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Maybe you have some extra time on your hands, or maybe you’re just in the giving spirit. All we know is there are more than enough great causes in the Tampa Bay area to support with your time.
Whether you’re an animal lover, an artsy type, a natural mentor, or a healthcare enthusiast — there’s a volunteer opportunity near you. Here are more than 25 ways to get involved around TBAY.
If you love the outdoors
- Keep Pinellas Beautiful | Sign up for cleanup oppotunities at spots like Clearwater Beach and the Intracoastal, take part in a garden workday, become an ambassador, or join the Adopt-a-Mile program.
- Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful | Take part in the annual After Gasparilla Clean Up, Great Port Clean Up, or Hillsborough River Coastal Clean Up as a volunteer.
- Tampa Bay Estuary Program | Clean and restore parks in our area by removing exotic vegetation and creating living shorelines.
- Tampa Bay Watch | Build oyster reef balls, clean up fishing lines, plant native species, or help with outreach events — view the volunteer event calendar to sign up.
- Tampa Bay Waterkeeper | Become an outreach and education ambassador, help patrol water quality, or sign up for one-off opportunities.
Natural-born teachers and mentors
- First Tee Tampa Bay | Grow the game of golf and help introduce youngsters to the course with summer camp programs.
- Hero to a Child | Spend 10-15 hours a month caring for children in need in Pinellas County.
- We Care Family Connections | Help create safe and secure home environments for kids by becoming a Foster Parent.
- YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg | Coach a team, tutor kids, or assist with events.
- Dress for Success Tampa Bay | Empower local women by providing career coaching, helping create interview outfits, sorting inventory, or doing admin work.
Support the vulnerable
- Crisis Center of Tampa Bay | Listen, support, and connect with people who could use a friend or community. Some volunteer opportunities will require an application, background check, and training.
- IDEA Exchange | Reduce the spread of harmful diseases among the vulnerable by providing clean syringes in exchange for used ones. Volunteers must apply and undergo orientation first.
- NAMI | Help individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness via a variety of volunteer opportunities ranging from administrative support to facilitating support groups.
- The Life Center of the Suncoast | Help via monetary donation by mail, by check, or by QR code.
IDEA Exchange uses a harm reduction philosphy.
Photo via IDEA Exchange
If you’re an animal lover
- Friends of Strays Animal Shelter | In the new year, sign up to become a volunteer and dedicate at least six hours each month to dog walking, cat care, housekeeping, and more.
- SPCA Tampa Bay | Commit three hours per week to become an SPCA volunteer after completing online registration requirements.
- The Humane Society of Tampa Bay | Assist as a long-term or short-term volunteer to handle animals, adoptions, animal education, and special events, or get a group together for group volunteering.
For the old souls
- Senior Connection Center | Keep an eye on the center’s press releases for upcoming volunteer opportunities to help provide a range of services to older adults.
- Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay Inc. | Volunteers ages 55+ can find both in-person and remote volunteer opportunities in the community via this organization.
For the handy individuals
- Habitat for Humanity Hillsborough County | Volunteer on one of the organization’s construction sites or in its ReStore — choose from individual or group opportunities.
- Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside | First-time volunteers can attend the Nuts & Bolts orientation class every first Thursday of the month from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay | Fill out a volunteer interest form and help with home repair assistance, or become a partner to donate services + sponsor home repair projects, supply boxes, and education workshops.
Help build homes for local families via Habitat for Humanities’ Hillsborough County or Tampa Bay Gulfside organizations. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Supporters of veterans
- First Contact | Find housing for vets, navigate child care and benefits programs, and provide health and wellness services — volunteers must be at least 18 years old and pass a Level 2 Background Check in the state of Florida.
- Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative | Help make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Hillsborough County. View upcoming volunteer opportunities online.
If you want to help your neighbors in need
- Home Makers of Hope | Volunteer for pickups, home visits, warehouse duties, or donate some of your household goods to families struggling with poverty.
- Meals on Wheels of Tampa | Drive delivery routes and provide your neighbors with a hot meal + positive interaction.
- Reach St. Pete | Use your special skills — such as IT, finance, or marketing — to volunteer, or sign up for an event from the organization’s volunteer calendar.
- United Way Suncoast | Become a volunteer to help United Way’s mission of dismantling the barriers to human prosperity.
- Feeding Tampa Bay | Volunteer at the warehouse or help distribute meals at the Groceries on the Go truck.
City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa
