• Serving in our community

    Consider giving your time and talents in our community. Use this list of community organizations to start brainstorming about how you can make a difference.
     

    Parks and recreation

    City of Coon Rapids
    11000 Crooked Lake Blvd - Coon Rapids, MN 55433
    Opportunities include: Park clean up and basic maintenance.
    Action step: Email Gregg Engle at engle@coonrapidsmn.gov or call 763-767-6552.
     
    Three Rivers Park District
    Various Locations
    Opportunities include: Invasive plant control, education, animal care, scouts, and special events.
    Action step: Call 763-559-6706, email volunteer@threeriversparks.org or visit www.threeriversparks.org/page/volunteer.
     
    Springbrook Nature Center
    100 85th Ave. N.W. - Fridley, MN 55432 
    Opportunities include: Publicity, land management, events, birding, animal care, and office assistant.
    Action step: www.springbrooknaturecenter.org/ or call 763-572-3588.

     

    Arts and Entertainment

    Lyric Arts Main Street Stage
    420 East Main Street - Anoka, MN 55303
    Opportunities include: Set building, office work, costuming, ticket sales and more. For more opportunities visit www.lyricarts.org/volunteering.
    Action step: Contact Matt McNabb at 763-422-1838 or volunteer@lyricarts.org.

     

    Community involvement

    Anoka County Brotherhood Council
    2615 9th Ave N. - Anoka, MN 55303
    Opportunities include: Sorting clothing, cleaning or straightening shelves, and helping store crew during client time.
    Action step: Visit www.acbcfoodshelf.org or call 763-422-0046.

    Anoka County Community Action Program (ACCAP)
    1201 89th Ave Suite 345 – Blaine, MN 55434
    Opportunities include: Help with the planning and set-up of seasonal activities, office work, helping to interpret a foreign language for parents/staff, volunteering in a classroom, reading to and with children; supervising playground, assisting on field trips.
    Action step: Visit www.accap.org/get-involved or call 763-783-4747. 

     
    Anoka County Libraries
    Crooked Lake Library
    11440 Crooked Lake Blvd.  
    Coon Rapids, MN 55433
    Phone: 763- 576-5972
    Northtown Library
    711 County Rd 10 NE
    Blaine, MN 55434
    Phone: 763-717-3267

    Opportunities include: Helping the librarian prepare for story time, and cleaning books and shelves.
    Action step: Call the Youth Services Librarian at the branch you wish to serve at.
     
    Anoka County Historical Society
    2135 3rd Avenue North - Anoka, MN 55303
    Opportunities include: Hunting through newspapers for relevant articles, creating digital records for searchable database, assisting in the fabrication of a history exhibit, assisting genealogist experts, teaching a history program, and interviewing individuals in the community.
    Action step: Visit www.anokacountyhistory.org/volunteer/ or call 763-421-0600.
     
    City of Coon Rapids (Recycling program)
    1831 111th Avenue - Coon Rapids, MN 55433
    Opportunities include: Assisting with collection during normal collection hours, doing basic office work, assisting during special events and assisting with special projects.
    Action step: Call Colleen Sinclair at 763-767-6485 or email csinclair@coonrapidsmn.gov.

    CEAP
    1201 89th Ave NE, Suite 130 - Blaine, MN 55434
    Opportunities include: Packing food orders, stocking shelves, and receiving food donations.
    Action step: Visit www.ceap.com/volunteer, email volunteer@ceap.com or call 763-450-3679.

    Hope For Youth
    Anoka
    Opportunities include: Organizing donations and basic cleaning.
    Action step: Visit www.hope4youthmn.org/volunteer, call 763-323-2066 or email volunteer@hope4youthmn.org

    Feed My Starving Children
    401 93rd Ave - Coon Rapids, MN 55433. Phone: 763-951-7306
    Opportunities include: Packing dry nutritional meals.
    Action step: Visit www.fmsc.org/volunteer 
     
    Loaves and Fishes
    Various locations across the Twin Cities including, Coon Rapids and Brooklyn Center.
    Opportunities include: Clean-up, serving meals, and cooking.
    Action step: Visit www.loavesandfishesmn.org/volunteer.html to sign up.
     
    North Anoka County Emergency Foodshelf, Inc. (N.A.C.E.)
    18511 Hwy 65 NE, Suite 200 - East Bethel, MN 55011
    Opportunities include: Working with clients, weighing food, sorting food and clothing, restocking shelves, front desk, social media/website updates, fundraising/events.
    Action step: Contact Colleen Young at 763-434-7685 or email assistant@nacefoodshelf.org

    People Serving People
    614 South Third Street - Minneapolis, MN 55415
    Opportunities include: Serving free meals and building beautification.
    Action step: Contact Tom Golembeck at TGolembeck@peopleservingpeople.org or 612-277-0216.

    Sharing and Caring Hands
    525 North Seventh Street - Minneapolis, MN 55405
    Opportunities include: Assisting in children’s playroom, and serving meals.
    Action step: Call 612-338-4640

    Southern Anoka Community Assistance (SACA)
    627 38th Ave NE - Minneapolis, MN 55421
    Opportunities include: Working with the Emergency Food Program, distributing seasonal items and working with special events and programs.
    Action step: Call 763-789-244.

    Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
    1954 University Ave W - St. Paul, MN 55104
    Opportunities include: Home repairs, construction, restoration, fundraisers.
    Action step: Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@tchabitat.org or 612-305-7114.

    Twin Cities Teen Court
    Opportunities include: Serving as a jury member or member of the court room staff.
    Action step: Contact Laura Garvey at laura.garvey@twincitiesteencourt.com.

    Volunteering with seniors and older adults

    Camilia Rose Care Center
    11800 Xeon Blvd. NW - Coon Rapids, MN 55448
    Opportunities include: Visiting, game assistant, reading, letter writing, manicures, and more.
    Action step: Contact Taylor Van Deburgh at taylorv@camiliarose.com or 763-489-3626

    Coon Rapids Senior Center
    11800 Xeon Blvd. NW - Coon Rapids, MN 55448
    Opportunities include: Visiting, game assistant, reading, letter writing, manicures, office work and more.
    Action step: Contact Kris Neibler at kniebler@coonrapidsmn.gov or 763-767-6489.
     

    Volunteering with people with disabilities

    Special Olympics Minnesota
    100 Washington Avenue South, Suite 550 - Minneapolis, MN 55401
    Opportunities include: Visit www.specialolympicsminnesota.org/who-we-are/volunteers/ for details.
    Action step: Contact Jay Pederson at 612-604-1267 or jay.pedersen@somn.org.

    Long-term volunteer opportunities

    Animal Humane Society
    1411 Main St. N.W. Coon Rapids, MN 55448
    Opportunities include: Providing basic care of animals including feeding and walking.
    Action step: Visit www.animalhumanesociety.org/.
    Note: A commitment of one year, including twice monthly and 10 hours of initial training.

    Mercy Hospital
    4050 Coon Rapids Blvd. - Coon Rapids, MN 55433
    Opportunities include: Patient Care, Guest Services and Support Services.
    Action Step: Visit www.allinahealth.org/ and click on Give/Volunteer or call 763-236-8011.

    Note: Requires a 6 month commitment and 2 shifts per month.

    Unity Hospital
    550 Osborne Road - Fridley, MN 55432
    Opportunities include: Patient Care, Guest Services and Support Services.
    Action step: Visit www.allinahealth.org/ and click on Give/Volunteer or call 763-236-3011.
    Note: Requires a 6 month commitment with 2 shifts per month.