Top 10 Local Volunteer Opportunities for the New Year

Looking to give back in the new year? Your time is a valuable commodity, especially in this economic climate. Here's a list of some local organizations in the area that you can support by cooking, visiting, organizing and more.

Visit the Elderly

• PALM: PALM—Positive Aging in Lower Merion—is looking for volunteers for a variety of activities, classes and events, ranging from volunteers for newsletter creation, marketing, trip planning and more. For the full list of volunteer opportunities, visit the website.
• Aid For Friends: Aid For Friends is an organization that serves needy elderly shut-ins in the Greater Philadelphia area. Volunteers can cook meals, deliver meals, visit with the elderly for an hour a week, or work as a receptionist in headquarters.
• Dolphins of Delaware County: Based in Gladwyne, The Dolphins of Delaware Valley volunteer their time to visit with solitary residents of nursing homes and retirement homes in the Delaware Valley.  The organization asks for a commitment of one hour a week.

Help Low-Income Neighbors

• Ardmore Food Pantry: St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Ardmore works year-round to provide food to the needy in the area. Donations are always welcome, and volunteers help families by providing information to those who are not sure they qualify for food stamps or the WIC program. For more information, check out the pantry's website for a list of needed items, contact Ruth Johnson at chefrab@aol.com, or call the church office at 610-649-1486.
• The Interfaith Hospitality Network–Main Line: The IHN-ML works to help homeless families in Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties gain lasting independence. Volunteers can cook and serve meals, visit with children, and listen and talk to those staying overnight. 
• The Bernardine Center: The Bernadine Center helps low-income Chester residents by providing them with food and emergency provisions, as well as offering various advocacy and educational programs. Center volunteers can tutor clients in English, sort donated clothing, help with mailings, cook and more.

Support Your Local Library

• Ardmore and Penn Wynne Libraries: The Lower Merion Library System relies on volunteers to work at the front circulation desk, help with shelving, assist with data entry and work on other projects, as needed. The library asks for a commitment of three hours every week or every other week. For more information, visit the volunteer page on the LMLS website.

Build a Home

• Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County: Habitat for Humanity works to empower low-income families by providing them with affordable housing. To help build homes with Habitat for Humanity, volunteer in an office and more, volunteers must first attend a "Love in Action Tour" to learn about how to get involved and visit one of the project sites.

Help Empower Women

• Delaware County Women Against Rape: Delaware County Women Against Rape work to help sexual assault victims. Volunteers can help with a 24-hour hotline, or by being present at hospital examinations and police interviews. There is a 40-hour training program for volunteers. For more information, call 610-566-4342.

Volunteer at the Hospital

• Bryn Mawr Hospital: Both students and adults can volunteer in a variety of ways at Bryn Mawr Hospital. For more information on available opportunities, visit the website  or call 484-337-3058.