Needs From: United Way's Volunteer Center

Each year, the YMCA provides meals to at-risk youth across our service areas. More than 400,000 nutritious meals are prepared and served annually at over 80 sites in Chattanooga, Cleveland, and North Georgia. This impact is made possible through the dedication of the invaluable support of volunteers.

You have the opportunity in helping prepare and pack these meals with us on Friday, September 18th from 9:00am-12:00pm. We also have the need to spruce up our grounds outside of the branch, with mulching and some pruning of hedges. And there just might be time to do some washing and detailing to our YMCA delivery vans.

We would love to showcase our little hidden gem of Metropolitan of Chattanooga YMCA. If interested, please have your organization reach out.

Assist with trimming back and removing overgrown bushes located behind the shelter. This project was started during last year's Day of Caring and requires continued attention. The vegetation has grown significantly and is beginning to reach nearby electrical lines, creating a potential safety hazard. Volunteers will help improve safety, visibility, and the overall appearance of the shelter grounds.

Assist with cleaning and removing graffiti from exterior building signs and other affected areas around the shelter. This project will help create a more welcoming, professional, and dignified environment for survivors and families seeking services while improving the overall appearance of the facility and community presence. This is a painting project. Items needed for this project will be provided. 

Volunteers will need to bring the appropriate tools and equipment necessary to complete the projects, including items such as bush trimming and removal tools, work gloves, and other applicable hand tools.

Please where comfortable clothes that you do not mind getting dirty and closed to shoes. Bring a refillable water bottle, sun screen and hat if you require protection from the sun.

The Momentum Network is excited to participate in United Way's Day of Caring on September 18th, 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

Pick up trash in our village

Painting

Clean playground equipment

Vacuum, sweep, and mop community spaces

Clean and pressure wash porches

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: 

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

Clean old plants out of garden beds

Plant fresh flowers and vegetables

Pull weeds from other spots on our campus

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.

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: Volunteers will help paint our Native Plant Nursery Potting Shed. Tasks may include light prep work and painting. Volunteers may need to stand on some short ladders. 

Additional Details 

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, gardening gloves (we have some to share), and long handled shovels(we also have some to share).

All participants will fill out a waiver onsite 

Parking: You'll park and meet at the Welcome 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: Land Management volunteers will get hands-on experience helping restore our native ecosystem by preparing a meadow for a prescribed burn. Volunteers will prepare firebreaks and help with brush removal. It may take place 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 will fill out the waiver onsite

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

Groups needed to trim trees and cut down brush. You will need to provide your own trimming equipment. We are on 17 acres, so gas and battery powered chainsaws and trimmers are best. Loppers can also be helpful for smaller limbs. We have gloves and safety glasses available to use.

Chambliss Center for Children is a non-profit organization established in 1872. Our mission is to enrich the lives of children, youth, and families by providing transformative programs and support services to meet the evolving needs of our community. We specialize in foster care, adoptions, residential care of youth, early childhood education, and childcare.

Join SORBA Chattanooga and Booker T. Washington State Park for the United Way’s Day of Caring as we team up to protect and preserve one of Chattanooga’s beloved trail systems!

We’ll be working together to remove invasive plant species from the park’s Nature Trail, helping to maintain the health of the native ecosystem and ensure the trail remains beautiful and accessible for hikers, bikers, and nature lovers.

No prior experience is necessary!
All tools will be provided on-site, along with instruction and guidance from experienced trail stewards. Lunch will be provided afterwards to all volunteers.

What to Bring & Wear:

About SORBA Chattanooga:
SORBA Chattanooga is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building, maintaining, and advocating for sustainable multi-use trails across the greater Chattanooga region. We work closely with partners and land managers like Booker T. Washington State Park to care for public lands, promote responsible trail use, expand access to outdoor recreation, and build a thriving trail community through volunteer workdays, group rides, education programs, and advocacy.

Let’s roll up our sleeves and make a difference—together!

Questions? Contact info@sorbachattanooga.org.

Help improve the outdoor space at Chattanooga Room in the Inn by preparing and re-staining the deck. Volunteers will assist with scraping loose stain, sanding rough areas, cleaning the deck surface, and applying a fresh coat of stain to help protect the wood and create a welcoming outdoor area for guests.

Volunteer Information

Thank you for helping make Chattanooga Room in the Inn a more welcoming place for our residents!

Help us remove invasive plant species such as kudzu, privet, Japanese honeysuckle, bittersweet, English ivy and many others from the banks of Reads Creek for Day of Caring! Learn how to identify invasive plant species, how to effectively remove them and help us restore the Reads Creek riparian buffer in our 5th season of this restoration project! Removing invasive species is essential for restoring native habitat and prepping our creeks for streambank repair workshops. WaterWays will have gloves and tools available, but feel free to bring your own gear! Gear such as loppers, gloves, hand saws, eye protection, closed toed shoes, sunscreen, water bottle and a hat are suggested. Please note, this event can involve lifting up to 30 - 40 lbs of brush. 

What We'll Be Doing

This volunteer day is all about transforming our new space into a welcoming community grocery store. Volunteers will help:

Whether you can give a few hours or stay all day, your work will have a direct impact on families throughout our community. No special experience is needed—just comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes, and a willingness to lend a hand. Together, we're building a place where everyone can access healthy food with dignity.

Spend a morning outdoors with our Urban Farm Manager helping us bring in one of the season's biggest harvests--sweet potatoes!

Stage One: Volunteers will work together to clear approximately 500 square feet of sweet potato vines, dig up the potatoes, and prepare this section of our farm for its next season of growth.

Stage Two: After the potatoes have been gathered, the team will turn over the soil and prepare the field for planting fall greens.

THE DETAILS

Materials & Supplies: we will provide the tools and gloves, but if you have some that you like to use on your own garden, please feel free to bring and use those.

Parking: Volunteers may park in the paved lot at the end of our building or along the street.

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT "THE BETH"

The Bethlehem Center's story began with two women who saw a need in South Chattanooga and decided to do something about it. In 1920, Miriam Brock started a children's Bible study in a church basement. The ministry grew into a daycare and kindergarten and moved into a building called Wesley House. About a decade later, Reverend Sallie Crenshaw, the first African American woman ordained in this region of the United Methodist Church, began leading Bible studies and caring for children whose parents were working. Her ministry became known as Good Shepherd Fold Daycare.

As the years passed, the two women saw both their ministries and their impact on the community grow. Over time, Mrs. Brock and Reverend Crenshaw merged their ministries, and in 1960, The Bethlehem Center opened its doors on West 38th Street. More than 100 years after Miriam Brock's first Bible study in a church basement, it continues to serve children...as well as families and individuals throughout Chattanooga.

To learn more about The Bethlehem Center's current programs and an overview of our community initieaves, check out this recent article in the Chattanooga Pulse.

Help us give the AIM Center Clubhouse a fresh, welcoming appearance! Volunteers will work together to refresh our landscaping by spreading mulch, removing dead plants, trimming shrubs and low-hanging branches, weeding, and completing other light outdoor beautification tasks. This is a great hands-on project that makes an immediate impact for our members and visitors. Bringing your own gardening gloves and tools (rakes, pruning shears, shovels, etc.) is highly encouraged.

We'll provide water and snacks to keep you fueled! Volunteer paperwork for AIM Center must be completed for approval.

What We'll Be Doing

This volunteer day is all about transforming our new space into a welcoming community grocery store. Volunteers will help pick up from where the morning shift ended:

Whether you can give a few hours or stay all day, your work will have a direct impact on families throughout our community. No special experience is needed—just comfortable clothes, closed-toe shoes, and a willingness to lend a hand. Together, we're building a place where everyone can access healthy food with dignity.

Our school library has officially moved to its new home, and we need a team of wonderful volunteers to help turn this space into a warm, inviting haven for our students and teachers! How you can help:

Additional Details: 

Help beautify Red Bank Middle School! Volunteers will tackle a mix of painting inside the building and grounds work outside, think a refreshed office space, weeded flower beds, and pressure-washed sidewalks and windows.

The mission of Northside Neighborhood House is to uplift and empower our neighbors. For over 100 years, how we've accomplished that mission has evolved to meet our community's changing needs. Today it includes our network of 10 Community Schools, direct assistance with rent, utilities, and everyday needs, and newer long-term programming like Rooted Together. Your work helps make Red Bank Middle a brighter place for the students and families who call it their school community.

Lifting level: light

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 or painted.

What to Bring: Water bottle, sunscreen.

Supplies: All tools will be provided for painting and cleaning. If you have a pressure washer you're comfortable bringing, it would help move things along.

Help beautify Red Bank Elementary! Volunteers will tackle a mix of light landscaping, painting, organizing, and cleaning around campus to freshen things up as the school year gets rolling.

The mission of Northside Neighborhood House is to uplift and empower our neighbors. For over 100 years, how we've accomplished that mission has evolved to meet our community's changing needs. Today it includes our network of 10 Community Schools, direct assistance with rent, utilities, and everyday needs, and newer long-term programming like Rooted Together.

Your work helps make Red Bank Elementary a brighter place for the students, teachers, and families who are a part of the school community.

Lifting level: light-moderate
Parking: Visitor spots available in the school lot. 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 basic cleaning and/or gardening supplies you're comfortable bringing, that would be beneficial but is not required!

Help spruce up Hixson High's campus! Volunteers will pressure wash the football stadium bleachers (home and visitor sides) and the sidewalks around the building, with time permitting to tidy up the back field too.

The mission of Northside Neighborhood House is to uplift and empower our neighbors. For over 100 years, how we've accomplished that mission has evolved to meet our community's changing needs — today it includes our network of 10 Community Schools, direct assistance with rent, utilities, and everyday needs, and newer long-term programming like Rooted Together.

Your work helps make Hixson High a source of pride for the students, teachers, and families who are a part of the school community.

Lifting level: Moderate (handling pressure washing equipment)

Parking: Available in the school lot. Enter through the main doors.

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

What to Bring: Water bottle, sunscreen, gas-powered pressure washer if possible.

Supplies: Gas-powered pressure washers needed as the stadium is too large for power cords. A volunteer group that can bring its own is a big help.

Join us for a rewarding day of environmental stewardship as we work together to clear invasive plant species (privet, english ivy, honeysuckle, etc) spread mulch on the trail, and do some early fall planting of our beautiful Sylvan Park Bird Sanctuary. This vital work helps restore native habitat for local bird populations and ensures the park remains a thriving space for wildlife and the community.

What to Expect:
Volunteers will assist with removing invasive plants, which may involve digging, pulling, and hauling debris. Some heavy lifting may be required, but tasks will be assigned based on comfort and ability levels. No prior experience is necessary—just a willingness to get your hands dirty and make a difference!

Parking:
Free parking is available at the main Sylvan Park entrance located along Franklin Street (Please do not block neighbor driveways)  Spots may be limited. Car Pooling is encouraged. Overflow parking will be to parallel park on Forest Street near Noll. Look for the Day of Caring signs and volunteer check-in table.

What to Wear:
Please wear long pants and sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots. We recommend clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Gloves will be provided.

Tools Provided:
We will supply a few  weed wrenches, trash bags, and gloves. Feel free to bring your own gloves or favorite hand tools (trimmer, shovels, weed wrench) if you prefer.

Bathrooms:

Please note, there is NO bathroom on site at the park. Closest public restroom is at Publix Grocery Store on Market Street.

Additional Reminders:

Bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Apply sunscreen and insect repellent as needed, especially if it’s sunny.

A brief safety talk and orientation will kick off the event at 9:00 AM sharp.

Let’s make a positive impact together—see you at Sylvan Park!

The Momentum Network is excited to participate in United Way's Day of Caring on September 18th, 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

Cook meals and prep to freeze

Clean up kitchen space after use

What to Expect/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.