For the Albany, NY area, here are websites that list volunteer opportunities and connect volunteers with local organizations.

• 

  United to Volunteer

  A local/regional directory provided by United Way of the Greater Capital Region.

  Help

• Engage UAlbany

  A local/regional directory provided by the University at Albany for students seeking to volunteer.

• Serve Albany

  A Facebook group to foster collaboration between nonprofits, community leaders, and volunteers seeking the good of Albany, NY.

Often prominent organzations rely on their widespread recognition rather than posting on volunteer recruiting websites.

Many communities have local service clubs that offer community engagement opportunities, such as Rotary Clubs.

• Albany Rotary Club NY

  We are your neighbors. A diverse group of business leaders who connect to create a positive impact on the local and global community.

• Lion's Club of Albany-Troy

  Our mission is to empower Lions clubs, volunteers and partners to improve health and wellbeing, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian service and grants that impact lives globally, and encourage peace and international understanding. And we fulfill it every day, everywhere we serve.

Many communities rely on grassroots and informal networks to meet urgent needs. There may be opportunities to get involved through mutual aid networks, food distribution efforts, neighborhood action teams, or other groups that aren’t often listed on volunteer platforms.

• We Are Revolutionary

  We are a grassroots organization committed to addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by empowering entire families to engage in the political process. We believe that by becoming peer advocates, families can come together to solve issues impacting their communities, strengthening both their bonds and their ability to create meaningful change. We also prioritize healing, recognizing that families must heal in order to thrive and advocate effectively.

• Citizen Action of New York

  Citizen Action of New York is a statewide grassroots membership organization taking on big issues that are at the center of transforming society—issues that will achieve social, racial, economic and environmental justice in our communities.

• Grassroot Givers

  Grassroot Givers creates opportunities for individuals and families who are experiencing poverty in the Albany, New York, area by providing access to books, clothing, and home essentials.

• 518 Freestore

  We fundamentally believe marginalized individuals deserve dignified, culturally-conscious access to basic necessities outside of historically harmful institutions. We work to de-stigmatize need by emphasizing capitalism as the sole perpetrator of poverty, food apartheid, and other lethal hardships of marginalized peoples. Through this lens we provide a safe and autonomous alternative to traditional direct service programs. We conclude that class, gender, and racial justice can only be achieved through the collective elevation of action-driven politics.

• Albany FNB

  Albany Food Not Bombs provides free meals and personal care products to community members every Monday starting 5pm at the Albany Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave.

  The 3 Principles of Food Not Bombs:

  1. Always vegan or vegetarian and free to everyone

  2. Each chapter is independent and autonomous and makes decisions using the consensus process

  3. Food Not Bombs is not a charity and is dedicated to nonviolent social change

• Sycamore Collaborative

  <p>The Sycamore Collaborative is dedicated to providing healthy food and a sense of community for those without access to those most basic needs.</p>