Volunteer Home
PLEASE NOTE: Immediate needs exist at the following organizations:
Berks Encore - Volunteers are needed to do the grocery shopping and deliver the groceries to the homes of individuals age 50 or over who have difficulty getting to a grocery store or doing their own grocery shopping. Volunteers must possess a current Pennsylvania driver's license, automobile insurance coverage and a clean DMV record. Please contact Rita Phillips 610-374-3195 X225 or rphillips@berksencore.org
The Children’s Home of Reading - Volunteers are needed to spread the word for the need of foster families (resource parents) either through their social network or by making phone calls and leaving a message. The number of children at risk is growing and they need help recruiting foster families. Please contact Jill Troutman at jtroutman@choreading.org or 610-479-8266 X435.
Co-County Wellness Services is seeking volunteer Contact Tracers to support the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health, and specifically Berks County, to perform COVID-19 contact tracing. The aim of this work will be to call the contacts of identified COVID-19 positive cases. Volunteers are asked to make a 3 month commitment for approximately 8 hours per week. Please click here for further details and qualifications. Contact Barb Waller ccws1@cocounty.org
Habitat For Humanity of Berks Restore – Volunteers are needed to assist with sorting donations, stocking shelves and waiting on customers Wednesday to Sunday from 1-6 PM. ReStore is located at 5370 Allentown Pike, Temple. Contact Eneida Powell eneidap@habitatberks.org or 610-621-0011.
Hope Rescue Mission - Although they are not allowing volunteers in the building at this time, they are allowing meals made outside of the facility to be donated if people are interested. They are feeding between 160-180 men breakfast, lunch and dinner. Please contact Jayme Eenigenburg at volunteer@hopeforreading.org
New Journey Community Outreach - Two volunteers are needed daily to make sandwiches and pack lunch bags. Also 2 volunteers are needed to fill the brown paper bags with canned and boxed food items for Pantry Day. No exposure to the public. Please contact Denise Harner, Food Program Coordinator at 610-375-3310 for available days and times.
Additionally, two adult volunteers are needed on either Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday mornings anytime between 9 and 12:30 PM to pack up winter clothing in tubs and hang summer items in lower level clothing pantry. Parking is available behind the building. Please contact Sue Krall at 610-375-2662 or skrall@njcoinc.org.
Miller-Keystone Blood Center - Blood supplies are critically low. Contact 1-800-223-6667 or visit www.giveapint.org
Olivet Boys and Girls Club needs volunteers at the following locations to assist with tallying the participants at their food/meal distributions. Bilingual volunteers helpful. Personal protective items will be provided. Please contact Abby Frost at 610-223-7203 or Abigail.Frost@olivetbgc.org
Monday through Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. - 339 S Kenhorst Blvd. Reading
Thursdays, 4-6 p.m. – Pendora Park Club – 330 S 19th St., Reading and Oakbrook Club – 1161 Pershing Blvd., Reading
Fridays, 4-6 p.m. – Clinton St. Club – 677 Clinton St., Reading, Mulberry St. Club – 722 Mulberry St., Reading and PAL Club – 325 Walnut St. Reading
United Way of Berks County continues to work closely with community agencies by helping to recruit volunteers. However, some agencies are struggling with mandated closures and their volunteer opportunities may be on hold. If you are able to volunteer, please contact the agency to confirm they are open and are accepting volunteers. Some opportunities such as packing lunches and Meals on Wheels are active and need volunteers.
Want to Volunteer?
Looking for Volunteers?
Local Wish Lists
Some orgnaizations are experiencing immediate needs during the COVID-19 crisis. Their lists are noted in RED. To see the local wish lists, visit the link below.
Ready.Set.READ!
Early literacy is key to future success in life. Help kids in our community become better readers by volunteering with Ready.Set.READ! Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions.
Tips for Volunteering
Unsure of where to begin? Check out some tips on how to find the right volunteer opportunity for you.
FIND A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
United Way's Volunteer Center links individuals and groups to community service and volunteer opportunities throughout Berks County. To get started, click the "search" button above. If you need assistance, please contact Darby Wiekrykas at darbyw@uwberks.org or 610-685-4574.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
Would you like to learn more about volunteer issues or how to recruit, retain and recognize volunteers? Do you want ideas on how to develop a volunteer program or how to target special volunteer groups for a volunteering opportunity? If so, come to one of the FREE Volunteer Center Networking Sessions.
Networking session topics include Orientation to the UWBC Volunteer Center and Volunteer Solutions, Volunteer Recruitment, Volunteer Retention, Volunteer Recognition, Targeting Special Volunteer Groups, Volunteer Program Development/Implementation Assistance, and Social Media
The sessions will also provide networking opportunities with other organizations who are involved with volunteerism efforts. Feel free to bring ideas, suggestions and any other information that may be relevant to the specific topic of the networking session.
Please email Darby Wiekrykas or call her at (610) 685-4574 regarding specific dates and times for sessions or for more information.
