Join us as we serve our elderly and disabled neighbors with raking their lawns!  This is our Annual Event and perfect for all ages & abilities!  If you have a couple hours to make a difference, let us know!  Perfect for groups, businesses, families and more!

From helping people impacted by disasters, like home fires and floods, to supporting lifesaving blood donations, you can make a difference. The need for volunteers remains critical and constant.

Every 8 minutes the Red Cross responds to a disaster and it’s the compassionate volunteers, who make our mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering possible.  When you become a volunteer, you’re helping to turn tragedy into hope.

Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.  The need for blood is constant and so is the need for volunteers at our Blood Drives to help save lives.

If interested Click Here to apply or visit www.redcross.org/givetime

For questions or more information email [email protected] or call 612-463-6587

Bigs on Campus is a twice-monthly mentoring program that takes place at St. Cloud State University, the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, and St. Cloud Technical & Community College. Matches spend their time together (on-campus only) exploring, attending events, participating in recreational activities, touring academic departments, and more! Mentors for Bigs on Campus can be faculty or staff at the colleges, alumni, or local business professionals.

Summary: Content Writer volunteers help the Ruff Start Rescue communications team create written content for our blog. We have a long list of topic ideas ready to be worked on, but we are also open to any new content/topic ideas that relate to Ruff Start Rescue, rescues, or animal care in general. 

Time Commitment: Varies. We would ideally like volunteers to work on at least one story per month, but there is an opportunity for more if desired.

Location: Remote

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. And only about 3% of the US population donates blood. So successful blood drives are critical to ensuring that blood is available when people need it. You can help save lives by becoming a Red Cross Donor Ambassador!

As a Donor Ambassador, you will help guests have a positive experience at the blood drive by greeting them, making them feel comfortable during their visit, and thanking them as they leave. All that’s needed is a warm smile and the desire to serve.

Donor Ambassadors are the first point of contact with our Blood Donors and provide an essential service to our community!

The main objective of a Board Member is to provide guidance and advice for the organization utilizing each board member’s unique background, but we don’t stop there. Our volunteer Board of Directors are doers, thinkers, planners, and fun-havers committed to bettering our community. We are a working board, seeking individuals who want to be involved beyond the meeting room. We are a diverse group with varying skillsets that help us to see things from different points of view. No prior board experience necessary, just a passion for the community.

Basic Board Member requirements are to:

Our committees are full of passionate volunteers who use their skills and knowledge to make a difference in specific areas.
Some committees meet on a regular cadence, some are ad hoc for certain events.
 
Community Impact Committee: Oversees the Community Investment process for our grant applicants as well as investigates and prioritizes community needs.

Marketing Committee: Assists the Marketing Coordinator in developing a marketing strategy and provides support in its execution as needed.

Finance Committee: Responsible for the annual review of financial policies, assists in budget creation, and oversees annual audit review and recommendations.

Board Development Committee: Responsible for the review of all organizational policies and procedures, develops annual board training and education, and act as a resource for acquiring and assisting new board members.

United We Shiver This planning committee is responsible for organizing and executing the event while navigating the unpredictable Minnesota winter weather. It’s a big responsibility, but with the right team in place and more hands on deck, this event is sure to be an even bigger success!

Community Connect This planning committee is responsible for organizing and executing the event to ensure it is a welcoming and fun environment where community members are made aware of local resources and services available to them.

The Community Table meal is usually the 4th Sunday of the month, for around 3 hours. There is a wide range of serving opportunities per event from greeters, serving food, running it out to cars or the dining room to helping with the parking lot, there is something for everyone.

The Wave Youth Center in Big Lake is looking for community members who want to share their experience in the trades industries, or to share a skill such as knitting, etc with the students. 

Present information on programs and services available to the community

Community-based mentors are paired with a kid from their community with similar interests. The mentor (Big) and mentee (Little) meet up two to four times a month to build their relationship. They can take part in agency sponsored activities like craft nights, educational activities, or a bus to the Twins game, or they can do whatever activities both the Big and Little enjoy on their own time! Matches are expected to commit to one year of mentoring. 

We have families in need that often do not have any transportation or not big enough transportation for the items requested (i.e. beds, couch, baby swing, etc.).  They may be requesting clothing, car seats, diapers, etc. or bigger items which would require a truck.  The delivery may be to Elk River, St Cloud, Big Lake, Becker, Princeton, Zimmerman, etc.  Training will be provided at your first volunteer opportunity. 

Other responsibilities as assigned by DAT Leadership.

If you have questions, please contact the volunteer team at [email protected] or call 612-463-6587.

Whether you have 1 hour or 4 hours to volunteer, we need volunteers to join us on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am-2pm to help out at our Resource Closet. If you have't attended one of our Volunteer Training Meetings, we can easily train you on the spot. Donations need to be sorted and put away and organizing of donations in our Resource Closet. 

Summary: The Volunteer Donation Admin Assistant plays a crucial role in supporting the efficient functioning of the donation management process within Ruff Start Rescue. Responsible for assisting the development team, the role involves tasks such as data entry, donor correspondence, and record keeping. There is also opportunity to help solicit donations for RSR Signature Events, needs within RSR and our annual auction. Training and support is provided.

Time Commitment: This position will likely take 1 volunteer 4-5 hours per week or 2 volunteers 2-3 hours per week. 

Location: Remote or in the Princeton Office

Qualifications: 

Summary: Event volunteers are an important part of our events team! RSR has events nearly every week that rely on volunteers to make them successful. Responsibilities may include: talking to the public about RSR and answering questions about volunteer opportunities and fostering, setting up an information table with marketing materials, selling merchandise, and running our fundraising ‘prize wheel’ where guests make a donation to spin the wheel and win a prize.

Time Commitment: Events usually occur on weeknights or weekends and are generally 2-3 hours long plus set up/tear down of the event table. You must be able to arrive 15 minutes before the event’s published start time to ensure you have time to set up the table and welcome fosters. 

Location: Varies at various partner vendors like pet supply stores, breweries, restaurants and other community businesses.

Fall Raking
We are getting ready for Fall raking and need individuals as well as groups to help Older Adults in our community keep their homes looking great.
Bring the people and the rakes and our clients will provide the bags and will dispose of the leaves themselves.
It is a super fun way to spend a few hours with friends and also make a huge impact on the lives of the older adults in your area.

Summary: Foster Coordinators are responsible for approving and setting up new foster and foster to adopt homes throughout MN. They will process incoming foster applications in a timely manner and connect them with the applicable Foster Manager, if applicable, once training is complete. This will include daily emails and follow-up phone calls.   

The Foster Coordinator will ensure that the new foster has completed all steps of the training and acknowledged all forms needed. The Foster Coordinator will also make sure the new foster has all the information on fostering and knows who to go to with questions.

Time Commitment: About 5 hours per week is expected to be average. The expectation is to work a minimum of two new foster applications per week, or as needed.

Location: Remote

AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparents tutor and mentor youth in schools & non-profit settings.
Foster Grandparents are over age 55 and volunteer 9+ hours per week, tutoring and mentoring youth. 
• Help children to follow directions, focus, and stay on task to complete work
• Encourage and praise children
• Assist with reading, math, and other academic subjects
• Read to, play games with and tell children stories
• Teach appropriate behaviors and social skills. 

REWARDS: Use your life skills to make an impact in a child’s life. Be needed and feel useful while gaining a sense of accomplishment and joy. Increase self-esteem and socialization with others. 

Opportunities available in: Princeton, Zimmerman, Elk River, Big Lake, Otsego
Volunteers are age 55+, all volunteers receive mileage to and from their site and if income qualifying a small tax-free stipend.

Summary: Graphic Design volunteers help the RSR communications team create graphics for a wide variety of projects, including but not limited to: digital advertising, social media posts, newsletters, e-newsletters, event marketing, event promotion (both print and digital), website, blog, and other marketing projects

Time Commitment: Varies, this is a project-based position

Location: Remote

Help individuals make informed decisions about their health insurance and connect individuals with available resources

Assist Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers to:

Help clean for an elderly or disabled person in our community that can't keep up anymore.  Usually you are matched with one person and assist them 1-2 times a month.  Includes vacuuming, dusting and other basic cleaning using their supplies.  You choose when you serve!

Sherburne or Wright Counties

 The Media Coordinator will assist  RSR in scheduling foster animals to attend news appearances and opportunities. They would also find volunteers that we comfortable appearing on the news to assist with animal handling during segments. (Remote)

Educate older adults on how to avoid Medicare scams and fraud

Assist and support Senior LinkAge Line® staff with administrative tasks

These are required of all volunteers:

Volunteer opportunities vary and are available on weekdays, weekends and some evenings across the 14 county region served by the CMCOA.  Settings include partner sites, community agencies and occasionally consumers’ homes.

Volunteer in our small Becker office to answer phones, file or clean.  

On call Handyperson
Help us keep older adults in their homes by volunteering as a handyperson for Senior Community Services. This position is on an on call basis and would help with basic things like smoke detectors, railings, paint, drains, and other various minor household problems that arise when owning a home. 

Summary: The Owner Surrender Coordinator is responsible for working with local families who need to surrender their animal to Ruff Start Rescue. The OS Coordinator works through the entire process of bringing an animal into the rescue. Beginning with collecting information from the surrenderer (images, vet records), networking the animal in the private RSR Animals Needing Fosters Page, and getting foster commitment. You also may be  asked for help coordinating the transfer of the animal into the rescue as well. Once the animal is with their foster, add them to the website and notify vetting and intake of the new addition.  

Time Commitment: You are required to take at least 2 new owner surrender applications weekly 

Location: Remote

Summary: Preventative Coordinators are responsible for filling medication and prevention requests from the Foster Managers. This includes filling requests, ordering shipping labels and preparing packages for mailing. 

Time Commitment: One 2-3 hour shift per week is expected to be average. 

Location: Ruff Start Rescue office in Princeton 

Reports to: Senior Medical Manager

● Monitor requests spreadsheet

● Identify different preventatives and use dosage charts if needed

● Draw up, count and prepare requests

● Prepare packages for mailing

In the Big Brothers Big Sisters' school and site-based mentoring program, mentors (Bigs) are paired with mentees (Littles) in kindergarten through eighth grade at a local school. BBBS currently has school-based programs in the St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids-Rice, Pierz, Foley, and Holdingford school districts. The Big and Little meet at the child's school two to four times per month for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. While together, they can do a variety of activities including arts and crafts, board games, sports, reading, and more. These matches can only meet on school property or at an agency sponsored activity.

Volunteer serving meals at our senior dining sites. 

Each month, we host foster moms on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7:30PM for support group.  We are looking for volunteers willing to sponsor the night for each month to bring treats to bless the moms coming as a time for them to retreat, relax, enjoy and fellowship with other moms on the foster care journey. Training provided at the time of the volunteer opportunity. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49ADA829AAFCCE9-snacks

Sports Buddies is a fun way to mentor through participating in and watching sports - and build community with other matches that love sports! In this initiative, one-to-one mentoring friendships between an adult and youth are formed while engaging in athletic activities. Matches attend 1-2 events per month - all organized by BBBS staff. Bigs and Littles only spend time together at BBBS Sports Buddies events or at BBBS agency-sponsored activities. 

Our Summer Program (age group middle and high school students) meets every Wednesday and we are seeking volunteers who are able to volunteer from 10:30am-2:15pm beginning June 14th through 30th. 

Tech Support needed in Becker at the Becker Area Senior Center and Guardian Angels.

This position is about helping Older Adults navigate the basics of their phones, laptop computers or tablets.  Many questions revolve around basic functions like apps, shopping, telehealth, texting family, social media and emails. 
We hold monthly Tech Clinics at both the Becker Area Senior Center as well as around the Becker area in Senior Living apartment complexes.
These clinics are run as scheduled appointments and if you cannot figure out the problem or concern, we have back up support for the client to call.

Tech Support needed in Elk River at the Elk River Senior Center and Guardian Angels.

This position is about helping Older Adults navigate the basics of their phones, laptop computers or tablets.  Many questions revolve around basic functions like apps, shopping, telehealth, texting family, social media and emails. 
We hold monthly Tech Clinics at both the Elk River Senior Center as well as around the Elk River area in Senior Living apartment complexes.
These clinics are run as scheduled appointments and if you cannot figure out the problem or concern, we have back up support for the client to call.

Elk River Timber Bay is seeking volunteer Teen Mentors for their faith based mentorship program for at-risk youth. They run various after school clubs and camps throughout the year. 

Volunteer Teen Mentors are needed to serve breakfast to students and facilitate a faith based lesson, every other Wednesday morning at 7:00am. The Breakfast Club program is held at Elk River High School. 

We are a faith-based, non-profit home health and hospice agency.
Our Mission: Connecting compassion, care, and community in the Spirit of Christ's Love
Our Vision: Christ-centered agency recognized for our spiritual support, exceptional caregivers, and use of cutting-edge technology.
Our Values: Holistic care that is compassionate, accountable, respectful, and exceptional. 

We are in need of volunteers to support our hospice patients and families in Elk River, Big Lake, Becker, Zimmerman, Princeton, Clear Lake, and Otsego. 

Summary: As a vetting transport helper, you will be responsible for attending animal transports (typically dogs) located at the office in Princeton or other locations as necessary (determined based on where animals originate from).  At the transport, you will be responsible for ensuring that the animals coming into the rescue are examined, perform any needed services, and the proper documentation is recorded.  This may include vaccines, microchipping, heartworm tests, nail trims, deworming, flea/tick preventative application, administering heartworm medication, or other treatments as indicated. The role of the vetting transport helper will provide support for the Vetting Transport Lead in all the indicated tasks. 

Time Commitment: 3-4 hours during transport and an additional 3-4 hours in preparation and review/uploading animal records. You must attend at least 2 transports per month, typically on a Saturday or Friday

Location: Onsite and remote

●Assessing sending shelter records for what is needed on day of transport

Key Responsibilities

Qualifications

Drive folks to a medical appointment in our community.  These people no longer drive and cannot afford a taxi, Uber or their insurance doesn't cover the cost.  You choose when & where you serve.  All our services are at no charge.  

The Wave Youth Center in Big Lake is looking for youth mentors most days, especially Tuesday and Friday. Volunteers will play games and interact with students, help them with homework, etc.