Opportunities From: Volunteers of America Minnesota and Wisconsin

Volunteers play a vital role in helping the Elder Connections team build meaningful community connections and provide reassurance and support to older adults living independently in the community. Volunteers help ensure that social events and celebrations are welcoming, successful, and enjoyable, while also offering ongoing connection and follow-up to reduce social isolation. Volunteers may choose one or more opportunities below based on their interests, skills, and availability.

Event Volunteer: Event Volunteers assist with social events and celebrations designed to increase social interaction and reduce isolation among older adults. These events provide opportunities for connection, joy, and community engagement.

Reassurance and Follow-Up Volunteer: Reassurance and Follow-Up Volunteers provide supportive phone calls to clients or interested community members following outreach events and activities. This role Page 2 of 3 focuses on listening, offering reassurance, and sharing information and resources as guided by staff.

The Elder Connections Community Support Volunteer provides a variety of services designed to assist older adults living in the community so they can remain in their own homes as long as possible while receiving reliable support and essential resources. Volunteers are thoughtfully matched with older adults by VOA staff based on individual needs and the volunteer’s skills, interests, and availability. A VOA staff member will accompany volunteers during the initial meeting to ensure a supportive and comfortable introduction.

Community Support Volunteers work closely with the Elder Connections Director and program staff to assist with food access, donation coordination, and basic resource support.

Chore Services Volunteers provide practical, hands-on assistance to help ease the day-to-day responsibilities of older adults living independently in their own homes. By assisting with household and outdoor tasks, volunteers help older adults maintain safety, comfort, and independence, allowing them to remain in their homes longer. Volunteers are thoughtfully matched with older adults by VOA staff based on individual needs and the volunteer’s skills, interests, and availability. A VOA staff member will accompany volunteers during the initial meeting with the individual to ensure a comfortable and supportive introduction. This opportunity is also well-suited for volunteer groups. Volunteers under age 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult and submit a signed guardian waiver. Many participants live near one another, allowing volunteers to support multiple neighbors within the same block or area.

Chore Services Volunteers assist with practical household and outdoor tasks, including: • Snow removal • Lawn mowing • Raking and removing leaves • Moving heavy household items • Light cleaning and general household support Tasks are carefully matched to ensure safety, comfort, and appropriateness for both the volunteer and the older adult.

The people who walk through the front door of Amicus have often just navigated something hard. They may be recently released, looking for help, or just trying to figure out their next step. The first person they encounter matters.
As a Front Desk Volunteer, you are that person. You greet people with warmth, answer the phone with care, and help keep things running smoothly so that Amicus staff can focus on direct service. This role is flexible, low-pressure, and genuinely important.

What You Will Do

What We Ask Of You

What You Do Not Need

We will show you what you need to know.

Who This Is For
Anyone who is organized, dependable, or genuinely glad to see people when they walk in the door. People with lived experience of the justice system are welcomed and valued.

Why Volunteer?

Think about one person in your life who showed up for you when it mattered. Who called, who came, who stayed. That kind of presence changes people. It changed you. That is exactly what a One to One community friend offers. A real, consistent friendship for someone who is incarcerated and will eventually be returning home from prison. Not therapy. Not case management. Just a friend in the community who keeps showing up.

What You Will Do

What We Ask of You

What We Provide

Who This Is For

Anyone 18 or older who believes people deserve a second chance and is willing to show up consistently for someone who needs a friend. People with lived experience of the criminal legal system are especially welcomed and valued. Must have transportation. There are no experience or educational requirements for volunteering. We will prepare you. You bring yourself.

Outreach and Event Volunteer

The volunteer will assist the Caregiver Support and Dementia Services team at public events like health fairs, community events, and outreach events. The purpose of these events is to raise awareness about dementia, related conditions, and family caregiving.

Here are a few of our upcoming events:

June 6, Saturday, 7 am to 11 am: Family Health

June 19, Friday, 4 pm to 9 pm: Twin Cities Jazz Festival

June 20, Saturday, 12 pm to 9 pm: Twin Cities Jazz Festival

June 25, Friday, 11 am to 4 pm: Hallie Q. Brown Wellness Fair

July 17, Saturday, 12 pm to 7 pm: Rondo Days

July 25, Saturday 11 am to 3 pm, Color of Cancer

Check back often for updates. All shifts can be divided into 2 hour shifts.

Chore Services Volunteer 

Volunteers will support caregivers with the Caregiver Support and Dementia Services team. The volunteers will complete various chores to relieve the caregiver. VOA staff will match the volunteers with caregivers depending on chores needed and volunteer skills and interest. They will then accompany the volunteer to meet with the caregiver/family.

This is also an excellent opportunity for volunteer groups. Groups of people younger than 18 need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. They also require a signed waiver from their legal guardian.

Reassurance and Follow-Up Volunteer

The volunteer will make reassurance or follow-up calls to caregivers and/or clients. The volunteer will listen to clients and provide them with contacts and resources as needed.

The Health and Nursing Volunteer will provide educational health services and basic screening services like blood pressure checks, memory screens, glucose testing and lipid testing. They may also provide education on most common chronic health conditions for clients and staff.

Ambassador/Planner

The volunteer will assist the Caregiver Support and Dementia Services team by representing the team’s and VOA’s mission on social media and at events. They will utilize their skills to plan and communicate about events.

Volunteer will support caregivers with the Caregiver Support and Dementia Services. The volunteer will visit with clients and provide companionship for people who are living with dementia under the direction of the caregiver and with support from program staff. The volunteer may also provide companionship to the caregiver if desired. Both services may provide some needed respite for the caregiver.