Top 5 Volunteer Centers In Houston

Volunteers of America Texas is a volunteer organization that’s been around since the 1800s. Since then, they’ve helped more than 11,000 people in Texas. 

This specific volunteer center caters to more vulnerable sectors, such as veterans, homeless people, those with developmental disabilities, and more. 

During our volunteer work, we appreciated how they emphasized the different programs they have for veterans. These include homeless reintegration, counseling services, and more. 

We also appreciated how they cater to so many different communities. 

There were two notable projects they had that stood out the most. These were community re-entry for individuals released from prison and treatment and recovery for those who struggled with addiction. 

If you’re unsure of what community you want to cater to, going to Volunteers of America Texas will really help in showcasing different projects you can join and the different people you can help.

A downside to the experience is that the workload can be extremely heavy. Many times, your co-volunteers will be new to the site and the experience so you can expect work days to be a lot longer.

Also, don’t expect that you’ll be matched with your specific skill set. Unless you’re willing to wait for certain programs to take place, you’ll likely end up doing a different type of job than you expect.

Regardless, we still love how there are so many different communities being cared for by Volunteers of America Texas. 

Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston is a volunteer organization that brings people of different faiths together through volunteer work. 

This non-profit organization was established back in 1964 and now has over 100,000 active volunteers who contribute to their efforts.

They also have a wide array of programs, including Meals on Wheels, Refugee Services, Interfaith Relations, and more. 

The service of theirs that really stood out the most was their feeding program that not only caters to people but to pets as well.

For their Meals on Wheels and Animeals program, they deliver food to over 5,000 homebound seniors and adults with disabilities. On top of that, pets of seniors also get free pet food.

This is perfect for those who are passionate about animal care as they don’t have to look for additional places to volunteer. 

There are also a wide array of volunteer programs you can take part in. Some of these include faith tours, women’s gathering steering committees, congregational disaster preparedness, and more.

A downside to the entire volunteer experience was how disorganized the coordinators were. Many times, you’re given wrong directions or you’re informed that they no longer need extra volunteers even if they do. 

You’re also required to attend an orientation every month, which is not the most convenient especially for those who don’t have a lot of spare time.

Overall, we’re still happy with how Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston has a program for animals along with many other programs you can volunteer in. 

Houston Food Bank was founded back in 1982. They’re a member of the U.S. food bank network named Feeding America.

This non-profit organization focuses on the problem of food insecurity. They distribute nonperishables, meals, meat, and fresh produce to thousands of individuals each week. 

During our volunteer experience, we were impressed at how expansive their food programs were. Even if they only focus on hunger relief, they have a lot of unique and creative programs that help a lot of different people and facilities.

Our favorite program has to be the Backpack Buddy program which provides children at risk with child-friendly food to take home over the weekend.

Aside from the typical programs that you expect from non-profit organizations, they also have special involvement groups. You can participate in different events and activities while supporting the food bank.

Fitness for hunger is one of the special involvement groups where you can finish a run while also raising money for the food bank.

A downside to the volunteer experience is that the work environment is quite hectic. They cater to so many people, which is why everyone is always on the go at the center.

There’s also no parking in their main compound, so you’ll have to find parking elsewhere. 

However, if you’re really interested in the unique programs that they offer, Houston Food Bank is a great volunteer option.

Project Cure Houston Distribution Center is a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to providing medical supplies and equipment to developing countries all over the world.

The organization was founded back in 1987 and is now the largest distributor in the world. They have shipped over 2,401 containers, served 135 countries, and have over 146,000 annual volunteer hours.

What we really like about them is that they have many volunteer opportunities. You can be a warehouse volunteer, help in laboratory experiments, be a driver of donated equipment, and more.

There are opportunities for all kinds of people. You’re able to help out as long as you’re over 15 years old.

If their set shift hours don’t work for you, you also have the option to choose your own hours. This is perfect for those who don’t have a lot of flexibility in time.

You can also volunteer individually or in big groups. They’re better able to cater to larger groups for warehouse volunteers, but they can squeeze you into other departments too.

A small downside is that their office is closed on weekends so you can only communicate with them during the week.

Also, not all of their facilities are handicap friendly so make sure to call in to check which sites you can volunteer at. 

Overall, if you’re looking for a great medicine-based volunteer center then Project Cure Houston Distribution Center is the way to go. 

Kids’ Meals has been around since 2006. Their programs are dedicated to delivering thousands and thousands of healthy meals to hungry children each day. 

They focus on children under the age of 5 who face hunger due to poverty.

What we truly love about Kids’ Meals is how they have so many volunteer opportunities you can choose from. Not just that, many of them are creative activities that you can do in your own home.

A notable activity is bag decorating where you can design the brown lunch bags that they’ll be filling with food and delivering to children. This is a perfect volunteer activity for all ages. 

What also makes this organization unique is how kids can also volunteer. Just take note that they must be supervised by an adult if they’re under 18. 

They’re also extremely transparent in the progress of their initiatives. We really like how they have impact reports, audits, and form 990s for each year available on their website for everyone to view. 

Do take note that they’re closed on weekends, so you’ll only be able to volunteer during the week. They’ve also got pretty busy staff, which is quite understandable as they have to fulfill so many tasks each day.

Overall, if you’re looking for a volunteer center where you can bring your kids then Kids’ Meals is the place for you.