For many, the season of giving may begin later in the year, but in reality, it’s never too early to start. There are many local charities and organizations across Philly that need our help all year long. From donations to lending a helping hand, no act of service is ever too small. These organizations have service opportunities for everyone, whether you’re a student in need of service hours or simply looking to give back to the community. Check out below for a list of upcoming volunteer opportunities, and be sure to visit these sites to sign up to help.
Project HOME
2025 Happening List Winner – Charity
https://www.projecthome.org/
Project HOME has a mission to empower children, adults and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate underlying causes, and to assist everyone in attaining their fullest potential as members of society. Their goal is to create a safe environment to foster confidence, self-esteem and recovery. Project HOME has been providing housing programs, opportunities for employment, medical care, and education for 35 years.
Project HOME is inviting volunteers to help achieve their goal of ending and preventing street homelessness and poverty in Philadelphia. Individuals and small groups can help by tutoring their students, participating in large community-wide service projects, or serving a meal. Volunteers are welcome to participate in a series of virtual, remote and outdoor opportunities. To begin volunteering, simply create an account on the VolunteerHub through their website. Check out below for a more detailed description of volunteer opportunities.
Write a Note of Hope: Simply download the PDF on the website to write an encouraging note to a Project HOME community member who could use some extra support. The mailing address is also listed on the website for reference once you have written your letter.
Neighborhood Street Clean-Ups: The Project HOME website has a calendar of upcoming dates for Neighborhood Street Clean-Ups. This is a great opportunity for those who enjoy the outdoors.
Volunteer Driver: Volunteer on-call drivers are responsible for collecting donation items from supporters and community partners around Philadelphia and delivering them to a program center, residence, or their headquarters. This role is a great way to interact with staff and partners. The time commitment is bi-weekly or on a need-only basis, with a preferred 4-6 month commitment.
Sorting donations: This position has a responsibility to support Project HOMEspun Boutique’s clothing donations. Volunteers will inspect and sort through clothes and decide which items will be kept for sale in the store and which will be recycled. The time commitment for this role is one 2-hour shift every week or every two weeks.
Kitchen support: Volunteers will support kitchen staff in one of Project HOME’s five safe havens under the Residential Services department. Tasks include preparing, serving, and cleaning up one of the daily meals, as well as engaging with clients to encourage conversation. The time commitment is two hours per week at multiple sites, with a minimum requirement of 3-months.
Legacy of Hope
2025 Happening List Finalist – Charity
https://www.legacyofhope.life/
Legacy of Hope is a Philadelphia organization that helps cancer patients receive emergency support and find cures. They partner with local groups and hospitals to assist patients who are financially struggling, as well as fund cancer research by supporting promising scientists. They believe that no family should go without food or lose their home because of a cancer diagnosis.
Legacy of Hope has many involvement opportunities, including an upcoming event on September 13th. PHL24 is an annual 24-hour stair-climbing endurance event that takes place at the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Participants climb the steps for 24 continuous hours so that no Philadelphia or Camden County cancer patient goes without food or a home due to their diagnosis. This year Legacy of Hope has a $250,000 goal to open the Emergency Patient Support Community Center, so both donations and volunteers are critical for the success of this event. To volunteer, simply click on the “Contact Us” button on their website under the event details.
You can also become a part of Team Relentless Hope, the volunteer arm for Legacy of Hope. Simply click on the link on their website, which will take you to a Google Form where you can specify your Volunteer Interest Area.
Additional ways to support this organization include donating, fundraising and becoming a member. Visit their website today to further their mission and make a difference in someone’s life.
MANNA
2025 Happening List Nominee – Charity
https://mannapa.org/
MANNA utilizes nutrition to help improve the health of those who are ill and need nourishment to heal. They provide both medically-tailored meals as well as nutrition education to improve people’s health and quality of life. Their vision is a healthcare system that recognizes the healing effects of proper nutrition for those with serious illnesses.
MANNA always appreciates the work of their 9,400+ volunteers who donate approximately 56,000 hours of their time per year. Volunteers help prepare food, pack containers, and deliver meals to the doorsteps of people in the Philadelphia area living with serious illnesses. Becoming a volunteer is simple. Visit their volunteer section on their website and create an account, then complete the new volunteer orientation online or in person. Once a MANNA team member confirms you have attended an orientation, you will be able to schedule your shifts using their online calendar. This is a great opportunity for those who have busy schedules since you have the freedom to pick when and how often you volunteer.
Volunteer drivers are also needed to deliver meals to clients. An average route time is 90 minutes, where you will drive to the homes of 4-6 clients and deliver their weekly meals directly to their doors. To become a driver, create an online profile, attend an in-person orientation, and complete a PA-state background clearance. This is a great way to get involved if the kitchen shifts don’t fit into your schedule.
MANNA will also host its 35th anniversary on September 25th at The Bellevue Hotel to celebrate 35 years of nourishing the community. Guests will enjoy delicious food and drinks as MANNA celebrates its history and growth. Tickets and sponsorships are both available on their website.
Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia
2025 Happening List Nominee – Charity
https://cancersupportphiladelphia.org/
Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia has a mission to ensure that no one goes through a cancer diagnosis alone. They provide social and emotional care, and their programs are free to members so that there is no barrier for anyone who needs cancer support. They have over 150 free programs to help support anyone who has been impacted by cancer, including Health & Wellness Programs, Counseling & Support, Children & Teens Programs, and more.
There are many ways to help out as a volunteer at one of their six locations. To apply, simply fill out the Google form on their website. Volunteers will also need to submit a criminal background check and a child abuse history clearance form. Cancer Support Community also has Special Skills Volunteer Opportunities, so be sure to include any special skills you have on your interest form, or e-mail them if you would like to propose a project.
For students looking to collaborate with a non-profit for school or personal projects, e-mail info@cancersupportphiladelphia.org with a description of your project to see if you’d be a good match.
Cancer Support Community also has many upcoming events. See below for a more in-depth description of a couple of these events, and be sure to check out their website for a full list.
Mahjong Boot Camp: This event is a three-day boot camp from September 16-18 where participants will learn how to play Mahjong from an instructor. Light snacks and drinks will be provided each night, and tickets are $125 for the full camp. All proceeds will go directly to Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia, so reserve your spot today.
Paws 4 Life Dog Walk: This event will take place on Saturday, October 4th, and is a 1-mile leisurely walk through Warminster Community Park. After the walk there will be music, food, giveaways, raffles, games, vendors, and dog contests with celebrity judges. Tickets are $30 a leash, so bring the entire family for a day of fun and support.
Philly Unknown Project
2025 Happening List Nominee – Charity
https://phillyunknownproject.org/
The Philly Unknown Project is a “Grass Roots Non-Profit That Provides Hand-to-Hand Outreach Through Several Methods.” Their goal is to bring cohesion to neighborhoods and communities that may have become neglected.
There are many ways to help out this organization, including initiative support, compassion bag prep, event help and more. Compassion bags serve as harm-reduction kits that contain t-shirts, socks, snacks, hygiene supplies and more to help people in need. To become a volunteer, fill out the form under the “Contact Us” section on their website to let them know how you would like to become involved.
The Philly Unknown Project has also created the Ruth Street Garden, a safe space for people to connect through the mural project, the garden and the community-based learning program. Volunteers are welcome, so be sure to e-mail PhillyUnknownProject@gmail.com for more information.
