Maybe you have some extra time on your hands, or maybe you’re just in the giving spirit this time of year.
All we know is there are more than enough great causes in Chattanooga to support with your time. Whether you’re an animal lover, an artsy type, a natural mentor, or a healthcare enthusiast — there’s a nearby volunteer opportunity for you. Here are 30+ ways to get involved in Chattanooga.
If you’re an animal lover
Humane Educational Society | Volunteer at the Humane Society’s shelter or thrift store, or help out by fostering a pet.
McKamey Animal Center | All volunteers at MAC must be willing to commit to a minimum of six hours of service each month for at least six months — ideally the same two-hour shift per week.
ChattaNeuter | Volunteers are needed to advocate for spay and neuter services + represent ChattaNeuter at community events.
East Ridge Animal Services | Volunteer to spend a day with the shelter’s feature dog, walk a pup, cuddle cats and help clean the Purr Palace, and more.
Pet Placement Center | Help with tasks like cleaning cat rooms, working off-site event tables, and transporting animals to off-site events.
If you want to be there for abuse victims
Partnership for Families, Children and Adults | Volunteer as a court advocate, victim’s advocate, or hotline responder.
Children’s Advocacy Center | The center is currently accepting special event volunteers — you can also host a drive for items in need.
For the outdoorsy types
Green Steps | Green Steps hosts monthly community cleanups to pick up litter around trails, parks, open spaces, neighborhoods, and city limits.
Keep the TN River Beautiful | This organization hosts cleanup events all along the Tennessee River watershed.
Chattanooga Audubon Society | Help build trails, lead student trips, or help in the visitor center as a volunteer at this wildlife sanctuary.
Tennessee Aquarium | Try various volunteer opportunities at the aquarium like working in horticulture, scuba diving, helping aquarium experts with animal care, and more.
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center | Volunteer at one of the nature center’s monthly weed wrangles, or lend your hand by helping with the grounds and gardening, environmental education, welcome services, or maintenance.
Crabtree Farms | Volunteer on the farm at November volunteer days, or apply for Crabtree Farms’ seasonal WorkShare volunteer program.
Chattanooga Park Stewards | Help improve (and keep beautiful) our local parks and greenways by volunteering to plant native trees and plants, remove invasive species, pick up litter, and more.
If you’re interested in healthcare
Kidney Foundation of Greater Chattanooga | Contact the organization to learn more about its volunteer opportunities.
Erlanger Health System | Erlanger offers a Service Learning College Volunteer Program, a summer VolunTEENS program, and special event volunteer opportunities.
CHI Memorial | Fill out CHI Memorial’s volunteer application to provide your areas of volunteer interest.
Blood Assurance | Sometimes, volunteering can be as easy as donating blood — schedule an appointment here.
Natural-born teachers and mentors
Girls Inc. | Choose from short or long-term volunteer opportunities like reading with girls, helping out in the office, or working a community event.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga | Become a mentor to a high school student, or try community or school-based mentoring for less of a time commitment.
TNAchieves | Become a mentor for local students as they pursue a post-secondary credential.
Morning Pointe Senior Living | Share your talents + time by coordinating rewarding activities for Morning Pointe residents.
If you’re passionate about supporting local minority groups
Urban League of Greater Chattanooga | Volunteer with the Urban League to support its mission of enabling African-Americans, along with other minorities and disadvantaged individuals, to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights.
Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga | Assistance ranges from helping to prepare Mitzvah Meals and installing exhibits to making calls to homebound clients and conducting oral histories.
Bridge Refugee Services | Volunteering with Bridge can involve shopping for groceries for new arrivals, transporting individuals, helping with online English tutoring, and more.
Chattanooga Pride | Chattanooga Pride’s events throughout the year are run entirely by volunteers like you.
La Paz Chattanooga | La Paz engages volunteers with a variety of events and programs throughout the year.
Latina Professionals of Chattanooga | Volunteer to help with some of the many exciting events Latina Prof puts on.
If you want to help your neighbors in need
Chatt Foundation (formerly Chattanooga Community Kitchen) | The Chatt Foundation’s greatest volunteer needs are in food service, but there are various other opportunities — Thanksgiving volunteer sign-ups are open now.
Northside Neighborhood House | Volunteer by working in NNH’s CommUNITY Schools or thrift stores, or assisting with special events.
Chattanooga Area Food Bank | Volunteer at the food bank by sorting and packing food, distributing emergency food assistance, and more.
Meals on Wheels | Volunteer drivers are needed to deliver hot meals to people’s homes in the Southeast Tennessee area.
The artsy types
Hart Gallery | Volunteers can assist in art making, one-on-one help for the gallery’s blind artists, teaching in the area shelters, and more.
Splash Arts | Volunteer to mentor a child through art activities.
If you live and breathe Chattanooga
MAINx24 Chili Competition | Volunteer with Green Spaces to help set up, take down, and keep the chili competition as zero-waste as possible.
Gratefull Chattanooga | Volunteer at this community-wide Thanksgiving gathering to work the donation table, be a greeter, help with cleanup or as a parking assistant, and more.
Chattanooga Library | Volunteer to help shelf books, garden at the South Chattanooga location, or work at the studio or makerspace. Bonus: Chattanooga Library volunteers can earn a free one-year library membership if they live outside of city limits.
