April is a revered month in the city of Savannah for many reasons: the warm weather, beautiful greenery, and the fun, springtime festivals, just to name a few. Though there’s already enough reasons to love the month of April, there’s another lesser-known reason that makes the month even more special. In case you didn’t know, April is National Volunteer Month. It’s a time to appreciate volunteers and the spirit of volunteerism.
What better way to celebrate this momentous month than to highlight local non-profits that can use your help? Savannah is a tightly-knit community that thrives in part due to the generosity of its locals and tourists alike. Whether you’re a local who wants to get more involved in the community or a visitor interested in voluntourism, you’ve come to the right place. In no particular order, here’s a brief list of local nonprofits that can benefit from your helping hand. To be sure, this list is in no way exhaustive, so feel free to seek out volunteer opportunities with any local organization that resonates with you.
Old Savannah City Mission
Founded in 1997, the Old Savannah City Mission is a faith-based nonprofit that aims to help rehabilitate those struggling with homelessness and addiction. They provide a range of services including overnight shelter, meals, life skills training, and career training to those in need. The Old Savannah City Mission is staffed by a team of just seven individuals, and thus, relies on volunteers to achieve their mission. They have many volunteer opportunities available that range in scope. If you feel compelled by their mission, don’t hesitate to reach out to them at (912) 232-1979 or volunteer@oscm.org.
America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia
Feeding the hungry is the main mission at America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. Since 1981, the volunteer-driven nonprofit has been operating a food bank to help feed thousands throughout Coastal Georgia. In addition to the food bank, the organization offers several programs to address food insecurity in the area. These include Brown Bag for the Elderly, Kids Cafe, Mobile Food Pantry, and more. If you want to help eliminate hunger in the community, reach out to their Volunteer Coordinator, Aaron Barr, at (912) 721-1795 or abarr@helpendhunger.com.
Lindsey’s Place
Lindsey’s Place is a nonprofit organization that provides fun recreational programs for children and young adults with special needs. Founded in 2008, Lindsey’s Place is named for Lindsey Hart, a spirited young lady with cerebral palsy who unfortunately passed in 2021. Her story inspires the mission at Lindsey’s Place, which is to create a place where special needs can be met with dignity. They offer weekend retreats where campers can experience nature, play games, and make lifelong friendships. Lindsey’s Place is always looking for volunteer camp counselors, so if their mission speaks to you, go ahead and fill out the volunteer application, which you can find at http://lindseysplacecamp.com/staff-volunteers.
Hospice Savannah
Established in 1979, Hospice Savannah provides palliative care and end-of-life care to people struggling with serious illnesses. Helping people live and be comfortable is core to their mission. With several centers and units throughout Savannah, Hospice Savannah delivers essential services to those who are ill and their families. Parting with a loved one is never easy, and family members and patients can use your help. If you are moved by this mission, consider becoming a volunteer. Hospice Savannah provides free, comprehensive training to prepare you for your role. Visit https://www.hospicesavannah.org/volunteer-application/ to get started.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire
For families with critically-ill children who are hospitalized, finding a place to stay that’s close to the medical facilities can be daunting and expensive. That’s where Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire comes in. Established in 1987, RMHC is located just steps away from the Children’s Hospital at Memorial Health. They provide a home away from home for families dealing with a child’s health crisis. RMHC is always looking for volunteers to help care for families in the house and provide support for events. If you want to help comfort families and support RMHC’s mission, consider becoming a volunteer. Contact Programs Coordinator Stephanie Gendron at (912) 350-7641 or steph@rmhccoastalempire.org for more information.
P.A.C.K.
People of Action Caring for Kids, or P.A.C.K., is a local nonprofit led entirely by volunteers. What started out as a family project for Malena and Dudley Stone and their three boys has grown into an impactful nonprofit that delivers thousands of bags of food each month to hungry children throughout the community. In addition to food delivery, P.A.C.K. also provides toiletries, maintains a foster care closet at the local Division of Family & Children Services office, supports local schools with resources, provides care bags to children who are hospitalized, and more. Every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., P.A.C.K volunteers come together to prepare food bags for children in the community. There is no RSVP and all ages are welcome to participate.
Senior Citizens Inc.
Senior Citizens, Inc. traces its roots back to 1959 when founder Harley Morrison saw a need in his community. Many of his older acquaintances struggled to provide adequate nutrition for themselves. Morrison noticed this and took action, gathering a group of friends to take premade lunches for weekly delivery to 13 seniors in the community. From this humble beginning, Senior Citizens, Inc. has grown into a full-fledged 501c(3) nonprofit organization that provides a range of services to help local seniors. Some of these services include their meals-on-wheels delivery program, in-home care, companionship program, and aging life care among others. If you want to make a difference in the lives of local seniors, join their Senior Angels volunteer program. Email volunteer@seniorcitizens-inc.org for more information.
Coastal Pet Rescue
If you’re passionate about our furry friends, you might find your fit with Coastal Pet Rescue. Founded in 2003, Coastal Pet Rescue is a nonprofit rescue organization committed to saving the lives of homeless, neglected, and abused dogs and cats in the greater Savannah area. They have an adoption program, a foster home program, and a small capacity shelter, providing veterinary care and sterilization for animals that would otherwise be euthanized. Coastal Pet Rescue offers a variety of volunteer opportunities so that individuals and groups can get involved. You can make a difference in the lives of vulnerable animals. To get started, complete their volunteer application at https://coastalpetrescue.org/get-involved/volunteer-application.
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Savannah Tree Foundation
Since 1982, Savannah Tree Foundation has been dedicated to preserving Savannah’s beautiful trees and planting the trees of tomorrow. Savannah is celebrated for her moss-dripped oaks and stunning Magnolias, but many don’t know that the city’s trees are facing a number of urban and natural threats. Savannah Tree Foundation works hard to protect existing trees and cultivate an environment where future trees can thrive. If you care about nature and the environment, volunteering with this organization will be fulfilling.
Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Located on Savannah’s beach, Tybee Island Marine Science Center is all about educating the public about and preserving local marine life. They offer year-round programs to teach visitors about local ecology. The marine science center is always looking for volunteers to help protect local marine wildlife and provide educational programs. They have several volunteer opportunities available, and they provide in-depth training and a number of volunteer benefits. If you’re interested in volunteering with Tybee Island Marine Science Center, send an email to ike@tybeemarinescience.org for more information.
Have a rewarding volunteer experience you’d like us to highlight this month? Email us at happenings@connectsavannah.com and use VOLUNTEER in the subject line.
