Welcome to Metropolitan Charities

Volunteer Opportunities

We encourage you to check this page often as we update our volunteer needs list often.

Volunteer Receptionists - help to leverage staff time and keep the busy Metro office running smoothly by answering phones and referring calls, greeting and assisting visitors to the office, and other projects as time and interest allow. This volunteer position requires a friendly, compassionate individual with great customer service skills and good phone demeanor while working with clients and visitors with diverse backgrounds. We will train you on our phone system and other office systems and provide reference materials to assist in answering questions. We offer occasional treats with everlasting admiration and gratitude for your devoted volunteer services. Time commitments: 4 hour shifts (9AM – 1PM or 1PM -5PM), at least one day per week; 6 months minimum commitment preferred.

Metro Thrift Store - Customer Service & Sales Floor – We need great personalities that can greet our customers and assist them if they need any help. Offer our thanks to them for supporting our efforts by shopping in the stores. Assist with unloading donations that customers drop off and placing them in the donation bins. Give donors a completed tax receipt. Assist with keeping the store organized and clean. Hanging new clothes onto racks rotating older merchandise to sale racks. Ensure that clothes are arranged neatly and that all have a price tag. Assist with cleaning shelves and arranging items on shelves. Assist with polishing furniture and arranging it so that it compliments the items for sale. Help with re-merchandising the store to ensure maximum space for newly donated merchandise. Time commitments: 4 hour shifts (9AM – 1PM or 1PM -5PM), at least one day per week; 6 months minimum commitment preferred.

Volunteer Donation Drives – Metro Thrift Store is actively seeking businesses, churches, social clubs and other various community groups to help collect donations to support the store. We need help in contacting decision-makers of these groups and coordinating these donation drives. Or if you would like to start your own donation drive through your community group, we are happy to offer assistance (and possibly recruit volunteers if needed).

Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator & Assistant - Metro Charities is seeking a volunteer to help recruit and schedule Metro volunteers as needed to assist in our various programs and special events. Responsibilities include recruitment, scheduling, training and volunteer supervision.

This volunteer position has flexible hours based on your schedule. You can work in the Metro Charities office one or two days a week for a few hours or from the convenience of your home. This position is a great opportunity for volunteer management and non-profit experience. Credit for Service Learning hours also applies. Time commitments: 4 hour shifts (9AM – 1PM or 1PM -5PM), at least one day per week; 6 months minimum commitment preferred.

Office Assistants - Assist the development department with a variety of office projects. Responsibilities include filing, simple data entry, and maintenance of mailing list, mailings, and responding to inquiries. Ideal volunteers will have general computer and typing skills. Time commitments: 4 hour shifts (9AM – 1PM or 1PM -5PM), at least one day per week; 6 months minimum commitment preferred.

Business Development Writing Assistants - Assist with writing personal thank you notes to donors or creating business letters to help communicate our message to potential donors/sponsors. Ideal volunteers will have experience with Microsoft Suite software applications and typing skills. Time commitments: 4 hour shifts (9AM – 1PM or 1PM -5PM), at least one day per week; 6 months minimum commitment preferred.

Development Newsletter Assistants/Writers - Research and write articles for Metro Charities quarterly newsletter. Assist with layout of newsletter. Drop off and pick up newsletter from printer. Prefer volunteers experienced with newsletters, newspaper or magazine. This is also an excellent volunteer opportunity for individuals seeking experience in communications and public relations. Volunteers are able to work from home and attend weekly or monthly newsletter feedback meetings at the St Pete Metro Charities office location.

Edit & Proofread Assistant - Review website & printed materials for grammatical errors. Provide feedback on content or suggestions for additional information. Excellent written communication skills a must. Volunteer from home or here at the Metro Charities office one or two days per week.

Special Events / Fundraising -Do you enjoy party planning and entertaining? Do you like the glamour of gala events? Want to turn dinner out with friends or a night at the bar into a fundraising extravaganza?

Help out during a fundraiser for Metro Charities. The volunteer opportunities of our special events department are endless! You can serve on a steering committee that brainstorms and develops event plans while creating ways to attract business sponsorships and donations to help produce the event.

Or you can choose the “hands-on” approach of providing assistance during the actual event production to include assisting in set-up, selling raffle tickets, silent auction assistant, clean-up and so much more. We particularly need help in selling tickets, hanging flyers and making phone calls to help promote the event and drum up silent auction donations.

*Steering Committee (Planning Committee) Qualifications:

Be available to meet and participate in monthly (sometimes more) steering committee meetings.
Excellent organizational and communication skills
Creativity and problem-solving skills
Previous event planning/logistics experience helpful, but not required.
Sensitivity to HIV-related needs and concerns
Excellent interpersonal skills, especially the ability to work with culturally diverse staff and volunteers including HIV+, gay, lesbian people and people of various ethnicities.

*Steering Committee will meet monthly and delegate responsibilities within the committee. This volunteer opportunity typically requires about 4 to 6 hours of time weekly. Preference goes to individuals that offer a one year commitment to help plan events from start to finish.

**Special Event Volunteer Qualifications:

Must be reliable and able to stand on your feet for 2 -3 hours at a time.
Outgoing and friendly personality.
Sensitivity & confidentiality to HIV-related needs and concerns
Excellent interpersonal skills, especially the ability to work with culturally diverse staff and volunteers including HIV+, gay, lesbian people and people of various ethnicities.

**Events take place throughout the year, so volunteer time varies by event size and need. We plan ahead, so you will have ample notice to event date.

What you get:

Great opportunities to meet new people, help plan fabulous parties, and see the results of your work almost immediately. Additionally, all Metro Charities volunteers are invited to special volunteer events throughout the year.

How this Position Helps:

The money raised at fundraising events allows us to continue to provide innovative and targeted programs and services of the HIV-affected, GLBT and other at–risk communities.

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Volunteer Opportunities