Contribute to your community even if you only have an hour to spare by microvolunteering.
While volunteering may sound like a noble endeavor, it can seem out of reach for many with busy lives due to the time commitment. Luckily, microvolunteering gives those interested in giving back to their local communities a way to do so without sacrificing work and life priorities. Many organizations doing good work in Virginia welcome volunteers willing to contribute, even if they have only an hour or two to spare.
Here’s your guide to microvolunteering in the commonwealth.
Volunteer at a museum
Love history and art? If so, immerse yourself in it by volunteering at a local museum.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Location: 200 N Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond
Welcoming volunteers seven days a week from before the museum opens until it closes, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts offers plenty of one-time opportunities. It tries to place volunteers based on their interests.
Serving as an Ask Me Ambassador, who greets visitors and assists with customer service needs, is a good initial way to get involved. Shifts are two and a half hours in length.
Virginia Museum of Natural History
Location: 21 Starling Ave., Martinsville
The volunteer opportunities at the Virginia Museum of Natural History are as varied as its exhibits.
Volunteers can help with education, research and collections, administrative support, and building and grounds support. If you have a few hours to spare, try your hand at cleaning fossils in the paleontology lab.
Taubman Museum of Art
Location: 110 Salem Ave. SE, Roanoke
Make an impact while being surrounded by beautiful art displays at the Taubman Museum of Art.
Volunteer opportunities range from ongoing commitments to one-time activities. The museum tries to match volunteers with opportunities based on their interests. Some of the opportunities include working in the museum shop, as a docent, in visitor services, and special events.
Volunteer at an LGBTQ+ center
Support the LGBTQ+ community by working at a community center.
Roanoke Diversity Center
Location: 425 Campbell Ave. SW, Ste. 111, Roanoke
The Roanoke Diversity Center welcomes volunteers who feel they have something to contribute. Its volunteer registration form lets interested applicants share what they’re passionate about so the center can accurately match them with the right opportunities.
Volunteer opportunities include supervising open hours, engaging in fundraising activities, and helping with events.
NoVA Prism Center
Location: 1340 Old Chain Bridge Rd., Ste. 300-1, McLean
Help the NoVA Prism Center fulfill its mission of serving LGBTQ individuals in northern Virginia by volunteering.
Uniquely, the center offers both in-person and remote volunteer opportunities. Remote opportunities include social media work, library collection support, and fundraising and grant support. Volunteers can decide how many hours they’re willing to contribute monthly, with the minimum being one hour.
LGBT Life Center
Location: 5360 Robin Hood Rd., Ste. 202, Norfolk
Seeking to empower the LGBTQ community and those affected by HIV in the Hampton Roads area, the LGBT Life Center welcomes volunteers looking to give back and do good.
You’ll want to complete the new volunteer form and attend a volunteer training event, which takes about two hours. From there, you can sign up for various opportunities, like in the Pride Fresh Market and Pride Pantry.
Volunteer at a food bank
Help combat hunger by serving or packing food at a food bank.
Feeding Southwest Virginia
Location: 1025 Electric Rd., Salem
Become one of the more than 2,500 volunteers who contribute to Feeding Southwest Virginia’s mission of ending hunger in the region.
Volunteers are needed for the Salem facility, Abingdon distribution center, and Mobile Food Pantry and Mobile Marketplace programs.
Those with limited time to contribute may consider signing up to serve food for an hour and fifteen minutes through the Salem Café to Grow Truck. Those with a bit more time on their hands can contribute by working a three-hour quality assurance shift inspecting donated food products.
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
Location: 800 Tidewater Dr., Norfolk
Help neighbors avoid hunger by volunteering at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. You’ll be joining the ranks of some 7,000 volunteers.
All you have to do is complete a short registration process, then you can view upcoming opportunities through the VolunteerHub. The traditional volunteer roles are ideally suited for those with limited time on their hands. They’re flexible, one-time shifts that include such efforts as sorting and packing food, food distribution support, and special event support.
The Rescue Mission of Roanoke
Location: 402 4th St. SE, Roanoke
Pitch in at The Rescue Mission of Roanoke, a comprehensive crisis intervention center, by serving food in the kitchen or distributing weekly grocery boxes in the Manna Food Pantry.
Volunteers are needed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the kitchen. A normal shift lasts for two and a half hours. Food pantry workers are needed on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:45 to 3:30 p.m.
Anna Sudha Community Kitchen
Location: 21100 Dulles Town Center, Ste. 190, Dulles
Help Anna Sudha Community Kitchen accomplish its goal of making healthy meals accessible to all by becoming a volunteer. Shifts are designed for busy individuals, so they are generally two to three hours in length.
If you’re interested, you can help with food prep, clean-up, and packaging, cooking, meal deliveries, event support, and store volunteering.
Food for Others
Location: 2938 Prosperity Ave., Fairfax
Volunteers are the backbone of Food for Others, so the organization is always on the lookout for those willing to contribute their time.
Volunteer shifts are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shifts are typically two to four hours long. Remember to register in advance, as walk-ins aren’t permitted, and to wear closed-toe shoes.
Volunteer at an animal shelter
Animal lovers can help shower the cats and dogs at animal shelters with affection.
Montgomery County Animal Care & Adoption Center
Location: 480 Cinnabar Rd., Christiansburg
The Montgomery County Animal Care & Adoption Center offers a range of low-commitment volunteer opportunities, including animal socialization, special events, and animal transport. All that’s required is a brief orientation.
If you want to take on a greater commitment, consider participating in the foster program that provides temporary homes for cats, dogs, and exotic pets.
Shenandoah County Animal Shelter
Location: 268 Landfill Rd., Edinburg
The Shenandoah County Animal Shelter is especially welcoming of volunteers who may not be able to have pets where they live but crave one-on-one time with dogs and cats. Volunteers can help release pent-up energy from rambunctious dogs or cuddle affectionate cats.
The shelter welcomes volunteers no matter how much time they have to spend. You simply determine what day and time you want to visit the shelter based on your availability.
Volunteers of all ages are accepted, including children under 16 who must be accompanied by an adult guardian. Volunteer applications can be dropped off at the office.
Roanoke Valley SPCA
Location: 1340 Baldwin Ave., N.E., Roanoke
The Roanoke Valley SPCA is always on the lookout for kind, open-minded volunteers willing to spare a few minutes to work at the shelter or represent the organization in the community.
Opportunities include helping in the pet food pantry, cleaning cat condos, canine enrichment, animal transport, and pet photography. Some opportunities require fear-free handling training. While certain opportunities must be performed during designated times, others can be completed based on your availability. Most designated shifts are two and a half hours in length.
Volunteer to clean up the commonwealth
Contribute to the health and beauty of the commonwealth by participating in a cleanup effort.
James River Association
Location: 16 South 17th St., Ste. 100, Richmond
Help protect and restore the country’s founding river by volunteering on a watershed restoration project with the James River Association.
If you have two hours once a month, consider participating in the invasive species removal at Chapel Island. Volunteers learn about invasive plant species and how to remove them properly.
Rivanna Conservation Alliance
Location: 1150 River Rd., Ste. 1, Charlottesville
Participate in one of Rivanna Conservation Alliance’s self-guided cleanups if you want to volunteer at your own pace. The alliance will provide a kit that includes instructions, trash bags, work gloves, and trash pickers.
The cleanup tracker helps you determine what areas near you need trash pickup.
Virginia State Parks
Location: Various locations
Virginia State Parks can be found in all corners of the commonwealth. All 44 parks welcome volunteers willing to contribute to their sustainable mission.
Volunteer opportunities include clearing trails, pulling invasive plants, identifying plants and animals, and providing visitor support. The individual volunteering opportunity is best for those with limited time to contribute because it offers high levels of flexibility.
An application and background check are required. Volunteers are eligible to earn points that can be redeemed as benefits.
