The Academy of Natural Sciences
http://www.acnatsci.org/involved/volunteer.html
At any one time there are between 300 and 350 volunteers active at the Academy. Although the Research divisions call for volunteers with more experience, the minimum age for most volunteer jobs is 14, with a special summer training program for 13 year-olds in Outside-In during the summer time. Ideally, volunteers work 3 to 4 hours each week. A good commitment is a regular 3 to 4 hour block of time every other week. Contact Lois Kuter, volunteer coordinator, at 215-299-1029.

Eighteenth Street Development
Eighteenth Street Development Corp is a non-profit organization that helps repair homes for low-income residents in the Point Breeze neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Not just cosmetic repairs, ESDC provides critical repair that helps maintain a safe and livable environment for the homeowner, particularly, those homes with children and/or elderly residents.  This opportunity is appropriate for families with children 12 years of age or older.  If you are interested in helping, call Anita at 215 271-0052.

ElderNet
http://www.eldernetonline.org/
ElderNet provides opportunities to help older and disabled people in Lower Merion and Narberth. Opportunities include telephone callers to check on the well-being of the homebound, volunteers to help with paper work or pay bills, handy people to do odd jobs around the home, and shoppers to shop for groceries. If you are interested in volunteering, contact ElderNet at (610) 525-0706.

Fairmount Park
http://www.phila.gov/fairpark/index.htm
Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park is a unique urban park system comprising over 8,900 acres of diverse neighborhood and regional parks that encompasses one-tenth of the land in Philadelphia.  These natural areas present unique opportunities for urban ecological restoration, environmental education and community stewardship.  Specific volunteer activities include invasive plant removal, reforestation with native species, trail repair, erosion control, cleanups and other activities that promote healthy ecosystems.  Contact Volunteer Coordinator Tom Dougherty at 215 685 0039.

The Franklin Institute Science Museum
http://fi.edu/tfi/info/volunteers.html
Volunteering at The Franklin Institute Science Museum is a great way to get involved in this fun-filled, interactive museum. By contributing time and expertise, you can learn something new, teach someone else, and most of all have fun! The success of many of our programs depends directly on the efforts of our volunteers. Volunteers must be 15 years of age or older, be friendly, outgoing, enjoy working with people, and have an interest in promoting science and education. Placement is by interview only. The first step is to call the Volunteer Office at The Franklin Institute, (215) 448-1163, for an application and information sheet. You can also print the Volunteer Service Application or send a message to volprog@fi.edu.

Gay Bingo
http://www.aidswalkphilly.org/bingo.html
Help sell ticket and concessions at Gay Bingo. Gay Bingo is a fun and comfortable event, open to anyone who enjoys campy humor. Each Bingo game has its own theme and set of special Bingo games. Gay Bingo is held monthly on Saturday nights at the Gershman Y at Broad and Pine Streets in Philadelphia.  Check out Shipley's Service Calendar for specific dates, and see Mrs. Veraldi in the MS for more information.

Habitat for Humanity
http://www.habitat.org/local/affiliate.asp?zip=19010&place=
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans.  Volunteers must be 16 years or older.

Inglis House
http://www.inglis.org/volunteeropp.htm
Inglis House provides both institutional and non-institutional services for people with physical disabilities.  Volunteer opportunities are as many and varied as the interests of Inglis House volunteers. Volunteers, age 14 and up, from all types of backgrounds help residents function at their highest possible level.  Visit the website or call the Volunteer Department at 215 581 0718.

March of Dimes
http://www.modimes.org/Default.htm
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies. You can volunteer to help organize and run community fund raising events, such as WalkAmerica. Also, you can help with office procedures such as typing, telephoning, organizing, and preparing mailings. If you are interested in finding out about specific volunteer opportunities, you can call Sharon Zislis at the King of Prussia office at (610) 945-6050.

Merry Place
http://www.merryplace.com/pages/volunteers.html
Located in Glendale Park, Merry Place is an area where people of all ages and abilities can come together and enjoy themselves. Merry Place is a structured play area with handicapped-accessible playground equipment.  Not coincidentally, Merry Place is named for Merry Tropp, an inspiring and spirited Shipley squash coach who has since passed away.  General park maintenance includes clearing trails, gardening, and sometimes light construction.  If interested in volunteering, call the Haverford Township Recreation Department at 610-446-9397.

The Nature Conservancy
http://nature.org/pennsylvania/
The Nature Conservancy of Pennsylvania has a single focus: protecting the biological diversity of the Commonwealth. In pursuit of this mission, TNC is conserving wide-ranging ecosystem processes and landscape-scale areas, such as entire watersheds, to stem the tide of habitat fragmentation -- the single greatest threat to species and natural communities. The goal has been to conserve the entire functioning landscape and the strategy is to make people part of the answer. And it works. To find out more about the volunteer program, give Lynn Carroll a call at (610) 834-1323 x122 or send an email to lcarroll@tnc.org.

Philabundance
http://www.philabundance.org/Get/indexGet.html
Philabundance is one of the Philadelphia region's food-rescue organizations. Since 1984 they have provided food for over 50 million meals. Their role is to collect donated surplus food and distribute it free of charge to local organizations serving people in need.  Opportunities involve sorting and packing food for distribution.  Call Casandra Carponter at 215 339 0900 x272.

Philadelphia Cares
http://www.philacares.org/
Greater Philadelphia Cares supports the creation of vibrant communities by motivating people to volunteer their time, talents, and resources. They provide a clear path to service for all, enhancing the impact of non-profit agencies throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. Driven by the belief that volunteerism is the pivotal force for social change, theyidentify best practices and equip volunteers with opportunity, education, and tools to promote tangible outcomes.

Philadelphia Food Bank
http://www.greaterphiladelphiafoodbank.org/involve/volunteering.htm
The Greater Philadelphia Food Bank is the bridge between those in our region with extra food and those without enough.  Over the past two decades, the Food Bank has distributed more than 140 million pounds of donated food to charities that feed needy families throughout southeastern Pennsylvania.  Opportunities involve sorting, packing, and labeling food for distribution.  Visit the website or contact Stacy Woodlyn at 215 739 7394 for more information.

The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House
http://www.philarmh.org/
The Ronald McDonald House is a Home-away-from-Home for families with seriously-ill children who are being treated in area hospitals. This is a temporary residence for up to 43 families, and is neither a health-care nor child-care facility. Volunteers serve in many ways, helping to make the House a comfortable and supportive place for the families.  Duties include checking families in and out of the House, answering phone calls, writing thank you letters to donors, assisting with House chores/maintenance, and assisting in getting the evening meal prepared.  Please contact Ms. Christine Greenwood here at Shipley, or PRMH Volunteer Coordinator Tina McDonnell at 215 387-8406. 

Reading Stars
Show little kids that reading can be fun! Help children improve their reading skills, self-confidence, and grades by tutoring and mentoring them at Reading Stars.  The program is a one-on-one reading program designed to help children who are reading below grade-level.  Volunteers help by reading prepared workbooks along with a child.  The program is run on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 – 6:00.   If interested, please contact project leader Frances Kloos at 215 523-7580 (or her cell phone at 215 869-6742).

Riverbend Environmental Education Center
http://www.riverbendeec.org/volunteer.htm
Riverbend is a non-profit, private organization whose mission is to stimulate appreciation, awareness and understanding of the environment and to preserve a natural wildlife habitat. A discovery room, classroom, library and offices are housed in a 1923 converted barn surrounded by 31 acres of open land.  Student projects may include clearing trails, removing invasive plants, and working in the Environmental Resource Center.  To find out more, call Stacy Carr at 610 527 5234.

Trevor’s Place
http://www.trevorscampaign.org/index.html
The mission of Trevor's Campaign for the Homeless is to help homeless families achieve independence by offering a home for the present and hope for the future through comprehensive programs for children and adults which empower them for success.  The population served by Trevor's Place is composed of homeless families totaling 80 residents. These female-headed households come to Trevor’s Place due to a wide variety of factors: lack of affordable housing, loss of job, physical abuse, eviction, lack of education or job skills, substance abuse, mental illness, desertion, and fire or other loss of home.  Volunteer opportunities include providing care for the children of Trevor's Place that enables their parent(s) to search for and maintain permanent employment, light carpentry jobs, and helping to clean and maintain the facilities.  Please contact Volunteer Director, Kate Mullen at 610 325-0640.  In addition, there is also an after-school activities program run by Cynthia Henderson who can be contacted at 215 236-1887. 

Tyler Aboretum
http://www.tylerarboretum.org/volunteer.htm
The Mission of Tyler Arboretum is to preserve, develop and share our diverse horticultural, historical and natural site resources in order to stimulate an understanding of the living world. Please call the Volunteer Office at 610-566-9134, ext. 205, to find out about current needs including upcoming special events. Hours are flexible. You can volunteer weekly, for a special project, or for your favorite event - whatever suits your schedule.

University City Hospitality Coalition
http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~soupkit/history.html
The University City Hospitality Coalition (UCHC) is an organization of students, faculty, homeless volunteers, and local residents that work together to help the homeless in West Philadelphia. UCHC runs a soup kitchen that serves five dinners (Mon-Fri) and two lunches (Sat-Sun) weekly. UCHC also operates a referral service and a clothing distribution service. UCHC provides a mailing address for homeless people so that they can vote and receive benefits (mental, dental, and legal). UCHC works with a social worker from Horizon House to find shelter for homeless people.  A schedule of meal times and locations follows:

Please contact Lee Anne Draud is you are interested in helping with a meal.  Please do not just show up; you must Lee Anne so that she can coordinate the number of volunteers for any given meal.  Her phone number is 215 238-6454.