Do you want to make a difference but don’t have a lot of time? Check out the volunteer opportunities below! 

AgeWell Rides

Transport older adults who cannot drive to medical appointments, grocery stores, volunteer and social events.

This requires a minimum commitment of one ride a month. 

AgeWell Visits

Visit with older adults to help them stay connected with their communities through activities like playing cards or sharing stories.

This requires a minimum commitment of one visit a month. 

Interpretation and translations

Provide interpretation for Cultural Orientation sessions, translate department flyers, scripts and flashcards.

This volunteer opportunity is short-term and you can meet with the individual in person or virtually.

Host a food drive

Get your whole community involved and host a food drive for the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry. Our team will provide you with the list of food items to collect and marketing materials to support your drive.

This is a one time commitment, however you are welcome to do more. 

Tabling

Do you love talking and networking with community members? Volunteer to help us at tabling events!

To apply for any of these opportunities, click here.

Create meaningful change through these volunteer roles.

Shopping, stocking, and bag building at the pantry

Shift volunteers help on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. Help us unload, organize shelves, stock food, guide clients through their pantry shop, explain food options to clients, and weigh their groceries before they leave.

This volunteer opportunity is a long-term commitment with weekly shifts lasting 2-3 hours. 

Teach Microsoft and Outlook workshops

Volunteers will teach participants how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook software programs. Teaching materials are provided.

This is a long-term commitment teaching workshops 1-3 times a month.

Citizenship test preparation

Help individuals prepare for their citizenship test. After a short training from JFCS, you’ll be able to walk them through the test questions, common answers, and paperwork.

This volunteer opportunity is case dependent, which typically takes 2 – 3 months. You meet on a weekly basis either in person or virtually. Proficiency in a second language is helpful. 

Pro-bono Attorneys Licensed to Practice in PA

Represent clients seeking immigration legal assistance through Special Immigrant Juvenile requests, T-Visa filings, VAWA claims, U-Visa filings, and more. Some experience is helpful for these volunteers though it is not required.

This volunteer opportunity is case dependent, which ranges from 2 weeks – 6 months.

**Court and legal documents translations and interpretation

Help individuals translate and interpret their legal documents.

This volunteer opportunity is case dependent, which ranges from 2 weeks – 6 months.

Immigrant family or individual mentorship

Work closely with a refugee individual or family to help them meet specific goals, such as learning to identify important mail, becoming more familiar with their new neighborhood, navigating American health care systems, and other ways to help them integrate in their new community.

This volunteer opportunity is long-term and requires weekly meetings for 6 months.

To apply, click here.

Bridge Builders

Mentor and enrich the lives of youth, immigrants and refugees as a part of the after-school program! It is designed to ease the adjustment period for new arrivals by helping them with literacy building activities, practice with conversational English, mentoring, homework assistance, physical activities, and community service.

• Bridge Builders Level 1 (Family-Based Mentoring): You are matched with a child or sibling group for weekly mentoring.
• Bridge Builders Level 2 (Group Program Support): Work with Bridge Builder staff during after school programming in a local school or library.

This volunteer opportunity lasts a semester or full year with weekly programming lasting 1-2 hours. 

412Futures

412 Futures is a program for immigrant teens ages 14 to 22. We serve anyone in the Allegheny County area who is looking to explore career and post secondary options. Volunteers, in conjunction with Youth Specialists, will help teens with English acquisition, homework, soft skills, prepare for interviews, and apply for higher education or technical schools. Our mission is to prepare these young adults for life after high school and help them build the skills necessary for success.

This volunteer opportunity lasts a semester or full year with weekly programming lasting 2 hours. 

Looking for a meaningful way to bring your employees, family, or friends together? Volunteer as a group and make a real difference—while building stronger bonds and strengthening communities!

Create a welcome home team

Form a team of volunteers who will be asked to provide specific items for a family. The items can be gently used or purchased brand new (some items such as bedding must be brand new). Once the items are collected deliver to the JFCS office or directly to a client and help them set up the items.

Get a group together to volunteer at the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry

Form a team of volunteers to unload food trucks, organize and stock food, and create emergency bags. 

Host a food drive

Get your whole community involved and host a food drive for the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry. Our team will provide you with the list of food items to collect and marketing materials to support your drive.

Tabling

Do you love talking and networking with community members? Volunteer to help us at tabling events!

As Needed Tasks 

These tasks come up a few times a month. Examples include helping clients get State IDs, teaching clients how to get to the food pantry, assisting with cultural orientation sessions, organize donations, pick up or drop off donations, and various administrative tasks.

Interested? Click here to get started. 

Older Adult Services

AgeWell Rides

Transport older adults who cannot drive to medical appointments, grocery stores, volunteer and social events.

This requires a minimum commitment of one ride a month. 

AgeWell Visits

Visit with older adults to help them stay connected with their communities through activities like playing cards or sharing stories.

This requires a minimum commitment of one visit a month. 

Click here to learn more & apply

Refugee & Immigrant Services

Family or individual mentorship

Work closely with a refugee individual or family to help them meet specific goals, such as learning to identify important mail, becoming more familiar with their new neighborhood, navigating American health care systems, etc.

This volunteer opportunity is long-term and requires one meet up a week for 6 months.

English practice

Meet with an individual on a regular basis practicing English. Tutors will be given ESL resources to assist with planning sessions.

This volunteer opportunity is ??????

Interpretation and translation

Provide interpretation for Cultural Orientation sessions, translate department flyers, scripts for cultural orientation or flashcards.

This volunteer opportunity is short-term and you can meet with the individual in person or virtually. 

Welcome home teams

Form a team of volunteers who will be asked to provide specific items for a family. The items can be gently used or purchased brand new (some items such as bedding must be brand new). Once the items are collected deliver to the JFCS office or directly to a client and help them set up the items.

Click here to learn more & apply

 

Immigration Legal

Citizenship test preparation

Help individuals prepare for their citizenship test. After a short training from JFCS, you’ll be able to walk them through the test questions, common answers, and paperwork.

Court and legal document translations

Help individuals translate and interpret their legal documents.

Pro-bono

Represent clients seeking immigration relief through Special Immigrant Juvenile requests, T-Visa filings, VAWA claims, U-Visa filings, and others. Some experience is helpful for these volunteers though it is not required.

Help collect and submit paperwork

Help clients collect necessary documents related to prior arrests, convictions, removal actions, etc.

All of these volunteer opportunities time commitments are case dependent, which typically takes 2 weeks – 6 months. 

Click here to learn more & apply

Career Services

Teach Microsoft and Outlook workshops

Volunteers will teach participants how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook software programs.

This is a long-term commitment teaching workshops 1-3 times a month. 

Click here to learn more & apply

Youth Services

Bridge Builders

Mentor and enrich the lives of youth, immigrants and refugees as a part of the after-school program! It is designed to ease the adjustment period for new arrivals by helping them with literacy building activities, practice with conversational English, mentoring, homework assistance, physical activities, and community service.

This volunteer opportunity lasts a semester or full year with weekly programming lasting 1-2 hours. 

412Futures

412 Futures is a program for Refugee and Immigrant teens ages 14 to 22. We serve anyone in the Allegheny County area who is looking to explore career and post secondary options. Teens can expect to work with a Youth Specialist on anything from- English acquisition, homework, soft skills, and prepare for interviews and entering college. Our mission is to prepare teens for life after high school and help them build the skills necessary for success.

This volunteer opportunity lasts a semester or full year with weekly programming lasting 2 hours. 

Click here to learn more & apply

JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry

Shopping, stocking, and bag building

Shift volunteers sign up to help us with this on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. Help us unload, organize and stock food, guide clients through their pantry shop, explain food options to clients, and weigh out their groceries before they leave.

This volunteer opportunity is a long-term commitment with weekly shifts lasting 2-3 hours. 

Group volunteering

Form a team of volunteers to unload food trucks, organize and stock food, and create emergency bags. 

This volunteer opportunity is a one time commitment with a shift lasting 2-3 hours, however your group is welcome back. 

Food drives

Get your whole community involved and host a food drive. Our team will provide you with the list of items to collect and marketing materials.

This is a one time commitment, however you are welcome to do more. 

Click here to learn more & apply