The ABC’s Of Volunteer Service

You may never see the full impact you’ve made, but it will be felt. Your passion, belief, and dedication to others DOES make a difference. If you carve out time in your life to serve others, you will quickly find that you will receive joy in return.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. (Proverbs 31:8, NIV)



Want to get involved in your community, but don’t know how? Here are some great ideas of things you can do to help those around you.

Local Shelters: Make sack lunches to give to the homeless. Contact the shelter to see what items are needed and start a collection.

Retirement Communities: Write cards to local residents, or volunteer your time to play games, read, and offer companionship to the retired residents in your town.

Library: Read to different groups at library, or donate old books that are in good condition.

Parks: Organize a group of friends to clean up local parks.

Sports: If you play a sport, volunteer your time to help a local coach at practice with younger teams.

First Responders/Health Care: Write letters of encouragement.

Teen Volunteer Opportunities in Johnson City, TN

  • Washington County Animal Shelter: https://wcjcanimalshelter.org/support-us/volunteer/
  • American Cancer Society: Volunteers can help with general office duties, relay for life events, and other programs. Contact: Jessica Poff, Community Representative at 423-282-7010 or Jessica.poff@cancer.org or Tammie Richardson, Office Manager at 423-975-0635
  • American Heart Association: Promoting a healthy lifestyle for the prevention of heart disease and strokes. Volunteers can assist with Heart Walk events, health fairs, and expos. Contact: Joette Street at 423-416-7740 or joette.street@heart.org
  • Boys and Girls Club of the Tri-Cities: Volunteers are needed at the Johnson City Boys and Girls Club in athletics and academic tutoring. The current contact for volunteer opportunities in tutoring, reading, and interacting with children during our afterschool program is Andee Atkins. Her email is aatkins@gokidz.org and her phone number is 423-461-4560. Anyone interested in volunteering with athletics, coaching, or umpiring can contact Tim Morgan at sports@gokidz.org or by calling 423-612-7800.
  • Coalition For Kids: Did you know that there are many hands-on volunteer opportunities at Coalition For Kids during the school year and summers? Now is the time to have fun with our Coalition Kids! Homework help, reading, or just playing games with children is part of the fun we have with our kids here at C4K. Contact Cindy Young, Volunteer Coordinator at 434-2031 and come be part of an organization that is changing lives. www.coalitionforkids.org
  • Cornerstone Christian Village North: Cornerstone Christian Village North is always looking for volunteers to interact with residents in a variety of capacities. Singing, crafts, Bingo, or any other type of interaction is encouraged. If interested in working with senior citizens, please call Lisa Brewington at 423-232-8200 for more information.
  • God’s Corner Thrift Store: God’s Corner Thrift Store can always use volunteers. They need help in sorting and hanging up clothing. Contact us at 423-929-1915 for more information. Hours 9:00 to 3:30 Saturday 9:00 to 2:00
  • Good Samaritan Ministries: Help needed with the food pantry, front desk, thrift store, sorting and shelving donations, and various other programs. Contact: Dessie Oliver or Bud Campbell at 423-928-0288 or dessie@goodsamjc.org
  • Here and Now Motherhood: Here and Now Motherhood in downtown Johnson City is a maternal health nonprofit that offers yoga and other educational/support services and self-improvement type classes to moms- with children. Childcare is always available- for free! Any student interested in volunteering should contact Jenna Upton at volunteer@hereandnowmotherhood.org
  • James H Quillen V.A. Medical Center Looking for volunteers to help out our nation’s heroes. A wide range of volunteer opportunities are available depending on your interest and availability. Contact: Stephanie Justus at 423-926-1171 ext 2470 or Stephanie.justus@va.gov
  • Johnson City Community Theatre: The Johnson City Community Theatre is looking for volunteers! Students interested in helping in local theatre productions should contact David Hyde at dhyde@jccommunitytheatre.org to coordinate times etc. Saturdays from 10 to 2 are especially needed times. There are lots of fun jobs to take on!
  • Johnson City Country Club: The Johnson City Country Club has a myriad of opportunities available for students including pool cleaning and maintenance as well as working with kids in various activities and games, crafts, etc. If interested, please contact Greg Saunders at: 423-646-7799 or greg@johnsoncitycountryclub.com
  • Johnson City Major Little League: Johnson City Major Little League is looking for high school students that need hours. They would keep the scoreboard and scorebook during Little League games. Contact: Danielle Grindstaff #(423)946-4331.
  • Johnson City Medical Center: Volunteers needed at the gift shop, information desk, and in medical records. Contact: Jackie O’Sullivan at 423-431-3543 or osullivanjt@msha.com
  • Johnson City Public Library: There are many opportunities for teens to volunteer at the Johnson City Public Library. Apply to volunteer once a week in one of our various departments of the library assisting with shelving, processing, and displays. Join the Teen Advisory Board to share what the library can do for you. Sign up for the Stories to Service program for a unique volunteer project combining book clubs and community service projects. Contact Katelyn Wolfe at 423-434-4349 for more information.
  • Meals on Wheels: Volunteers are needed to deliver meals Monday through Friday between 9 am and noon in the Johnson City area. Great for the summertime! Contact Karen Parker at 423-483-8409 or kparker@fthra.org
  • NAIA Volunteer“NAIA Volunteer Time We are looking for students who are needing volunteer hours. Elisa Britt, Executive Secretary The Chamber of Commerce serving Johnson City/Jonesborough/Washington County 603 E. Market Street Johnson City, TN. 37601 (P) 423-461-8006 (F) 423-4618047 britt@johnsoncitytnchamber.co
  • One Acre Café: A community restaurant for everyone! Volunteers needed to prepare and serve food, clean tables, wash and dry dishes, and perform general maintenance/cleaning. Contact: 423-483-0517 or oneacrecafe@gmail.com
  • Red Cross Blood Center: Volunteers needed to greet people in the canteen. Contact: Gwen Hunter at 423-928-7541 ext 13 or huntergr@usa.redcross.org
  • Small Miracle: Onsite volunteer training is provided at Small Miracle on an on-going basis. To get started and to explore volunteer opportunities, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Linda McBride at lindamcbridesm@yahoo.com or 423-349-1111 or Sherri Russel at sherrism13@gmail.com
  • Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center: Small Miracles Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc. is a Christian-based, non-profit corporation in Kingsport, TN founded through love to enhance the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth of persons with special needs by means of therapeutic equine-assisted activities. Small Miracles depends on the generous support of its volunteers and donors to maintain the excellence of its facility and programs. Small Miracles is always in need of volunteers in both the barn and lessons. Volunteers can choose to commit to as little or as much time as their schedule allows. Please feel free to contact Cassandra Dilley with any questions by phone (423-349-1111) or email (dilley@goldmail.etsu.edu). Also, please visit their website at small-miracles.org
Volunteer at your local animal shelter!
Service Doesn’t Need To Be Hard!

Pick something that you like to do and share it with someone else! Do you like to cook? Make a neighbor a meal. Do you enjoy reading? Volunteer reading to patients at the hospital or retirement home or school. Are you good at gardening? Plant a garden with someone that needs help. Service is simply doing something for someone else and not expecting anything in return. It is that easy!

Volunteering is fun when you have a friend join you!

Volunteer to walk dogs in your neighborhood.
Read to children in your community.
Bake cookies for first responders.
Spend time with the elderly.

Grab a garbage bag and clean up local lakes, trails and parks.
Donate time at your local library, or donate gently used books.
Help at the local food shelter, or organize a food drive.