Needs From: United Way's Volunteer Center

About Reflection Riding: Reflection Riding is a local nonprofit -part public park, part nature center, part wild lands, and all outdoor learning. Reflection Riding restores the vital connection between people and nature. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience nature, regardless of where they live or their economic status.

Volunteer Details: Support our Native Plant Program by volunteering in our nursery area. Tasks may include starting seeds, caring for baby plants, beautifying the nursery gardens, cleaning pots, restocking the sales area, and assisting with special infrastructure projects. Projects change based on weather and the needs of our plants—specific details will be shared the week of the event. Volunteers should be comfortable walking, standing, squatting, and lifting up to 15 pounds. With advance notice, some seated tasks can be arranged. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone curious about native plants, eager to learn about local ecosystems, or simply looking to enjoy a nice morning outdoors.

Please bring/wear: Closed-toe shoes, water bottle and gardening gloves (we also have some to share)

All participants must fill out this waiver: https://go.levitate.ai/?s=ee8ciufg2N&source=customSurvey

Parking: You'll meet in the Nursery, which is located behind the Welcome Center and between the ponds. When entering Reflection Riding, bypass the main parking lot and continue following the road until you come to the first fork in the road, take a right, then the Nursery is located on the right. Lauren and Hannah will be there to meet you!

About Reflection Riding: Reflection Riding is a local nonprofit -part public park, part nature center, part wild lands, and all outdoor learning. Reflection Riding restores the vital connection between people and nature. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience nature, regardless of where they live or their economic status.

Volunteer Details : Land Management volunteers will get hands-on experience helping restore our native ecosystem by reducing the spread of invasive plants on campus. Activities may include pulling and cutting invasive plants, as well as moving brush and debris into piles. Work locations will depend on the weather and may take place in wooded areas and on uneven terrain. Come ready to work, learn, and make a real impact outdoors!

Please bring/wear: Closed-toe/sturdy shoes and long pants; water bottle and gardening gloves (we also have some to share)

Gloves, eye protection, and other safety gear will be provided.

All participants must fill out this waiver: https://go.levitate.ai/?s=ee8ciufg2N&source=customSurvey

Parking: You'll meet at the Welcome Center at Reflection Riding

Revitalize our auditorium entryway with paint! Tackle one large wall, touch up another, and refresh two stairwells (scraping and painting required). At least 2-3 volunteers comfortable with ladders needed. This is a great opportunity to create an inspiring entrance for student performances!

Parking: Park in the school lot and enter through the main doors

What to Wear: Closed-toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dirty

What to Bring: Water bottle, sunscreen

Supplies: All tools will be provided. If you have any of the following and would like to bring them, you’re welcome to:  paint brushes, paint scraper tools, goggles to protect eyes while scraping.

YMCA Food & Fun Program

About Program:

To address hunger in our communities, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga is partnering with the USDA's Food Service Program to help provide free meals to children aged up to 18 during the summer and after school hours.

What Do We Need:

We need volunteers to help us prepare these healthy meals to send out to the kids of the Chattanooga, North Georgia and Cleveland areas! All meals are prepped and packed ourselves at our Food & Fun Kitchen. It is very easy and fun! Examples of tasks are making sandwiches, bagging up veggies, bagging up meal items, etc. Without helping hands like yours, these meals would not get prepared and sent out to kids in need of a healthy meal. Please consider volunteering with the YMCA's Food & Fun Program. Anyone is welcome to volunteer!

Dress Code For All Volunteers:

Directions To The JA Henry Community YMCA

Our address is:  3500 Dodds Avenue, Suite 108

Chattanooga, TN  37407

Turn onto East 35th Street off Dodds Avenue. Look for the YMCA sign on our building.

If there is parking behind our building, you are more than welcome to park there in the spaces that have our YMCA signage. If need be, you may park in the parking lot that is on 36th Street across from the building.

About Reflection Riding: Reflection Riding is a local nonprofit -part public park, part nature center, part wild lands, and all outdoor learning. Reflection Riding restores the vital connection between people and nature. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience nature, regardless of where they live or their economic status. Volunteer Details :

Volunteer Details: Volunteers will help paint the exterior of our Welcome Center. Tasks may include light prep work and painting. Volunteers may need to stand on some short ladders. 

Please bring/wear clothes and shoes you don't mind getting paint on. Closed-toed shoes and long pants; water bottle paint, brushes and rollers will be provided.

All participants must fill out this waiver: https://go.levitate.ai/?s=ee8ciufg2N&source=customSurvey

Parking: You'll meet at the Welcome Center at Reflection Riding

Here's what you need to know about your volunteer day at the Zoo:

Arrive at 9:00am and proceed to the plaza in front of the Zoo. Someone will be there to meet you. That will give us enough time to get you checked in and to your assignment for a 9:30 am start. 

Park in the Zoo's parking lot. Parking is free.

Dress in casual clothes. All volunteers must wear closed toed shoes. Please bring a refillable water bottle. We do our best to help the environment by not providing water in plastic bottles. Please bring sunscreen if needed.

Make sure to bring your completed, signed Group Volunteer Waiver and Release Form on each volunteer (see attachment). These will be collected when you arrive. 

Please plan on working until 12:00pm. If you are planning on having lunch, please know the Zoo may or may not have any open food concessions. It is based on weather and attendance. But there are picnic tables just outside the Zoo if you want to bring a bag lunch, or a couple of fast food restaurants near the Zoo. 

Project: Substrate Change. Volunteers will be shoveling substrate material (i.e. sand, mulch, or limestone) and/or pushing wheelbarrows. (Tools will be provided by the Zoo).

Volunteers will help put together our new garden beds (4 in total) and fill them with soil and fertilizer for our Child Enrichment Program. These garden beds will give kids the chance to get hands-on with gardening, learn where food comes from, and take pride in caring for something over time.

The garden will be used during enrichment activities to support learning around science, nutrition, teamwork, and responsibility. It also provides a calming outdoor space where kids can slow down, explore, and build confidence as they watch their plants grow.

Volunteers are needed to assemble four new garden beds and plant vegetables in the rear area; refresh the current garden beds in front area; and sanitize toys/books and dining room area

What should volunteers wear?
Volunteers should wear comfortable clothing that can get dirty, along with closed-toe shoes.   

Where should they park?

Volunteer as an individual or group in a warehouse environment while working cooperatively with other volunteers and staff.  Typical volunteer activities include sorting food, re-packaging bulk food, packing food boxes, packing Sack Packs, labeling canned goods, and performing scheduled sanitation tasks.

We need volunteers to help pick up trash around our facility to help create a cleaner and more welcoming environment. If the weather is bad, we will work to organize items inside. 

Please wear comfortable clothing and closed toe shoes and bring a refillable water bottle. 

Volunteer groups needed to stain pavilion and wooden bridges. Ladders need for pavilion 10-14ft tall. 

Volunteer groups needed to paint exterior wall approximately 10ft x 35ft

Volunteers will help transform a disorganized storage space into a fully functional, easy-to-use storage area. This project includes sorting existing items, categorizing supplies, labeling shelves, determining bins needed, and setting up a layout that makes items easy to find and maintain. Volunteers will work together to create an organized system that supports daily operations and saves staff time moving forward. 

Please note: This is a tight space, so the project is limited to a small group of 3–5 volunteers. Teamwork, flexibility, and comfort working in close quarters are important. Volunteers should be organized-minded and comfortable working with minimal direction, using good judgment and teamwork to create an efficient system.

Volunteers needed with proper equipment to finish clearing area to prepare for a children's play area. 

Current view: 

Hopeful end Result: 

Hatch's Hero is a community-based advocacy program for children and families experiencing pediatric cancer. Volunteers will help with different projects that help support these families, like STEAM project prep, video demonstrations, making cards for families, ect.

Details:

For 35 years, Assistive Technology (AT) Services, a program of Signal Centers, has worked to eliminate barriers by empowering individuals with disabilities to navigate a technology-driven world with greater independence. Assistive technology includes any tool or device that enhances independence and improves quality of life.  

As AT approaches its 35th anniversary, we are seeking volunteers to help refresh and revitalize the center in celebration of this milestone!   With a little TLC, we can ensure the space reflects the innovation and empowerment that define the program’s impact.  

Some volunteer tasks for this project may include:     

Our recommended group size for this project is 5-7 volunteers. 

Volunteers are encouraged to wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing and closed-toe shoes. Please choose attire that you don’t mind getting a little messy. Moderate lifting may be required for certain tasks.

Assistive Technology Services is located at 2300 Bailey Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404. Parking is available on-site, though space may be limited. Carpooling is encouraged when possible.

While water will be available, volunteers are welcome to bring their own water bottle if preferred.

Thank you so much for considering our project, as well as your support of Assistive Technology Services!

LIFT Youth Center's Mission: Creating opportunities for students to be Loved as they are, Inspired to be more, Found in community, and Trusted to make a difference. LIFT accomplishes this by providing TWO Youth Centers to serve 6th-12th grade Catoosa County students with a free afterschool program. Our vision is a community where students discover and achieve a healthy, successful future. Between the two centers we hope to serve 500 students this school year.

On 4/17 a group will work at our Youth Center in Ringgold to help it shine! We'll do some landscaping (weed control, mulching and pine straw), do some deep cleaning of the inside and outside of the Youth Center, wash and detail our vans, and pick up any trash we can find around the property. It is difficult to find the time to accomplish these tasks, so these volunteers spending this time helping us take good care of our physical plant is a big gift!

There is plenty of parking at the Youth Center. There will be low and high impact jobs to do. Close-toed shoes would be wise. All tools and materials will be provided - you may want to bring work gloves. Water and shade will be provided as needed, but you may want to wear sunscreen. We will also have a group do this at our Youth Center in Fort Oglethorpe.
 

LIFT Youth Center's Mission: Creating opportunities for students to be Loved as they are, Inspired to be more, Found in community, and Trusted to make a difference. LIFT accomplishes this by providing TWO Youth Centers to serve 6th-12th grade Catoosa County students with a free afterschool program. Our vision is a community where students discover and achieve a healthy, successful future. Between the two centers we hope to serve 500 students this school year.

On 4/17 a group will work at our Youth Center in Fort Oglethorpe to help it shine! We'll do some landscaping (weed control, mulching and pine straw), do some deep cleaning of the inside and outside of the Youth Center, wash and detail our vans, and pick up any trash we can find around the property. It is difficult to find the time to accomplish these tasks, so these volunteers spending this time helping us take good care of our physical plant is a big gift!

There is plenty of parking at the Youth Center. There will be low and high impact jobs to do. Close-toed shoes would be wise. All tools and materials will be provided - you may want to bring work gloves. Water and shade will be provided as needed, but you may want to wear sunscreen. We will also have a group do this at our Youth Center in Ringgold.

Here at Hunter, we have two interior courtyards, Soaring Space 1 and Soaring Space 2, and we have been fortunate to receive seating areas and a canopy in each space. However, these spaces are still in need of additional attention and improvements.

We are seeking assistance with placing crossties and spreading mulch to help elevate and level uneven areas. Our goal is to create a clean, safe environment where students can enjoy an alternative space for learning.  Not only will these spaces offer areas of learning for student they will give our other exceptional education students a place to go and enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment.  Please help us let our students SOAR in a new environment.

The CAC needs to move two storage units in Hixson (5027 Hixson Pike) to a storage unit in Brainerd (5952 Brainerd Rd). This project will include moving boxes, event materials (coolers, flags, etc.), and many, many other odd-shaped and heavy items. Volunteers will load the U-Haul in Hixson and unload in Brainerd. We will start the day at the CAC. Volunteers will need to be able to lift at least 30 pounds. 

The day will start at the CAC and particpants will park at 5705 Uptain Rd. and need to have their own transportation to the other two locations. 

Volunteers should wear comfortable clothing that may get dirty.

Volunteers will help refresh and maintain our outdoor spaces by clearing debris, removing litter, trimming overgrowth, and cleaning out a large ditch.

Work will be outdoors and may involve bending, lifting, and working on uneven ground. Volunteers should dress appropriately. Gloves and some tools will be provided however gas-powered trimmers, chainsaws and additional landscape supplies are helpful.

This is a hands-on project with immediate, visible impact—perfect for individuals or groups who enjoy working outside and making a difference.

Food distribution is a hands-on volunteer activity. Activities could include assisting with stocking shelves, unloading and moving food, sorting and distributing food, sorting and bagging produce, and cleaning up.  Volunteers must be willing and able to work with people of different backgrounds and nationalities, exhibit compassion and sensitivity, and maintain strict confidentiality of all guest and volunteer information. 

Come help spruce up our landscaping by adding mulch, planting small shrubs, trimming shrubs, weeding, etc. Necessary tools and items will be provided, but if you have work/gardening gloves, please bring them! Take note of the weather this day and wear appropriate clothing for outdoor work.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga creates and supports 1:1 mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We believe that all you can achieve their full potential! Our resources go into supporting in mission, so any extra help we can get toward maintenance on stretches our funds deeper into the community.

We will be deep cleaning the store. This usually requires a small amount of shifting around clothing racks and shelving units.

Other tasks will include:

Please wear comfortable clothes you do not mind wearing while cleaning. We will provide all supplies. Drinks and snacks will also be provided. 

Please park in the gravel lot adjacent to the right side of the building.

THE NEED

Ronald McDonald House provides a "home away from home" for families of children receiving medical care. Our facility offers 28 full bedrooms (each with its own full bathroom), daily meals, community kitchens, laundry facilities, play areas for children, access to mental healthcare and wellness programs to promote each family's well-being, and more — all at no cost to them, and with no time limit: families may stay with us until their child's treatment ends.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a volunteer group to "Adopt-A-Lunch" on April 17th. Your volunteer group would provide the ingredients and prepare the meal on-site in our Great Kitchen, making about 30 servings of food. You also have the option of ordering food from a restaurant.

If your group is not able to provide all of the ingredients, we can meet you halfway by drawing from our pantry for basic ingredients like pasta, rice, flour, etc.

HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS?

The ideal group size is no larger than 9 people (that's how many people can comfortably fit in our kitchen).

For a larger group (max. 20 people), you may consider doing a combination of Adopt-A-Meal and Chore Cart, which entails basic cleaning around the House (wiping surfaces, sweeping, trash pickup around the property, etc.). The group can be divided between Adopt-A-Meal and Chore-Cart during the allotted time.

Please be aware that parking spots are limited, so larger groups are strongly encouraged to carpool.

Help transform our thrift store’s women’s section into a modern shopping destination! Remove outdated fixtures, patch and paint walls with an accent color, rearrange display furniture, deep clean the floors, and reorganize clothing racks to showcase designer and seasonal items.

Parking: Available at the Thrift Store and our office building next door. Street parking also available.

What to Wear: Closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or painted.

What to Bring: Water bottle.

Supplies: All tools will be provided. If you have any of the following and would like to bring them, you’re welcome to: drill, spackle, putty knife, sandpaper, paint, brushes/rollers, or paint tape.

Transform our thrift store layout! Help reorganize merchandise sections, move shelving units and display furniture, relocate inventory to create new featured shopping areas, and consolidate items for better organization. Great for volunteers who enjoy hands-on work and transforming spaces!

Parking: Available in the shared lot in front of our Red Bank Thrift Store.

What to Wear: Closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or painted.

What to Bring: Water bottle.

Supplies: All tools and supplies will be provided.

Bring new life to our thrift store by painting the register counter in vibrant blue and refreshing bathroom doors and frames in clean off-white. Create a welcoming, professional environment that uplifts everyone who visits. Perfect for detail-oriented volunteers!

Parking: Available in the shared lot in front of our Soddy Daisy Thrift Store (located next to Food City).

What to Wear: Closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or painted.

What to Bring: Water bottle.

Supplies: All tools will be provided. If you have any of the following and would like to bring them, you’re welcome to: paint brushes, painter's tape, paint rollers, paint pans, gloves. 

Help create a brighter learning environment through painting, deep cleaning, and organizing classroom spaces. Every detail counts in making our school a better place for students!

Parking: Park in the school lot and enter through the main doors

What to Wear: Closed-toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dirty

What to Bring: Water bottle

Supplies: All tools will be provided. If you have any of the following and would like to bring them, you’re welcome to: paint brushes, painters tape, basic cleaning supplies.

Transform our school’s exterior through window cleaning, pressure washing, raking, and sweeping. If time allows, we’ll also organize the care closet and tackle interior windows. Outdoor enthusiasts welcome!

Parking: Park in the visitor spaces within the Red Bank Middle School lot and enter through the main doors. 

What to Wear: Closed-toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dirty

What to Bring: Water bottle, sunscreen

Supplies: All tools will be provided. If you have any of the following and would like to bring them, you’re welcome to: rake, broom, cleaning rags, pressure washer.

The Launch Pad is a non-profit organization dedicated to launching women out of addiction and into the healing power of a 12-step sober living program. We aim to see our residents complete treatment and live a healthy and whole life free from addiction.

We need a team of 20 individuals who would like to paint the fence of our residential area at the Launch Pad. This project will take approximately 4 hours per group. We will provide all tools needed, please just arrive in clothing you can paint in. We will provide and light refreshments and hydration. Steel toed shoes are not required for this project. 

The Launch Pad is a non-profit organization dedicated to launching women out of addiction and into the healing power of a 12-step sober living program. We aim to see our residents complete treatment and live a healthy and whole life free from addiction.

We need a team of 20 individuals who would like to paint the fence of our residential area at the Launch Pad. This project will take approximately 4 hours per group. We will provide all tools needed, please just arrive in clothing you can paint in. We will provide and light refreshments and hydration. Steel toed shoes are not required for this project. 

The Momentum Network is excited to participate in United Way's Day of Caring on April 17th, and we need your help to freshen up our campus! Your support will create a clean and safe space for the moms and babies we serve. We'd love for you to join us in supporting Momentum Network and learning more about how we're empowering moms in college to build bright futures  for their families.

Campus Cleanup Need

What to Wear & Bring: 

Please wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. If you have them, bring gardening gloves, protective eyewear, and a pressure washer. If you're a team lead signing up for your team, please communicate with your team what you're signing up for so that your team can be prepared. 

Parking: 

Parking is available in the gravel lot behind 110 O'Neal St. We will have signs out to help guide you. 

The Momentum Network is excited to participate in United Way's Day of Caring on April 17th, and we need your help to plant our community garden! Your support will create a beautiful corner of our campus for moms and babies to enjoy. Kids in our daycare will get to help tend for the garden, and moms will have access to fresh veggies for their families from the garden. We'd love for you to join us in supporting Momentum Network and learning more about how we're empowering moms in college to build bright futures for their families. 

Garden Planting

What to Wear & Bring

Please wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. If you have them, bring gardening gloves and gardening tools (shovel, trowel, etc.). If you're a team lead signing up for your team, please communicate with your team what you're signing up for so that your team can be prepared. 

Parking

Parking is located in the gravel lot behind 110 O'Neal St. We will have signs out to help guide you.

The Momentum Network is excited to participate in United Way's Day of Caring on April 17th, and we need your help prepping meals for moms in our program! As our student-moms attend class, study, work, and care for their kiddos, having ready-made, homecooked meals takes a huge weight off their shoulders. We'd love for you to join us in supporting Momentum Network and learning more about how we're empowering moms in college to build bright futures for their families.

Meal Prep

What to Wear & Bring: 

Please wear comfortable clothes suitable for cooking. While we have basic kitchen supplies, our resources are limited- so if you're able, feel free to bring items like measuring cups, measuring spoons, cutting boards, and any other essentials you might find helpful. If you're a team lead signing up for your team, please communicate with your team what you're signing up for so that your team can be prepared. 

Parking: 

Parking is available in the gravel lot located behind 110 O'Neal St. We will have signs out to help guide you. 

For this Spring Day of Caring, Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors is partnering with the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) to show a little love to Stringer's Ridge. We plan on cutting back overgrowth to improve sightlines on the hiking/biking trails, picking up litter, restoring trail features through landscaping, and more. 

Parking: Please use the Spears Avenue Trailhead located at 1312 Spears Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37405. Carpooling is strongly encouraged, as parking is limited.

Physical Requirements: Volunteers must be able to lift 25 lbs independently and be fully ambulatory. Volunteers will need to be able to help haul equipment up from the trailhead to the project site using wheelbarrows/carts/etc...

Attire: Please wear closed-toed shoes, pants, and a breathable shirt. Volunteers without closed-toes shoes will not be able to participate. Please bring sunscreen if necessary. 

Equipment: All equipment for this project will be provided. 

Food/Drink: We will provide snacks and water for participants. We encourage all Volunteers to bring a personal reusable water bottle.

If you're a nature-lover with a heart for your community and you don't mind getting your hands dirty, we encourage you to join us! More details to be announced soon!