Maybe you have some extra time on your hands, or maybe you’re just in the giving spirit. All we know is there are more than enough great causes in Columbia to support with your time. Whether you’re an animal lover, an artsy type, a natural mentor, or a healthcare enthusiast — there’s a nearby volunteer opportunity for you. Here are ~40 ways to get involved in Soda City.
Natural-born teachers and mentors
Girls on the Run Columbia | Inspire girls to strengthen confidence and other important life skills. Sign up to become a coach and guide a team through the curriculum.
Big Homie Lil Homie | Become a mentor and build strong, trusting relationships, positive attitudes, and life skills through mentoring and enriching life experiences. You must be able to spend at least one hour with your mentee each month.
Transitions Homeless Center | Serve a meal or lead a class to help clients learn practical skills like budgeting and applying for jobs or recreational activities like art, fitness, and hobbies.
Epworth Children’s Home | Become a cottage partner and provide caring relationships with groups of children.
If the holidays are your favorite time of the year
Harvest Hope | Help feed families during the holidays by volunteering for the crisis pantry or organizing a food drive.
Families Helping Families | Sponsor a family, disabled adult, or senior citizen and help provide those in need with food, clothing, and holiday gifts.
Epworth Children’s Home | Volunteer or donate to “Christmas with Epworth” — an annual drive for community members to fill the holiday wishes of children at Epworth.
Supporters of veterans
Soldiers Angels | Volunteer opportunities range from a few hours a month to as frequent as your schedule allows, and this organization uses volunteer matching. See a full list of volunteer options.
South Carolina USO | Connect service members to family, home, and country. Welcome visitors, talk with someone over a cup of coffee, or provide a free phone call to a loved one.
Midlands Blue Star Mothers | Support this organization made primarily of mothers of military members by making a donation or helping with a drive.
If you live and breathe Columbia
Columbia Museum of Art | Help instill a love for the arts by facilitating art experiences, providing customer service, supporting administrative tasks, and more.
Historic Columbia | Support fun + educational events, work as an interpretive guide, host walking tour guides, and more.
Serve & Connect | Fill out a form to find an opportunity to help the organization’s mission to help police and citizens work together as one community.
If you want to be there for abuse victims
Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center | Help children feel safe + comfortable, or make a donation to the wish list.
Pathways to Healing | Volunteer in the office, become an advocate for the organization, or become a crisis hotline worker.
Sistercare | Sistercare helps people identify and leave abusive relationships. Participate in a community training event, volunteer, or donate something from its wish list.
If you have a passion for supporting members in the disabled community
Able SC | Whether as a Travel Ambassador, Travel Navigator, Volunteer Driver, or Office Volunteer, your skills are needed.
Special Olympics of SC | Whether you want to volunteer for a single day’s event, several hours a week, or year-round, there are plenty of opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others.
Family Connection South Carolina | Help out at events + conferences, complete office tasks, or assist with parent support groups.
Self-proclaimed bibliophiles
Richland Library | Donate your time and skills to one of the library’s many locations around the Midlands.
Midlands Reading Consortium | Give 30 minutes a week to assist a striving reader throughout the school year.
If you want to stay in your home
United Cerebral Palsy of SC | Support programs and services for this organization offering day service + residential support for people living with developmental disabilities.
American Red Cross | Assist in areas like disaster services, fundraising, and recruitment.
American Cancer Society | You can support fundraising events and advocate for cancer survivors remotely, help out in person at an event, or become a driver.
Family Connection South Carolina | Explore virtual volunteering opportunities and make a positive impact on the lives of those with disabilities and special healthcare needs.
If you’re a mental health advocate
National Alliance on Mental Illness | You can support those experiencing mental illness by leading a support group, sharing your story as a presenter, or assisting in other areas like outreach, events, recruiting, social media, graphic design, and more.
Mental Illness Recovery Center, Inc. | MIRCI creates pathways to recovery for individuals who are experiencing or at risk of mental illness + homelessness. It also offers committee opportunities to find the best fit for you to give back.
If you’re an animal lover
Riverbanks Zoo | Local volunteers contribute more than 23,000 hours to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden annually. Find the requirements to volunteer, here.
Reach out to local animal shelters to donate, foster, love on animals, and adopt:
Animal Mission | Animal Mission is a local nonprofit that provides free or low-cost spaying or neutering services to help prevent euthanasia in local municipal shelters. See seven local shelters you can adopt from.
City of Columbia Animal Services| Adoptable pets are priced at $35 each, with ongoing special promotions throughout the year — adoption fees are $17 until Sunday, March 17 for St. Patrick’s Day. Follow its Facebook page for the latest adoption promotions and featured pets.
Final Victory Rescue| Looking to adopt or foster? Read through its pre-adoption info and the adoption process, or apply to become a foster family.
Homeward Bound Pet Rescue | Homeward Bound Pet Rescue is a local, all-volunteer, 501c3 nonprofit committed to saving the lives of stray animals in the Midlands.
Pawmetto Lifeline | Pawmetto Lifeline offers a low-cost Wellness Clinic, a Care-a-Van mobile vaccine clinic, and a low-cost Spay/Neuter Clinic. See its event lineup and get involved.
PETSinc | PETSinc offers veterinary services, grooming, training, and even has a thrift store located at 1217 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia that supports its mission. See available cats and dogs.
9 Lives Cat Rescue | 9 Lives Cat Rescue hosts an adoption event every Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Belladonnas Gifts (3800 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia)
The outdoorsy types
Congaree Riverkeeper | Participate in river sweeps throughout the year + learn how your daily practices affect our rivers.
Foodshare South Carolina | Lend a hand to pack food boxes or coordinate deliveries.
Keep the Midlands Beautiful | Keep Cola’s roads clean by adopting a highway, street, or waterway + helping on clean-up days throughout the year.
