Volunteer Opportunities

Updated September 24th, 2023

HAPPENING NOW!

BASEBALL BUDDIES | Final Game of the Season!

Final Saturday, October 28th: : 11:30 - 12:30 (arrive at 11:10)

This program pairs volunteers 1:1 with children with disabilities as they play a game of baseball, while the players' parents get to sit in the stands and enjoy watching their children play. All North River volunteers together will be paired with one team and join them for their game. Games will take place between the hours of 9:30-12:30 (times will vary) and last approximately one hour. This is a wonderful serving opportunity that is fun for everyone!

If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Noelle Broyles, 919-699-8745; nfbroyles@yahoo.com.

Historic Jonesville Freed Slaves Cemetery Clean Up / Restoration Serving Opportunity

Saturday, October 28, 2023 - 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM - arrive at 8:45 (Deadline to sign up is October 21st by 8 pm)

NR member Yesenia Castro-Vazquez, who works at the Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, is offering NR members another opportunity to serve alongside military personnel to help clean up/restore the historic cemetery where freed slaves and their families are buried. 

The "Jonesville" community (which is the current location of the Dobbins ARB) was founded and built by Freed Slaves. The cemetery had been forgotten and abandoned until 2021 when efforts began to restore the honor of this historic cemetery. Please come help restore the grounds to properly honor the deceased!   

- Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age and bring their own noninvasive gardening tools such as gloves, plastic rakes, leaves claws, gas leaf blowers, cutting shears, etc. 

- When/where to park and meet: Please meet Yesenia at 8:45 am at the Dobbins Air Reserve Base in the parking lot between the softball fields and tennis courts. Volunteers will walk together to the cemetery at 9 am.    

-Due to the security levels on base, volunteers must provide Yesenia (via email or text) with the following information by Wednesday, August 17th at 8 am at the latest:  

- Full Name
- Citizenship
- Date of Birth
- Driver's License #
- Driver's License State of issue

Details: If interested, contact Yesenia Castro-Vazquez at 786-473-7317, email: yesenia.castrovazquez@gmail.com. 

Publix Bread Donations

Two local Publix supermarkets generously provide approximately $700 of bakery item donations each week to serve families in need. Help with pickup on Sundays and Wednesdays, come to the Lighthouse to help sort donations on Monday mornings, and/or help deliver to trusted community partners who serve local youth and families! 

For more information or if you have questions about how to get involved, contact Noelle Broyles at 919-699-8745 or nfbroyles@yahoo.com.

 

New Opportunity! POPP Backpacks

INNER HARBOUR CAMPUS | Youth Villages
Click here to see a list of ways to serve!

Join us for an afternoon of celebration with children residing at Youth Villages, a highly respected, comprehensive treatment program for 120+ children and youth with emotional and behavioral challenges due to childhood trauma. Celebrating birthdays together at these events is the highlight of the month for every child! 

Currently we have two Birthday Hero teams hosting two parties for the elementary age boys. We would love to expand and celebrate more children's birthdays, so please join the team! Youth Village requires all Birthday Hero volunteers to be at least 18 years old and attend a 2-hour orientation session.

Location: 4685 Dorsett Shoals Road, Douglasville, GA. 

If you're interested in encouraging this special group of children, please contact Debbie Swain, 757-812-0256; swain.debbie@yahoo.com.

 

Read with HOPE! | Click here for more details

Opportunities coming in June & July!

The Read with HOPE! “mobile library” book lending program is for children living in local apartment communities who lack access to books during the summer months. There are three to four 1-hour opps (June or July) to read & share stories with local children to grow literacy skills and encourage a lifelong love of reading. Alternately, help organize and label books within the HOPE Depot so that we can lend and gift books locally and internationally. Many weekly opportunities are available! 

For more information or to express interest, contact Noelle Broyles at 919-699-8745 or nfbroyles@yahoo.com.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES - COME HELP THEM GROW!

HOPE "Depot Days" | NORTH RIVER

GRATITUDE PACKS FOR VETERANS | Care Ministry
Click here for details on what to include!

We are excited to honor and encourage veterans who visit the new VA Clinic on Cobb Parkway in Marietta! Gratitude Packs will include a healthy beverage and snack and a handwritten “Thank You” card expressing our gratitude for  the service and sacrifices of these brave men and women. 

Gratitude Packs provide a great opportunity for family and community groups to serve together. Talk to your family group leaders about planning a packing party! 

• Pick up the Gratitude Pack logos and the red, white, and blue paper bags from the HOPE Depot (family group members contribute the items that go inside)

• Drop off completed packs at the HOPE Depot

• NR members Tracy Barlow (LCSW) and Joe Mulligan (LCSW) will distribute Gratitude Packs to veterans who visit local VA Clinics

Individuals of all ages can write cards of encouragement. Click the link above for excellent samples of Care Cards and to read our Gratitude Pack bookmark as a reminder of why it is deeply important to honor our veterans.

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES: 

CARE PACKS | North River Care Ministry
Click here for details on what to pack!

Let's serve together with our family & community groups to create and distribute Care Packs to every NR family/individual to keep in their cars or backpacks!

Then when we meet individuals who are experiencing homelessness, we can encourage them with a genuine hello, a smile, and a Care Pack! Our church family will restock our Care Pack during the first week of every month.

Contact: Noelle Broyles, 919-699-8745; nfbroyles@yahoo.com 

BOOKS FOR AFRICA
Click here to sign up for a sort-and-pack shift!

Books For Africa collects, organizes, and regularly ships hundreds of thousands of high-quality books to countries throughout the continent of Africa every year! 

Volunteers are needed to help sort and pack books for 2-hour time shifts:

Monday - Friday: 9-11 am or 1-3 pm
Saturdays: 9-11 am or 12-2pm

Saturdays are for experienced volunteers only, though new volunteers may also accompany experienced volunteers.  
 
Volunteers must pre-register via the website and participate in a brief orientation at the beginning of the shift. (No walk-in volunteers). Groups of 16 can serve together. The minimum age is 14 years. 
 
Contacts: Jen Hale, Coordinator, jen@booksforafrica.org
NR Contact: Noelle Broyles, 919-699-8745; nfbroyles@yahoo.com 

 

BASEBALL BUDDIES | Coming Spring 2023!

This program pairs volunteers 1:1 with children with disabilities as they play a game of baseball, while the players' parents get to sit in the stands and enjoy watching their children play. All North River volunteers together will be paired with one team and join them for their games. Games will take place between the hours of 9:30-12:30 (times will vary) and last approximately one hour. This is a wonderful serving opportunity that is fun for everyone!

If you're interested in volunteering in Spring 2023, please contact Noelle Broyles, 919-699-8745; nfbroyles@yahoo.com.
 

 
BLOOD DRIVE | American Red Cross
Find a drive near you today!

The COVID pandemic has created severe blood shortages, and this campaign enables us to easily meet a huge need. Simply fill out the short application, pick a day, time and a convenient site near you. We encourage everyone to invite family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and folks from your community to become a “blood buddy” to donate with you as you give blood and the gift of life.

ADVENTURE CENTERS | Mission 1:27
Click here for a range of opportunities!

Bible-based after-school program for elementary school children located within five Walton apartment complexes throughout the Marietta area.
 
Volunteer Opps: Fun devotionals, games, and activities to be prepared and shared with the children every month. Available at two Marietta locations (Walton Ridge Center on Cobb Parkway and Ridenour Center on Barrett Parkway). Volunteer time is about 1.5 hours, usually starting at about 3 pm. Times can vary.
 
There are also limited “in-person“ volunteer opportunities for reading, math help, sharing skills like sports, music, arts and crafts. Monthly Care cards and specific donations are often needed!
 
NR Contact: Noelle Broyles, 919-699-8745;  nfbroyles@yahoo.com

SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED | MUST Ministries
Click for service opportunities!

Quarterly opportunities for North River members to organize and distribute food boxes for at-risk school-age children and families within Marietta.  Specific supplemental donations are regularly needed. 

Contact: Jasmine Jackson; 404-849-5570;  jazzjaz14@gmail.com
Contact: Noelle Broyles;  919-699-8745;  nfbroyles@yahoo.com 

Sheltering Arms
Click here to fill out the volunteer application!

Respected Early Childhood Development centers (13) throughout the Atlanta area providing education/support for at-risk children. Sheltering Arms provides opportunities to read with children, share life skills, mentor, and help clean up the center.

ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS

YMCA Food Relief
Shady Grove Baptist Church Food Relief for the Homeless