Opportunities From: United Way of Bartholomew County Volunteer Site

Are you a passionate photographer looking for a way to give back to your community?

United Way of Bartholomew County is seeking volunteer photographers to capture the energy and impact of our Day of Caring projects throughout the county!

Date: Friday, May 15, 2026

Location: Various project sites across Bartholomew County (location assignments will be shared prior to the event)

Shifts Available: 7:45AM – 11:45AM • 11:45AM – 3:45 PM

Requirements:

Volunteer photographers should plan to spend at least 15 to 30 minutes at each site capturing a variety of images.

Your photos will help United Way tell the story of community impact and be used in marketing and communications materials showing the incredible difference volunteers make.

United Way of Bartholomew County is excited to partner with Versiti to host a blood drive during Day of Caring: Blood, Sweat, and Cheers!—and we’d love for you to be part of it!

By donating blood, you can double your impact for the day!

If you’re unable to participate in a traditional volunteer project, this is a meaningful and lifesaving way to give back to our community. Even better, the blood collected stays local—supporting patients at Columbus Regional Health.

As a thank-you, all blood donors will:

Schedule you're donation appointment here:
https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11634324

Why it matters:

Your donation can truly save lives—right here in our community. Join us and make your Day of Caring: Blood, Sweat, and Cheers! count in a powerful way!

Looking to make a visible impact in just a few hours? Join us at the Columbus Fellowship Club for a hands-on day of simple repairs and outdoor cleanup that will help keep this important community space welcoming and well-maintained.

What You’ll Be Doing:

No experience needed! Whether you're handy or just happy to help, there’s a role for everyone.

Bring your energy, wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little messy, and come ready to make a difference!

Help us give our busy food pantry a much-needed refresh! With the high volume of use, our shelves are ready for some extra care. We’re looking for a team of volunteers to roll up their sleeves and assist with deep cleaning and repainting the pantry shelves to create a cleaner, brighter, and more welcoming space for the community we serve.

No experience needed—just a willingness to help! All tools and supplies will be provided. Come make a visible impact and be part of transforming a vital resource for our neighbors

We’re looking for two volunteers to help clear weeds and tidy up around our outdoor storage shed. Your efforts will help keep the area safe, accessible, and looking great for everyone we serve.

All tools will be provided—just bring your energy and willingness to help! A little outdoor work goes a long way in supporting our mission and making a big difference

Family School Partners is seeking volunteers to help us digitize important documents in order to free up space for our day-to-day supplies. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys a calm, focused environment—you’ll be working in an office setting, turning paper files into organized digital records.

Your efforts will make a big difference in helping us stay efficient and better serve our community.

Come lend a hand and help us make room for what matters most!

A “Weed Wrangle” is an event that bring volunteers together to remove invasive plants that are negatively impacting our public spaces. During these events, community members learn to identify and control invasive plants which are causing harm to our native plant communities. By engaging our community members, we foster a collective effort to have a substantial positive impact for our native plants, pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

During a Weed Wrangle Indiana® you will not only learn about plants, wildlife and how to manage invasive plants, but will also join a national effort to positively impact our communities. And it’s fun! Each event is a rewarding opportunity to work together locally to celebrate and protect our cherished green spaces and natural areas!

This Weed Wrangle will be at Blackwell Park. Use this address in your GPS: 1682 Whitney Court, Columbus, IN 47203.

Continue down Whitney Court until you hit the parking lot.

Join Us for Mulch Mania and Planting Palooza!

Get ready to dig in and make a difference at our Columbus Youth Camp!

We’re bringing the community together for a fun, hands-on day of spreading mulch, beautifying green spaces, planting trees, and caring for our environment. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or just looking to give back, this is a great way to get involved, meet new people, and enjoy the outdoors.

What to expect:

What to bring:

Let’s turn mulch into magic and put new roots in the ground—together!

Join Us for Mulch Mania and Planting Palooza!

Get ready to dig in and make a difference at our Columbus Youth Camp!

We’re bringing the community together for a fun, hands-on day of spreading mulch, beautifying green spaces, planting trees, and caring for our environment. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or just looking to give back, this is a great way to get involved, meet new people, and enjoy the outdoors.

What to expect:

What to bring:

Let’s turn mulch into magic and put new roots in the ground—together!

Ready to roll up your sleeves and make a visible difference in just one day? Thrive Alliance is seeking energetic volunteers to power wash and clean out gutters at one of our Housing Partnerships, Inc. properties!

This project may be a little messy—but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Your efforts will help brighten up the property, prevent water damage, and create a safer, cleaner environment for the residents who call it home.

Volunteers will meet at the United Way Parking Lot near 14th and Hutchins Ave, and will disperse to the properties from there.

Ready to roll up your sleeves and make a visible difference in just one day? Thrive Alliance is seeking energetic volunteers to power wash and clean out gutters at one of our Housing Partnerships, Inc. properties!

This project may be a little messy—but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Your efforts will help brighten up the property, prevent water damage, and create a safer, cleaner environment for the residents who call it home.

Volunteers will meet at the United Way Parking Lot near 14th and Hutchins Ave, and will disperse to the properties from there.

Ready to get your hands dirty for a great cause? Thrive Alliance is seeking volunteers to transform outdoor spaces through landscaping at one of our Housing Partnerships, Inc. properties!

This is your chance to roll up your sleeves and bring new life to the property—pull weeds, plant flowers, spread mulch, and create a welcoming space residents can truly enjoy.

Volunteers will meet at the United Way Parking Lot near 14th and Hutchins Ave, and will disperse to the properties from there.

Ready to get your hands dirty for a great cause? Thrive Alliance is seeking volunteers to transform outdoor spaces through landscaping at one of our Housing Partnerships, Inc. properties!

This is your chance to roll up your sleeves and bring new life to the property—pull weeds, plant flowers, spread mulch, and create a welcoming space residents can truly enjoy.

Volunteers will meet at the United Way Parking Lot near 14th and Hutchins Ave, and will disperse to the properties from there.

Calling all cleaning champions!

Our locker room and pool deck need a little TLC—and we want YOU to be part of the glow-up! Come help us turn our space into “wow” while having some fun along the way.

What's in it for you:

Grab a friend, bring your energy, and let’s make this place shine!

We’d love your help!

Looking for a meaningful (and creative!) way to give back? Join Thrive Alliance for a card-writing project to brighten the days of our Adult Guardianship clients!

Our clients are often isolated and may not receive mail regularly, so a simple, heartfelt card can mean the world. Your team will create cheerful, encouraging messages that remind them they are seen, valued, and cared for.

Looking for a meaningful (and creative!) way to give back? Join Thrive Alliance for a card-writing project to brighten the days of our Adult Guardianship clients!

Our clients are often isolated and may not receive mail regularly, so a simple, heartfelt card can mean the world. Your team will create cheerful, encouraging messages that remind them they are seen, valued, and cared for.

Have you ever dreamed of being part of an IndyCar pit crew?
Here’s your chance to join the next best thing — the Turning Point Paint Crew!

Volunteers will help tackle a variety of exterior painting projects. Think of it as a high-impact team effort where every brushstroke helps keep our shelter safe, welcoming, and race-ready for the road ahead.

Pit Crew Prep Tips:
Dress for need, not speed — comfortable clothes and shoes that can handle a little dirt, sweat, and paint splatter are strongly encouraged. Think “garage-ready,” not “photo-finish.”

Make a pit stop! Swing by concessions for fun, fuel-up drink creations (non-alcoholic, of course) to keep your engine running strong while you power through your painting laps.

Together, we’ll keep Turning Point moving full throttle toward safety, hope, and fresh beginnings.

Due to the nature of our mission, completed volunteer documents must be on file (within 3 years) or completed prior to the event. You will be sent required documents via email. 

Have you ever dreamed of being part of an IndyCar pit crew?
Here’s your chance to join the next best thing — the Turning Point Paint Crew!

Volunteers will help tackle a variety of exterior painting projects. Think of it as a high-impact team effort where every brushstroke helps keep our shelter safe, welcoming, and race-ready for the road ahead.

Pit Crew Prep Tips:
Dress for need, not speed — comfortable clothes and shoes that can handle a little dirt, sweat, and paint splatter are strongly encouraged. Think “garage-ready,” not “photo-finish.”

Make a pit stop! Swing by concessions for fun, fuel-up drink creations (non-alcoholic, of course) to keep your engine running strong while you power through your painting laps.

Together, we’ll keep Turning Point moving full throttle toward safety, hope, and fresh beginnings.

Due to the nature of our mission, completed volunteer documents must be on file (within 3 years) or completed prior to the event. You will be emailed required documents. 

George Jr Republic is seeking volunteers to help us bring some fresh energy into our office space with a fun, hands-on moving and set-up project!

Volunteers will help assemble desks and chairs, move furniture from one office to another, and assist with clearing out and disposing of items we no longer need.

There will also be some teamwork involved in lifting TVs onto wall mounts—so it’s a great opportunity to jump in, lend a hand, and work together.

This project does involve some heavy lifting, and extra help is especially appreciated as staff are not able to do much lifting. 

We promise to keep the energy up and say thank you the best way we know how—by providing food for all volunteers! Come ready to move, build, and have a good time while making a big difference.

Join us at Propeller for a fun and hands-on! We’re looking for community members with a green thumb (or just a willingness to dig in) to help us plant our summer flowers and bring color to our space.

No experience needed—just come ready to get your hands dirty and enjoy the day. We’ll provide gloves, shovels, and plenty of good vibes!

Join us at Propeller to help build planter boxes that will be placed in downtown Columbus.

Whether you’re a seasoned woodworker or brand new to the shop, all are welcome. Come lend a hand, learn something new, and help us create something meaningful for the community. Tools, materials, guidance—and fun—will be provided!

The Care Hub is looking for caring, hands-on volunteers to help freshen up our space and support our mission of serving local families. This is a great opportunity to make a visible impact in just a few hours!

The opportunities available for the workday are:

Your time and effort will directly support families with young children by creating a clean, organized, and inviting space where they can access essential items.

Join United Way of Bartholomew County for a Day of Caring project where you’ll take on two important missions in one shift. We’re combining efforts to accomplish a lot, and we need strong, motivated volunteers ready to jump in.

Mission 1: Food Drive Frenzy Setup
Help bring our Lunchtime Food Drive Frenzy to life by setting up tables and chairs and creating a welcoming, organized space for the event.

Mission 2: Office Move-Out
Assist with packing up a previously occupied office and moving furniture to a storage area within the building.

What to Expect:
A fast-paced, hands-on volunteer experience, teamwork, and the opportunity to make a visible impact by completing two meaningful projects.

What You’ll Need:
Ability to lift, bend, and stay active, along with a positive, team-oriented attitude.

Join United Way of Bartholomew County for a Day of Caring project where you’ll take on two important missions in one shift. We’re combining efforts to accomplish a lot, and we need strong, motivated volunteers ready to jump in.

Mission 1: Office Move-Out
Assist with packing up a previously occupied office and moving furniture to a storage area within the building,

Mission 1:Food Drive Frenzy Tear-Down
Help wrap up our Lunchtime Food Drive Frenzy by tearing down tables and chairs and putting everything away to restore the space.

What to Expect:
A fast-paced, hands-on volunteer experience, teamwork, and the opportunity to make a visible impact by completing two meaningful projects.

What You’ll Need:
Ability to lift, bend, and stay active, along with a positive, team-oriented attitude.

Join us for a hands-on volunteer experience at Sans Souci! During this shift, you’ll help sort donations, hang clothing, stock the sales floor, and get items ready for our community to shop. Every minute spent at Sans Souci helps support our mission of creating a community where everyone can live life “without worry.”

Ready to make a space shine and bring comfort to those who need it most? Join the Shine & Shelter Squad and help Love Chapel refresh the Brighter Days Emergency Shelter!

We’re looking for an energetic team to roll up their sleeves and tackle a deep clean of the shelter—creating a fresh, welcoming environment for guests during a critical time in their lives.

Volunteers will also sand and paint privacy dividers to help make the space more comfortable and dignified for those staying at the shelter.

Whether you love organizing, cleaning, or light DIY projects, there’s a role for you! Expect a rewarding day filled with teamwork, visible impact, and plenty of feel-good moments.

Come help us turn care into action—one clean, bright space at a time.

Ready to roll up your sleeves and make a big impact? Join us for a fun, hands-on day helping the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund get their space sparkling clean and organized

Volunteers will take part in a full building refresh—including the upstairs storage area—by pulling items from shelves, bringing them downstairs, and reorganizing everything to maximize space and efficiency. Together, we’ll deep clean and reset the main areas, paint cabinets in both the main space and bathrooms, and create a dedicated donation zone so board members can easily sort and process incoming items.

If time (and energy!) allows, we’ll head outside to move landscaping rock and give the exterior a little extra shine.

Expect a satisfying day of teamwork, visible results, and plenty of feel-good moments. Bring your energy—we’ll bring the purpose!

Volunteer Requirements:
Volunteers must be able to climb stairs, bend, lift, and carry at least 15 pounds up and down stairs.

Ready to roll up your sleeves and make a big impact? Join us for a fun, hands-on day helping the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund get their space sparkling clean and organized!

Volunteers will take part in a full building refresh—including the upstairs storage area—by pulling items from shelves, bringing them downstairs, and reorganizing everything to maximize space and efficiency. Together, we’ll deep clean and reset the main areas, paint cabinets in both the main space and bathrooms, and create a dedicated donation zone so board members can easily sort and process incoming items.

If time (and energy!) allows, we’ll head outside to move landscaping rock and give the exterior a little extra shine.

Expect a satisfying day of teamwork, visible results, and plenty of feel-good moments. Bring your energy—we’ll bring the purpose!

Volunteer Requirements:
Volunteers must be able to climb stairs, bend, lift, and carry at least 15 pounds up and down stairs.

Come be a part of something special!

Join the Teddy Bear Love Fund as we serve children in our community by creating stuffed animals that bring comfort, love, and hope during their time of need. These simple, heartfelt gifts can make a big difference in a child’s life—offering reassurance, warmth, and a sense of security when it matters most.

Volunteers will help stuff and assemble stuffed animals and prepare them for distribution. Individuals, families, and groups of all ages are welcome. No experience is needed—just a caring heart and a willingness to help others.

Together, we can make a meaningful impact—one stuffed animal at a time.

Come be a part of something special!

Join the Teddy Bear Love Fund as we serve children in our community by creating stuffed animals that bring comfort, love, and hope during their time of need. These simple, heartfelt gifts can make a big difference in a child’s life—offering reassurance, warmth, and a sense of security when it matters most.

Volunteers will help stuff and assemble stuffed animals and prepare them for distribution. Individuals, families, and groups of all ages are welcome. No experience is needed—just a caring heart and a willingness to help others.

Together, we can make a meaningful impact—one stuffed animal at a time.

Help us make our space safer and more accessible for everyone! Volunteers will assist with cleaning and resealing our handicap ramp, an important project that ensures a smooth, safe entry for all who visit. This hands-on opportunity is perfect for those who enjoy light outdoor work and want to make a meaningful, lasting impact in our community.

Are you passionate about creativity and community? Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana is looking for volunteers to take part in a special art project that brings hope and inspiration to individuals in our Fresh Start program.

Project Overview:

Volunteers will collaborate with Fresh Start participants to create a community mural that represents the theme of caring. Each person will receive their own small canvas and painting supplies to design a unique piece. All canvases will come together to form one powerful mural, which will be displayed within the program to serve as a lasting symbol of transformation and encouragement.

What You’ll Do:

- Work with members of the Fresh Start Program to create a mural
- Use your imagination to paint what caring looks and feels like to you
- Engage with others in a supportive, artistic environment

All painting materials, including canvas and brushes, will be supplied by Volunteers of America. This is a great opportunity for anyone with a creative spirit and a desire to inspire others—no professional art experience needed! This is a unique chance to make a lasting impact through art, uplift others, and be part of something beautiful and meaningful.

Help Horizon House welcome the season by giving our shelter a fresh, clean start! We’re looking for a team of volunteers ready to roll up their sleeves and make a visible difference outdoors. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some fresh air while helping create a more welcoming space for those we serve.

Volunteers will assist with power washing the exterior of the shelter, refreshing and remodeling the front garden bed, and spreading gravel in the parking area to improve safety and appearance. All tools and supplies will be provided—just bring your energy and a willingness to help!

A little effort goes a long way in making our shelter feel like home. Come be part of the transformation!

Sans Souci is seeking volunteers to paint and spruce up the exterior of our building! This is a great opportunity to make a visible, lasting impact on our space and help us create a welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors. No experience is needed.

Sans Souci is seeking volunteers to help us paint and spruce up the exterior of our building! This is a great opportunity to make a visible, lasting impact on our space and help us create a welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors. No experience is needed.