Safety of Minors Orientation

If interested, contact Adam Stevermer, Mower County 4-H Extension Educator, at stev0421@umn.edu or 507-438-2394. 

Hospice volunteers serve as supportive companions and patient advocates.  Hospice volunteers can assist with a few light household tasks, read to a patient, play a game, write letters, converse, facilitate legacy/memory making activities, listen, provide vigil, respite or other meaningful interactions.  Hospice volunteers are also needed to assist with clerical tasks in the office and providing grief support for the surviving families and community.  All Mayo Clinic Hospice Volunteers must be at least 18 years or older and are provided with a robust and comprehensive training to help you feel confident in your abilities to offer supportive presence to hospice patients and bereaved. If you'd like to apply, please visit https://volunteer.mayoclinic.org/. For more information about the rewarding opportunities that await you, please contact Mayo Clinic Hospice at 507-284-4002.

Hospice pet therapy volunteers are teams of an adult and a certified therapy animal who are sensitive to the needs of hospice patients and families. Hospice volunteers visit with patients, converse, facilitate legacy/memory making activities, listen, provide vigil or other meaningful interactions. All Mayo Clinic Hospice Volunteers must be at least 18 years or older and are provided with a robust and comprehensive training to help you feel confident in your abilities to offer supportive presence to hospice patients and bereaved. If you'd like to apply, please visit https://volunteer.mayoclinic.org/.  For more information about the rewarding opportunities that await you, please contact Mayo Clinic Hospice at 507-284-4002.

Purpose of Link Crew

Link Crew is a program designed to empower Juniors and Seniors as role models for new students and Freshmen.  Link Crew is an important part of helping Freshmen transition to the high school and provides an opportunity for upperclassmen to develop their leadership skills. Through Link Crew, most students earn 17 hours of community service, but through special opportunities, some students earn more.

Mandatory Activities

The Hormel Historic Home is proud to share the history and architecture of the treasured home of George and Lillian Hormel.  Our tour guides lead guests in groups on tours through the rooms telling stories of the family and pointing out the unique architectural features.  A script is provided as well as family history to help guides become familiar and comfortable with the tour.

This a unique volunteer experience to gain experience and be a part of the Children's Dental Health Services clinical care team. The Clinical Support volunteer works closely with a Dental Hygienist to help organize the clinical care area before and after the family visit. You will help bring out designated supplies for each visit (these may include tooth brushes and other dental supplies). Volunteers will help interview children on their oral health habits and knowledge. This person will work closely with CDHS staff and the dental hygienist and support the activities of the clinic.