Local Volunteer Opportunities

Are you interested in volunteering in your community? Visit one of our community partners to learn about opportunities and find contact information.

AccentCare Hospice
AccentCare strives to provide excellence in end-of-life care for patients and families. AccentCare has developed several specialty roles, which allow volunteers to utilize their own strengths and interests. This offers a meaningful and rewarding volunteer experience, and enhances the quality of life for our patients and families.
Learn More at https://www.accentcare.com/volunteer/

Alzheimer’s Association
Volunteers are the key to making a difference in the lives of people facing Alzheimer’s and dementia. When you volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association, you join a network of passionate people who are working to fight this devastating disease, honor loved ones, and bring care and support to those who need it.
Learn More at https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/volunteer

Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA)*
BACA is an arts & cultural organization that seeks to offer arts related activities for the community. We also maintain a large art gallery at 1004 Main St, on the Branford Green.
Learn more at https://branfordarts.org

Branford Community Television (BCTV)
BCTV, Branford Community Television, serves the scenic shoreline town of Branford, Connecticut. We provide or oversee local public access, governmental and educational programming on three channels for cable television subscribers in our community of 28,000 residents. BCTV maintains studio and editing facilities at 40 Kirkham St. (Basement), Branford.
Learn more at https://www.branfordtv.org

Branford Conservation and Environment Commission*
The Branford Conservation and Environment Commission serves to protect our town’s natural resources. The Commission provides an advisory role for the care and management of Branford Town open space properties. Additionally, the Commission provides recommendations to the Board of Selectmen and the Representative Town Meeting regarding environmental and conservation matters and the impact that various kinds of development have on our town’s environment.
Learn more at https://www.branford-ct.gov/boards-commissions-committees/conservation-environment-commission

Branford Food Pantry
Every week, the Branford Food Pantry serves neighbors without jobs or who have reduced hours, the elderly living on Social Security, single parents, people with disabilities, and the working poor. They all seek help to make it from day to day; help that might enable them to pay their rent or heating bill, or simply have a nutritious meal. The mission of the Branford Food Pantry is to provide groceries for Branford residents in need.
Learn more at https://branfordfoodpantry.org

Branford Historical Society
The mission of the Branford Historical Society is to discover and preserve the​ history of Branford, Connecticut by the acquisition and preservation of artifacts, documents, and records of Branford provenance, ​and to actively promote Branford’s history to the community.
Learn more at https://branfordhistoricalsociety.org

Branford Land Trust*
The Land Trust protects open space in Branford, and encourages citizens to explore the open areas and trails and learn more about our environment.
Learn more at https://branfordlandtrust.org

Branford Microfund
The Branford Microfund is a non-profit organization offering interest free loans to individuals and families who encounter unexpected financial obstacles. Our philosophy is to “pay it forward” – when a loan recipient repays a loan, the money becomes available to help another person in need.
Learn More at https://www.branfordmicrofund.org/how-to-help

Compassus Hospice
Compassus Hospice provides end-of-life care and support to patients and their families. Our team practices a person-centered approach, offering holistic care to meet the unique and specific needs of every patient and their loved ones.
Learn More at https://www.compassus.com/volunteers/

Community Dining Room*
The Community Dining Room in Branford is a local non-profit seeking to provide meals and community for families and individuals from Guilford to East Haven. We accept volunteers of all ages, anyone under the age of 16 does require a guardian present, and under the age of 18 needs a parental consent form signed.
Learn more at https://www.communitydiningroom.org/

Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library*
The Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library is a 501c3 charity supporting the Blackstone Library through a variety of fundraising activities including an annual book sale, online book sales, and other activities. All money raised through various fund-raisers minus operating expenses is donated to the library. We  sponsor lectures and programs and provide funds for special programming, particularly for the Youth Services Department, as well as funds for the purchase of equipment for the library, museum passes, movies, concerts, furniture, and plantings for the library ground.
Learn more at https://www.blackstonelibrary.org/friends

Hospice Program of Yale New Haven Health at Home
For more than a century, VNA Community Healthcare & Hospice has been an integral part of the fabric of the central Connecticut shoreline, from East Haven to Old Saybrook and the surrounding communities. Our service area has expanded and now includes Hamden, North Haven, Woodbridge and all of Greater New Haven county.
Learn More at https://www.ynhhs.org/home-healthcare/about/volunteer

Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS)
Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) is a non-profit agency whose mission is to help refugees and other displaced people establish new lives, strengthen hope, and contribute to the vitality of Connecticut’s communities. Welcoming persecuted people from other countries is America’s most noble tradition. IRIS helps newcomers on the road to self-sufficiency by providing lifesaving support during their transition to life in the United States.
Learn more at https://irisct.org

Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers  of Greater New Haven*
Interfaith Volunteers help seniors (60+) in New Haven County. Programs include medical rides, Durable Medical Equipment community loan program, Diapers for Dignity, Food Force (groceries and Thanksgiving meals), and the CT Garden Collaborative to elevate social cohesion.
Learn more at http://www.carenewhaven.org

Knights of Columbus Council 10
Charity is the foremost important principle for the 2 million members worldwide of the Knights of Columbus. Charitable activities include fundraising to feed the hungry and clothe the poor, providing aid for victims of natural disasters, and helping those with intellectual and physical disabilities. One of the largest recipients of aid has been the Special Olympics, where the Knights have been involved since the very first games in 1968.
Learn more at http://branfordkofc.org

Legacy Theatre*
The Legacy Theatre is a professional theatre company that enhances the Connecticut Shoreline’s economy, educational opportunities, and quality of life through live theatre and related programs. The Legacy strives to be a premiere Arts house and to ensure ongoing seasons of uplifting, inspiring, and challenging professional theatre and theatre training for all.
Learn more at https://www.legacytheatrect.org

Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven
Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven (LVGNH) envisions a future in which the power of literacy enables all adults to thrive in their communities. Our mission is to foster partnerships with adult learners, tutors, and communities that enable individuals and families to achieve educational, career, and quality of life goals. We provide free tutoring to help adults improve speaking, reading and writing English. Volunteers tutor these adult students year-round in locations where they live and work.
Learn more at https://lvagnh.org/volunteer

New Haven Reads*
Founded to share the joy and power of reading, New Haven Reads partners with the community to provide free one-on-one tutoring, educational family support, and a book bank to empower aspiring readers to master the literacy skills needed to thrive in school and life.
Learn more at https://newhavenreads.org

Read to Grow*
Read to Grow’s mission is to promote language skills and literacy for children, beginning at birth, and to support families as their babies’ first teachers. Since 2000, we have distributed more than 2.6 million children’s books to children and families across Connecticut through our three programs: Books for Babies, Books for Kids, Early Steps to School Success and our Bookmobile.
Learn More at https://readtogrow.org/how-you-can-help/

Rotary Club of Branford*
The Rotary Club of Branford is a service organization helping meet local, regional and international needs.
Learn More at https://www.branfordrotary.org/

Shoreline Greenway Trail*
Shoreline Greenway Trail promotes the development and maintenance of a bicycle and pedestrian path from Hammonsasset Beach State Park through East Haven, connecting with the New Haven trail system at Morris Creek.
Learn more at https://shorelinegreenwaytrail.org

Shoreline Medical Volunteer Corps
Housed at East Shore District Health Department, the SMRC is part of a national network of local groups of volunteers engaging local communities to strengthen public health, reduce vulnerability, build resilience, and improve preparedness, response and recovery capabilities.
Learn more at https://www.esdhd.org/Emergency/Volunteers

Shoreline Village*
We support and empower seniors who choose to age at home independently and continue to be engaged in the life of their wider community.
Learn More at https://www.shorelinevillagect.org/

Trinity Church Creation Care Team*
Our group has helped introduce more sustainable practices at Trinity and provided weekly tips on sustainable living. We are potentially interested in starting a Repair Café.
Learn More at https://www.trinitybranford.org/ministries/earthkeepers.html

Women and Families Center
The Women and Families Center Sexual Assault Crisis Services is committed to promoting equity and improving quality of life through services that foster empowerment and independence. We offer a 24-hour hotline in English and Spanish for victims and survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones, as well as short term counseling and advocacy for victims and survivors.
Learn More at https://womenfamilies.org/volunteering-to-wfc/

 

* = Organizations that accept volunteers under 18