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 50+ 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, 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.
Chattanooga Zoo | Those 18+ can volunteer with the zoo’s education or animal care tracks — volunteers are asked to help with a minimum of two special events annually.
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 throughout 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 | Help out on the farm, greenhouse, or assist with field trips.
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.
Hamilton County Parks and Recreation | Work with Partners of the Park to help protect, maintain, and educate folks about the area’s green spaces.
Lookout Mountain Conservancy | Join efforts to inspire others to care for the mountain — opportunities vary from a couple of hours to on-and-off all year long.
Wild Trails | Help build and maintain trails or help out at local events.
Lula Lake Land Trust | Help work Open Gate Days and special events or get your hands dirty maintaining trails — volunteers receive incentives like free access to the Core Preserve based on hours logged.
If you’re interested in healthcare
Kidney Foundation of Greater Chattanooga | Contact the organization to learn more about its volunteer opportunities.
Erlanger | 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 service interest.
Blood Assurance | Sometimes, volunteering can be as easy as donating blood — schedule an appointment here.
American Red Cross | Volunteers make up 90% of this organization’s workforce — from being a blood donor ambassador to disaster health services + supporting members of the military, you can sign up any time.
Welcome Home of Chattanooga | From providing companionship to folks on hospice care or in the cancer respite program to cooking meals + mentoring, there’s a lot of ways to show kindness with this organization.
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.
Signal Centers | Volunteer for the Work Ready program or help out with the organization’s Children + Adult Day, or Assistive Technology Services.
Creative Discovery Museum | Teens can volunteer to learn about the museum’s operations and exhibits through its MAP program.
If you’re passionate about supporting local community groups
Urban League of Greater Chattanooga | Volunteer with the Urban League to support its mission of enabling African American people, 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.
La Paz Chattanooga | La Paz engages volunteers with a variety of events and programs throughout the year.
If you want to help your neighbors in need
Chattanooga Free Store | Sign up to work weekly store hours, help clean + prep, and work community events.
Chattanooga Library | Volunteer to help shelf books, garden at the South Chattanooga location, or work at the studio or maker space. Bonus: Chattanooga Library volunteers can earn a free one-year library membership if they live outside of city limits.
United Way of Greater Chattanooga | This local organization offers a variety of volunteer opportunities year-round. Help out at events, community-wide volunteer projects, or through partnerships with agency partners.
Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area | Clean your house and donate items like clothing, household goods, appliances, and media. The new Ooltewah Goodwill Donation Xpress will open Thursday, July 17.
Chatt Foundation (formerly Chattanooga Community Kitchen) | The Chatt Foundation’s greatest volunteer needs are in food service, but there are various other opportunities.
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.
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.
Chattanooga Room in the Inn | Help in areas such as meal preparation, activities for children, fundraising committees, special projects, and life skills instructions.
Salvation Army of Greater Chattanooga | This organization has individual, family, mission group, church, corporate team, and student volunteer options.
YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga | There are several opportunities to help out like being an after-school counselor or working with the food or sports programs.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area | Join this organization to volunteer on home construction projects, help at the Restore shops, or in the offices.
The artsy types
Scenic City Clay Arts | Volunteer to be a “studio bee” to help provide class and program support, keeping the studio clean, data entry, mailings, and more.
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.
The Hunter Museum of American Art | The museum welcomes volunteers to serve as counselors during its summer camp + offer additional help during its Family Fun Day events.
Art 120 | Sign up to volunteer to help with events, fundraising, education, and public relations efforts.
Association for the Visual Arts | AVA members can get more involved with the gallery + programming by volunteering at the front desk to greet patrons.
Sculpture Fields | Opportunities include being a tour guide, serving on committees, helping with landscaping, and events like Fire Up the Fields + Sculptures in the Sky.
