Josh Lehman said an important first step for volunteering in the Akron area is finding an organization that aligns with your interests.
That’s when mentoring, offering skills and lending a hand gets interesting — in a good way.
“Once you identify that, you’re gonna have so much more fun, be so much more excited and so much more engaged with that nonprofit,” said Lehman, the president of Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio. He worked in the personal finance field before joining the national organization a decade ago.
Without volunteers, Lehman’s organization couldn’t have impacted more than 30,000 students across 16 counties during the 2024-25 school year, including pupils in Akron-area schools.
It’s no wonder organizations love it when supporters write checks; but they really get excited when residents and visitors volunteer time for everything from sharing details about animals with Akron Zoo visitors and tree planting in Summit Metro Parks to sorting, packing and distributing food at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and reading to patients at Akron Children’s Hospital.
What other local organizations could use a hand? Below, you’ll find mentorship and other volunteer opportunities in Akron. And you can read more of Signal Akron’s previous reporting on volunteering in the Rubber City here.
Non-mentorship volunteer opportunities in Akron
Akron Children’s Museum runs its annual Hands-On Holiday event Dec. 6-7. Volunteers can sign up for 2- to 4-hour shifts here.
The East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp. enlists volunteers to help with local beautification projects, including a Winter Wonderland event on Dec. 6.
Akron Snow Angels provides warm clothes, warm meals and plenty of compassion to the city’s unhoused population. The organization is always searching for volunteers. Learn more here.
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is by far the largest organization providing food to families in need, and it can never have enough volunteers. Sign up here.
The Hower House Museum at the University of Akron offers lots of volunteer opportunities for interested residents. The museum provides training for most of the positions.
The Akron Symphony Orchestra also takes volunteers to help with various tasks within the organization. Learn more here.
Bright Star Books provides children’s reading books to Akron families, and it’s always looking for help with book drives.
Mobile Meals provides home-delivered meals to low-income, elderly and disabled individuals in Summit, Cuyahoga and Portage counties. You can learn more and apply to volunteer here.
The Autism Society of Greater Akron has plenty of ways residents can volunteer, from playing games with families to assisting with large annual events. You can learn more here.
Keep Akron Beautiful is always looking for volunteers to help its beautifying mission. Learn more here.
Keep Akron Beautiful is always looking for volunteers to help its beautifying mission. Learn more here.
Happy Trails Thrift Shop, which is a part of the local Humane Society, is always looking for volunteers. Its store is located in the Akron neighborhood of Merriman Valley. You can learn more about volunteering here.
The Kenmore FreeStore is another local shop; one that offers items without a price tag. It’s often in need of volunteers.
Camp Quality Ohio is a little outside of Summit County, but its mission is so pure we’d be remiss not to include it. The camp offers activities, including camping, to children with cancer, as well as their families. Learn how to volunteer here.
Mentorship opportunities in Akron and Summit County
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a national organization with a strong presence in Summit County. It’s always looking for volunteers, including opportunities for high school students to mentor elementary and middle schoolers. Learn more here.
South Street Ministries is an Akron nonprofit that offers a bevy of community services, several of which involve youth mentorship. If you’re a hooper, you can volunteer as a basketball referee, mentor or player during open gyms. You can also volunteer to help youth repair bikes in a bike shop. The organization also offers weekly reading and academic mentorship opportunities through year-round enrichment programs.
Akron Youth Mentorship offers exactly what its name states: mentorship for Akron’s youth. Interested adults can apply here, and there are additional opportunities for those who want to tutor or serve meals.
iC.A.R.E. Mentoring is an organization operated through Red Oak Behavioral Health that matches volunteer mentors with youth to empower them to find success in the classroom and life. Find out more about the opportunity here.
Goodwill operates a mentorship program for college students looking to help disabled folks with vocational work. Additionally, the organization is always looking for extra hands to process its donations.
Students With A Goal is an emerging local nonprofit that helps students with tutoring and mentorship. It offers a variety of volunteer opportunities that you can check out here.