RIVERBEND - It’s time to get a jump on those New Year’s resolutions! If you’re feeling the reason for the season and want to help out your community in 2026, keep reading. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in the Riverbend region that might be a great fit for you.
Alton Main Street — Alton- Alton Main Street organizes several events and programs in downtown Alton. They need volunteers to help at the Alton Farmers Market, Mississippi Earthtones Festival, Downtown Chili Cookoff and other events throughout the year, including gardening and clean-up efforts.
Alton Pride — Alton
- This nonprofit organizes the LGBTQ+ pride festival every September in Alton, for which they need volunteers. They also offer scholarships and complete various drives throughout the year to support the community.
Alzheimer’s Association — St. Louis- The Alzheimer’s Association works to end Alzheimer’s. They need volunteers to help with events, advocate for Alzheimer’s research, and educate community members. There are in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities available.
Best Buddies — St. Louis- The Best Buddies program matches up people with and without developmental/intellectual disabilities. Most people volunteer to be part of a one-on-one friendship, but the program also sponsors integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living opportunities.
Beverly Farm — Godfrey- Beverly Farm is a home for individuals with developmental disabilities. They’re looking for volunteers to fill a variety of roles within the organization, but mostly to serve as friends and supporters to their residents. They need folks to volunteer at their resale shop, help with administrative tasks, complete simple maintenance tasks, and more.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America — Belleville- If you’re interested in working one-on-one with a child, this program might be for you. Sign up to be a Big, and you’ll be matched with a kid who you will support for several years as a friend and mentor. This volunteer opportunity is pretty customizable depending on what you and your Little enjoy.
Boys and Girls Club — Alton- The Boys and Girls Club of Alton could always use help with after-school and summer programming, and they also accept volunteers to help keep up the facility or plan special events. The Alton branch is one of many nearby branches in the Greater St. Louis area, so you can find the club near you where you can help out.
Great Rivers CASA — Jerseyville- A CASA, or court-appointed special advocate, works one-on-one with a child to support them and/or speak on their behalf in court. CASAs are often the one constant in a child’s life and guide them through the legal process, advocating for their best interests based on conversations with the child. CASAs receive 36 hours of specialized training and ongoing support. They are asked to commit to the child for the entire court case.
Community Hope Center — Cottage Hills- This faith-based organization provides food, clothing and other resources to community members throughout the Riverbend. They need help stocking shelves, organizing donations, cleaning, groundskeeping, and more. Groups are also welcome to volunteer.
Crisis Food Center — Alton- Located in downtown Alton, the Crisis Food Center has no income or residency requirements for those it helps, which means the volunteers stay busy! They need volunteers to organize and operate the pantry every week.
Faith Coalition — Edwardsville- This faith-based organization helps seniors with home repair projects, connects community members with furniture donations, provides food for unhoused neighbors, and more. You can contact them or click here for more information about how you can help.
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois — Glen Carbon- The Girl Scouts are always looking for volunteers to support their scouts. Whether you want to lead a troop, help out at events, or get involved some other way, all you need is a passion for helping others. Learn more about becoming a volunteer here
Glen-Ed Pantry — Edwardsville- This food pantry needs help year-round to feed neighbors in the Metro East area. Seasonal events, food drives and day-to-day service all call for volunteers to help organize and distribute food, work the resale shop, and more.
Got Faith? — Jerseyville- This organization has several resources available for community members. They need volunteers to help with all of their initiatives, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays to organize their food pantry and clothes closet. Call 1-415-4-HUNGER for more information.
Happy Hooves Equine Rescue — Edwardsville- This horse rescue has no paid staff and operates solely with volunteers. They need volunteers to help with daily horse chores in addition to events and special programs. Volunteers must be 18 or older.
Hope Animal Rescues — Godfrey- This dog rescue takes in dogs the day before they are to be euthanized. They’re looking for volunteers ages 18 and older to clean out the space and spend time with dogs, starting at 8:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday.
Jersey Community Hospital Foundation/Jersey Community Hospital Auxiliary — Jerseyville- The Jersey Community Hospital Foundation and Jersey Community Hospital Auxiliary organizations support Jersey Community Hospital. Volunteers are needed to run their gift shop and Hope Chest Resale Shop, which donates its profits to the hospital.
Kellsie’s Hope Foundation — Maryville- This organization funds gifts and trips for children with cancer. They need volunteers for their many events throughout the year, all of which fundraise to provide more opportunities for kids. Check out all of their programs, events and chances to get involved at KellsiesHopeFoundation.com
Legendary Mustang Sanctuary— Edwardsville- Legendary Mustang Sanctuary rescues horses and helps them heal from abuse. They need volunteers to help with their horse chores and other work.
Article continues after sponsor message
Main Street Community Center — Edwardsville- This organization needs hundreds of volunteers to complete their programming, from delivering meals to helping with transportation and several other activities that assist elderly community members. Find out more information about how to volunteer online or call 618-656-0300.
Metro East Every Survivor Counts — Wood River- This nonprofit supports survivors of sexual violence. They need volunteers for programming and donation processing, but they are also looking for medical advocates. These advocates work directly with survivors to provide emotional support, answer questions, explain legal rights and options, and advocate for survivors during medical exams. Training is provided.
Metro Trans Umbrella Group — St. Louis- Metro Trans Umbrella Group offers resources to transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals throughout the Metro East region. They need volunteers to operate their food pantry and clothing closet, facilitate support groups, and more.
National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) Southwestern Illinois — Wood River- Volunteers are needed to lead training programs, provide educational presentations and outreach, lead support groups, and more. The Southwestern Illinois chapter covers ten counties in our region, so wherever you are located, they can pair you with a volunteer opportunity. There is also a NAMI chapter in St. Louis.
Nature Preserve Foundation — Edwardsville- The Nature Preserve Foundation has several volunteer opportunities at the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville. They have monthly Restoration Days that require hands-on help, and there are multiple committees that volunteers can join to keep the foundation running.
Nurses for Newborns — St. Louis- This organization supports the families of special needs, premature and high-risk newborns. They need volunteers to organize donations, prepare for events, and make sure families have the resources they need to support their infants.
Overnight Warming Location — Alton, Edwardsville and Granite City- The Overnight Warming Location opens overnight when temperatures are at or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Unhoused community members can have dinner, take a shower, spend the night and have breakfast in the warmth of a church. They need volunteers to serve meals and monitor the church overnight. There are locations in Alton, Edwardsville and Granite City.
Pride, Incorporated — Alton/Godfrey
- This organization is focused on beautification. They need volunteers to help with gardening and litter clean-up year-round, but especially during the spring, summer and fall.
Rebuilding Together — Southwestern Illinois- Do you like building and hands-on projects? This organization builds wheelchair ramps, decks, fences and more for veterans and senior citizens in the community. They could use volunteers to help with these home modification projects year-round.
Restore Décor — Edwardsville- You can volunteer to help paint or restore gently-used furniture. The items are then sold at Restore Décor in Edwardsville, and proceeds go to local families in need. Sign up to volunteer or donate online.
Riverbend Family Ministries — Wood River- Riverbend Family Ministries is a collective of organizations based in Wood River, and they’re specifically looking for volunteers to support unhoused community members through their Client Service Department. They can also connect you to more volunteer opportunities within their organizations. Training is provided.
Sacred Spaces of CARE — Alton- This organization helps individuals dealing with substance use or mental health challenges. They also work with unhoused community members and collaborate with the Alton Police Department to support people in crisis. They’re looking for volunteers with lived experience or backgrounds in social work, law enforcement and other related fields to help with programming and peer support.
Salvation Army — Alton- The Salvation Army in Alton has several volunteer opportunities available, from helping with office and custodial work to serving as a volunteer with the youth and social services programs, including the food pantry. You can find volunteer opportunities online or call them at 618-465-7764. During the holidays, they’re also looking for people to ring bells for their Red Kettle campaign; sign up here
Senior Services Plus — Alton- Senior Services Plus serves seniors through a variety of programs. Seniors can volunteer as a Foster Grandparent through SSP, or you can donate to contribute to their Meals on Wheels program. Other opportunities are available; contact SSP to learn more.
Sierra Club: Piasa Palisades Chapter — Alton- The Sierra Club is well-known for their initiatives to support native wildlife and protect the environment. Locally, they have various volunteer opportunities to further their mission, from managing their web content to advocating for environmental and social justice.
Southwestern Pack-a-Sack — Brighton- This organization meets once a month to pack bags with extra food for Southwestern Community Unit School District #9 students to take home on weekends and holiday breaks. They need donations and help packing every month.
St. Louis Area Foodbank— St. Louis- This foodbank provides food to community members across the region. They need volunteers to help with distribution events, sorting donations, and more. Ongoing or one-time volunteer opportunities are available, and groups are welcome.
TWIGS for Kids — Granite City- TWIGS packs up food for students to take home during the weekends and summer months, among other initiatives. They are always looking for donations; learn more at TWIGSForKids.com/pack-a-sack
United Way of Greater St. Louis — St. Louis- United Way offers food, shelter and other resources to underprivileged community members throughout the Metro East. They consistently need volunteers and donations.
YWCA of Southern Illinois — Alton- The YWCA offers several programs for kids and adults in the area. They need volunteers to run the front desk and assist with events. They also have a Child Enrichment Program, which provides childcare to local families. Learn more here
5A’s Animal Shelter — Alton- This shelter is constantly looking for volunteers to help organize the building and care for the animals. They ask that you call them at 618-466-3702 to schedule an interview.
Do you know of another local volunteer opportunity that we’ve missed? Email sydney@riverbender.com with more information to get your organization included on our list.
Copyright 2026 Riverbender.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More like this:
Sponsored by Michael Ryan Exteriors - Roofing Professionals