Volunteer: SoNo Half | 5K 2026 Hydration StationVolunteer at the SoNo Half / 5K as part of the Open Doors team! We run an aid station handing out water and sports drinks to runners. There are also opportunities to volunteer at another part of the race (start/finish line, post-race party, kids activities, etc) as part of the Open Doors team. The SoNo Half has been a great neighborhood partner. Every year this event provides free entry to runners who raise funds for Open Doors, and they generously donate any leftover bottled water and fruit to our kitchen and pantry. You can also register to run (or walk!) for a reason and raise funds for Open Doors at https://runsignup.com/Race/123423/Charity/20449 Program: Community Builders Volunteer at the SoNo Half / 5K as part of the Open Doors team! We run an aid station handing out water and sports drinks to runners. There are also opportunities to volunteer at another part of the race (start/finish line, post-race party, kids activities, etc) as part of the Open Doors team. The SoNo Half has been a great neighborhood partner. Every year this event provides free entry to runners who raise funds for Open Doors, and they generously donate any leftover bottled water and fruit to our kitchen and pantry. You can also register to run (or walk!) for a reason and raise funds for Open Doors at https://runsignup.com/Race/123423/Charity/20449 Program: Community Builders Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: Yes |
Volunteer: Shop 'til Ya Drop!!!Help people who shop at our free community closet or sort and process donations from the community. There’s a particular need for volunteers who speak Spanish or Haitian Creole, from basic skills to fluent speakers. Additional organizing hours for groups are welcome! Program: Community Closet Help people who shop at our free community closet or sort and process donations from the community. There’s a particular need for volunteers who speak Spanish or Haitian Creole, from basic skills to fluent speakers. Additional organizing hours for groups are welcome! Program: Community Closet Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: No |
Volunteer: Dinner HeroesHelp our meal program team serve dinner to shelter guests and the community! Want to schedule a small dinner volunteer group (up to 4 people at a time)? Contact Erin for more details! Program: Kitchen Help our meal program team serve dinner to shelter guests and the community! Want to schedule a small dinner volunteer group (up to 4 people at a time)? Contact Erin for more details! Program: Kitchen Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: No |
Volunteer: Express LaneTake a walk around our grocery store helping people shop for their groceries! You will be in charge of making sure people receive items in correlation with their family size. This is a good opportunity for people with excellent customer service skills and great attention to detail. Take a spin in our mini carts and don’t forget to bag up all the goodies once you’re done assisting each shopper! Program: Grocery Pantry Take a walk around our grocery store helping people shop for their groceries! You will be in charge of making sure people receive items in correlation with their family size. This is a good opportunity for people with excellent customer service skills and great attention to detail. Take a spin in our mini carts and don’t forget to bag up all the goodies once you’re done assisting each shopper! Program: Grocery Pantry Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: No |
Volunteer: Norwalk NICE Festival 2026 table teamJoin Open Doors at the Norwalk NICE Festival, an incredible one-day festival celebrating different world cultures through music, food, and the performing arts: https://norwalknice.org
2-5pm and 5-8pm: Work the table and tell people about Open Doors (last team helps pack up!) Program: Community Builders Join Open Doors at the Norwalk NICE Festival, an incredible one-day festival celebrating different world cultures through music, food, and the performing arts: https://norwalknice.org
2-5pm and 5-8pm: Work the table and tell people about Open Doors (last team helps pack up!) Program: Community Builders Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06855 Allow Groups: Yes |
Volunteer: After-School BuddiesMake a difference for children dealing with homelessness! This is not your average tutoring session; this is an opportunity to help kids build social and emotional skills. Over the summer we hold regular Summer Fun days to have an afternoon of activities and let the families get to know the After-School Buddies volunteers for the upcoming school year. Program: Childrens Resources Make a difference for children dealing with homelessness! This is not your average tutoring session; this is an opportunity to help kids build social and emotional skills. Over the summer we hold regular Summer Fun days to have an afternoon of activities and let the families get to know the After-School Buddies volunteers for the upcoming school year. Program: Childrens Resources Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: No |
Volunteer: Donation StationHelp us organize incoming donations and reset the sales floor for the next shopping day. You will be assisting in all of the behind the scenes work that allows shopping days to provide a dignified, clean and pleasant experience for clients. Program: Community Closet Help us organize incoming donations and reset the sales floor for the next shopping day. You will be assisting in all of the behind the scenes work that allows shopping days to provide a dignified, clean and pleasant experience for clients. Program: Community Closet Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: Yes |
Volunteer: Breakfast ChampionsHelp our meal program team serve breakfast to shelter guests and the community!
Program: Kitchen Help our meal program team serve breakfast to shelter guests and the community!
Program: Kitchen Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: No |
Volunteer: Donate a Housewarming BasketTHIS IS A VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER / DONATION OPPORTUNITY AND A GREAT WAY TO HELP FROM HOME OR IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY! **Right now we're particularly in need of the following: Bathroom: Bath mats, bath products (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, razors, etc), loofahs / shower puffs, shower curtains with liners and rings, small garbage cans and liners Make a housewarming basket for someone moving into a new home! Fill a laundry basket with bathroom supplies, cleaning products, paper goods, kitchen items, clothes hangers and a nice surprise (like a key holder or welcome mat). You can also adopt a room or an entire apartment to help someone moving from shelter into their own home! Grab your friends, family, faith group, school or place of employment and rally behind a neighbor's fresh start. You can host a month long drive to collect items, sit outside of your local grocery store for a day, or even decide to build a basket by asking friends or family or purchasing yourself for a family in need; the options are limitless. You can download our housewarming drive flyer here. If you'd like to hold an online donation drive, check out our Amazon wishlist! For information regarding donation drop off dates and times please contact Laura Lopez at llopez@opendoorsct.org or 203-866-1057 ext 104. Program: Community Builders THIS IS A VIRTUAL VOLUNTEER / DONATION OPPORTUNITY AND A GREAT WAY TO HELP FROM HOME OR IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY! **Right now we're particularly in need of the following: Bathroom: Bath mats, bath products (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, razors, etc), loofahs / shower puffs, shower curtains with liners and rings, small garbage cans and liners Make a housewarming basket for someone moving into a new home! Fill a laundry basket with bathroom supplies, cleaning products, paper goods, kitchen items, clothes hangers and a nice surprise (like a key holder or welcome mat). You can also adopt a room or an entire apartment to help someone moving from shelter into their own home! Grab your friends, family, faith group, school or place of employment and rally behind a neighbor's fresh start. You can host a month long drive to collect items, sit outside of your local grocery store for a day, or even decide to build a basket by asking friends or family or purchasing yourself for a family in need; the options are limitless. You can download our housewarming drive flyer here. If you'd like to hold an online donation drive, check out our Amazon wishlist! For information regarding donation drop off dates and times please contact Laura Lopez at llopez@opendoorsct.org or 203-866-1057 ext 104. Program: Community Builders Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: Yes |
Volunteer: Donation DriveTHIS IS A VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITY AND A GREAT WAY TO HELP FROM HOME OR IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY! Hold a donation drive at your workplace, school, or other community spot, or join us for one. We can always use nonperishable food, new underwear and socks, toiletries, and cleaning supplies; other donation drives are held seasonally or as needed. If you'd like to hold an online food drive, please visit https://opendoorsctdonate.org and purchase some of our most-needed items! To donate other essential items online, please check out our Amazon wishlist! For information regarding donation drop off dates and times please contact Erin McDonough at emcdonough@opendoorsct.org or 203-866-1057. Program: Community Builders THIS IS A VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITY AND A GREAT WAY TO HELP FROM HOME OR IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY! Hold a donation drive at your workplace, school, or other community spot, or join us for one. We can always use nonperishable food, new underwear and socks, toiletries, and cleaning supplies; other donation drives are held seasonally or as needed. If you'd like to hold an online food drive, please visit https://opendoorsctdonate.org and purchase some of our most-needed items! To donate other essential items online, please check out our Amazon wishlist! For information regarding donation drop off dates and times please contact Erin McDonough at emcdonough@opendoorsct.org or 203-866-1057. Program: Community Builders Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Multiple Shifts Available Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: Yes |
Volunteer: Community ConversationalistsRepresent Open Doors at community events and help people learn more about us! Some events are focused on volunteer opportunities while others are geared toward the services we provide. Program: Community Builders Represent Open Doors at community events and help people learn more about us! Some events are focused on volunteer opportunities while others are geared toward the services we provide. Program: Community Builders Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Flexible Zip Code: 06854 Allow Groups: No |
Volunteer: Donation DriveHold a donation drive at your workplace, school, or other community spot, or join us for one. We can always use nonperishable food, toiletries and personal items, and housewarming items for people moving to new homes; other donation drives are held seasonally or as needed. Your donations make an incredible difference for the people we serve! For information regarding donation drop off dates and times, please contact Erin at emcdonough@opendoorsct.org Program: Community Builders Hold a donation drive at your workplace, school, or other community spot, or join us for one. We can always use nonperishable food, toiletries and personal items, and housewarming items for people moving to new homes; other donation drives are held seasonally or as needed. Your donations make an incredible difference for the people we serve! For information regarding donation drop off dates and times, please contact Erin at emcdonough@opendoorsct.org Program: Community Builders Opportunity Type: Volunteer Date: Flexible Allow Groups: Yes |