Get involved and make a difference: volunteer opportunities in Waltham

Throughout the year, Waltham residents have countless ways to turn generosity into action. From food pantries to gift drives and from farm work to clothing exchanges, local nonprofits are calling on volunteers to help strengthen the city’s heart. Whether you have an hour a week or a day to spare, the chance to make a difference lies just around the corner.

Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation seeks seasonal and year-round volunteers to help share our region’s proud industrial history with the community. Volunteers can be tour guides or STEM educators for school groups. We also welcome volunteers with specific knowledge about vintage machinery or textile history; or who have historical research and writing backgrounds. Contact Director of Education Steve Guerriero; info@charlesrivermuseum.org; 781-893-5410.

Community Day Center of Waltham, at 16 and 20 Felton St., provides day shelter and support services to adults who are experiencing homelessness. Help out in TheShop@20 Felton: Sort donations and provide a warm service experience to guests selecting seasonal, donated clothing and shoes. Also, at the Drop-in Space, distribute donated mail and travel-size essential items (hygiene items, hand warmers, hand sanitizer, etc.) to guests. Support is needed Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12:30 to 2 p.m. Volunteers are asked to commit for at least one day a week, for three months or longer. Contact: Chloe-Rose, Executive Director, director@communitydaycenter.org; 781-392-6311. 

Healthy Waltham promotes collaborative approaches to improving the health and wellness of underserved and low-income populations. Help with ongoing food pantries. Shifts are generally two to four hours; the next ones are Mar. 12 and 26. Contact: Maria DiMaggio, Maria@healthy-waltham.org.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service hosts the Family Table Food Pantry on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1430 Main St. Volunteers are needed to pack and deliver groceries on Sundays, support clients at Marketplace distribution on Tuesdays, and prepack clients’ bags on Thursdays. Contact: Lisa Katz, lkatz@jfcsboston.org; 781-693-1231.

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence empowers individuals, families, and communities to overcome domestic violence. Year-round, enroll in direct volunteer service or internships. Before the holidays, host a Holiday Gift Drive to collect items for families and individuals rebuilding their lives after experiencing domestic violence. Also, organize a fundraising event, such as a school or community collection, to support the Holiday Gift Program. Contact: mcastaneda@reachma.org; 781-891-0724.

Waltham Clothing Exchange is a thrift shop and longtime project of First Parish, 50 Church St. Become a seasonal volunteer in spring and fall. Tasks include pricing, tag writing and tagging, sorting, hanging, display assistants, assisting consignors and customers, etc.; three hours minimum on Tuesdays between 9:30 and 5. Contact: Joel Weddig, Director; jands1971@gmail.com; 339-215-9559.

Waltham Fields Community Farm at 240 Beaver St. cultivates sustainable and equitable relationships between people, their food supply, and the land from which it grows. Help bring in the harvest and put the farm to bed for the season. Be prepared to work outdoors the whole time. Learn about their volunteer opportunities. Contact: Marla Rhodes at volunteer@communityfarms.org; 781-899-2403.

Waltham Community Foundation distributes grants to nonprofits that benefit the citizens of Waltham. Become a board member, attending two evening meetings per year, meeting twice per year in the evenings, to manage an endowment and decide how to donate investment income. Contact: James M. Baron, jbaron@lawbaron.com; 781-209-1166.

The Waltham Council on Aging seeks year-round volunteer drivers for its Meals on Wheels food delivery program, run from the Stanley Senior Center, 488 Main St. Volunteers start around 10:30 a.m.; routes usually take about an hour or so. Some volunteers have one route one day a week; others choose to volunteer more often. Contact: 781-314-3300.

The Waltham Museum, 25 Lexington St., preserves local history and provides multidisciplinary cultural and educational programs for diverse audiences. Volunteer roles include docenting, accessioning, digitizing slides, researching and working on the Museum’s website and social media. Hours are Sundays, 1:30 to 4 p.m., and some weekdays; some volunteering can occur remotely. Contact: info@walthammuseum.org, 781-893-9020.

The Waltham Times produces an independent, nonprofit news publication serving everyone in Waltham. It is currently seeking a volunteer board member with development and fundraising experience. Volunteers with backgrounds in journalism and AP Style will be considered for reporting, writing and copy–editing. The Times also welcomes volunteers for posting stories (WordPress), help with legal matters, bookkeeping and accounting, marketing, multilingual community outreach, business strategy, advertising sales and event planning.

Please help the Waltham Times keep this list up to date. Send your nonprofit organization’s requests for volunteers by email to NonprofitNews@walthamtimes.org.