Community resources
Any Baby Can
The Central Texas nonprofit partners with families to overcome obstacles and achieve well-being. With programs that meet clients where they are—at home, work or school—Any Baby Can helps build stability, develop skills and navigate systems so children and families reach their full potential.
- Sample activities: assemble kits, run a phone bank, organize storage
- Donations accepted: monetary
- 6207 Sheridan Ave., Austin
- www.anybabycan.org
The Assistance League of Austin offers a variety of philanthropic programs, including helping individuals transitioning from homelessness to resettling, as well as stocking a toy cart with gifts for children at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Other programs help families obtain new clothing, toiletries and school supplies; give items to teacher; and provide scholarships to students at Austin Community College.
- Sample activities: work at the organization’s Thrift House, which provides funds for the programs
- Donations accepted: monetary, household items, tools, books, jewelry, clothing, furniture
- 4901 Burnet Road, Austin
- www.assistanceleague.org
The affiliate of the Autism Society of America connects families and individuals to resources and support throughout the state.
- Sample activities: help with programming for individuals with autism and special events
- Donations accepted: monetary
- 300 E. Highland Mall Blvd., Ste. 205, Austin
- www.texasautismsociety.org/volunteer
CareBOX Program provides free essential care supplies to cancer patients in the Greater Austin area to help prevent malnutrition, infections and injuries from falls.
- Volunteer activities: delivery drivers
- Donations: monetary gifts; supplies donations through Amazon wishlist
- North Austin, address available upon orientation completion
- www.careboxprogram.org
The nonprofit is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Central Texas area, serving more than 46,000 people every week.
- Sample activities: sort food donations, assist with the mobile food pantry and work in a community garden or community kitchen
- Donations: accepted online, by phone or mail
- 6500 Metropolis Drive, Austin
- www.centraltexasfoodbank.org
Knowbility is a nonprofit that works to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to computer-based opportunities in areas such as education, employment and commerce, as well as civic and social engagement.
- Sample activities: Volunteers can help with a range of activities from helping with events and fundraisers to website maintenance, graphic design, translating documents.
- Donations accepted: monetary
- 1033 La Posada Drive, Ste. 307, Austin
- www.knowbility.org
The nonprofit distributes 3,000 meals every business day to homebound older adults and people with disabilities across Travis and Williamson counties.
- Sample activities: provide lunchtime meal deliveries, in-home care services and Alzheimer’s respite care; help with home repairs; assist with grocery shopping
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts; sanitary supplies, such as hand sanitizer and masks; toiletry items, such as shampoo and toothpaste; socks; blankets; towels; household items, such as toilet paper and cleaning supplies; wall calendars; microwaves; dog and cat food, accessories and toys
- 3227 E. Fifth St., Austin
- www.mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org
Special Olympics Texas provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
- Sample activities: helping out at competitions or fundraisers, becoming a coach, being a Fan in the Stands, assisting in the office, assisting on the day of events
- Donations accepted: monetary
- No physical address in Austin, but they do events in Austin
- www.sotx.org
The organization fulfills musical last wishes by organizing private concerts for individuals with a terminal illness or nearing the end of life. At no cost to the family or facility, a favorite style of music or regional musician is brought directly to the home or care facility.
- Sample volunteer activities: become a concert liaison to coordinate and execute concerts, assisting in administrative tasks, outreach and at events
- Donations accepted: yes
- No physical address
- www.swansongs.org
The organization fights to improve the lives of people affected by cancer by providing patients with resources and support.
- Sample activities: year-round internship and volunteer opportunities at events including the Livestrong Challenge Ride/Walk/Run and the Austin Marathon
- Donations: monetary donations are accepted online
- 623 W. 38th St, Ste 300, Austin
- www.livestrong.org
The social outreach ministry empowers communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless. Its mission is to provide food and clothing, cultivate community and promote dignity to those in need.
- Sample activities: organizing, preparing and delivering meals; gardening, prepping microhomes
- Donations: online including one-time donations, monthly gifts and planned giving
- Multiple locations
- www.mlf.org
The organization helps artisans in developing countries improve their lives through fair trade. The organization works with women, artisans with disabilities, and other marginalized populations to help break cycles of generational poverty by ensuring makers earn a fair wage in safe conditions.
- Sample activities: educating potential customers about the mission and the importance of fair trade; creating a fun and unique shopping experience; operating cash registers and checking out customers; asking for donations; assisting in the intake of new products; general cleaning
- Donations accepted: yes
- 4803 Burnet Road, Austin
- www.tenthousandvillages.com/a/store-locator/austin.html
A guardian of the community blood supply for more than 40 medical facilities in Central Texas.
- Sample activities: assisting with blood drives, serving refreshments in donor centers, providing office support and transportation of blood donations
- Donations accepted: monetary
- 4300 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin
- www.weareblood.org
Breakthrough Central Texas
Breakthrough Central Texas helps students become the first in their families to earn a college degree. Working with students starting in sixth grade and helping through college graduation, the nonprofit offers advising and programs, among other services.
- Sample activities: providing academic mentoring and tutoring, serving as a writing coach
- Donations accepted: monetary, school supplies
- 1050 E. 11th St., Austin
- www.breakthroughctx.org
The organization’s volunteers advocate for neglected or abused children in the county. Volunteers must complete a personal interview, background and reference checks, and a 39-hour training.
- Sample activities: spending 15-20 hours a month getting to know a child, their family and situation; gathering information to make recommendations to a judge in their best interest
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 7600 Chevy Chase Drive, Ste. 200, Austin
- www.casatravis.org
Austin Animal Center
At the city-run, no-kill shelter, volunteers are required to attend a training session and commit to six hours a month. The nonprofit is operating services and opportunities by appointment only.
- Sample activities: greeting adopters at the shelter; providing outreach; giving enrichment to dogs or cats; serving as adoption ambassador; providing medical assistance
- Donations: monetary donations accepted online; item donations can be dropped off at shelter or ordered online through shelter’s Amazon wish list
- 7201 Levander Loop Bldg. A, Austin
- www.austintexas.gov/austin-animal-center
Austin Creative Reuse
Austin Creative Reuse is a nonprofit that collects and sells arts and crafts materials.
- Sample activities: measuring, rolling and pricing fabric; creating bed liners for local animal shelters; sorting and packaging sale items; sorting quilting fabrics
- Donations: monetary gifts and crafting materials such as canvases, paint, fabrics, scrapbook supplies and power tools
- 2005 Wheless Lane, Austin
- www.austincreativereuse.org
The nonprofit dedicates its resources to building homes for individuals.
- Sample activities: constructing new homes; working on home repair projects; supporting ReStores, discount home improvement stores and donation centers
- Donations accepted: gently used or new building supplies, appliances, furniture, home goods, clothes, monetary goods
- 13804 US 183, Austin
- www.austinhabitat.org/get-involved
The Charlie Center helps people experiencing homelessness in North Austin by providing navigation services such as housing assessments, medical care, state IDs, food stamp benefits and case management.
- Sample activities: serving food, distributing mail, checking in with clients, preparing and delivering meals
- Donations: monetary gifts
- 2675 Research Blvd., Austin
- www.thecharliecenter.org
Chariot
Chariot helps nondriving seniors by providing transportation and socialization opportunities. Volunteers must complete at least one drive per month with rides coordinated by phone or email. Round trips typically take around two to three hours and around an hour for a one-way drop-off.
- Sample activities: driving seniors to medical appointments, grocery stores, libraries, shopping centers, restaurants and local events
- Donations accepted: monetary
- P.O. BOX 202283, Austin
- www.chariot.org
The organization transports hundreds of older adults in Northwest Austin, Cedar Park and Leander who no longer drive to important appointments, stores and other locations.
- Sample activities: driving seniors to medical appointments, grocery stores or to other essential errands; providing handyman services; visiting or calling seniors to reduce social isolation
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts, vehicles
- 11512 Olson Drive, Austin
- www.driveaseniornorthwest.org
The organization has provided care to any person with a life expectancy of six months or less for over 40 years. Volunteers provide companionship to patients and their loved ones, offer bereavement support, help in the organization’s administrative offices and spread community awareness. Hospice Austin cares for anyone in the community who needs its services regardless of the person's insurance status, income, or ability to pay.
- Sample activities: Volunteers with special skills accepted, such as acupuncturists, hair stylists, massage therapists, musicians and pet therapy experts.
- Donations: monetary donations are accepted online
- 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin
- www.hospiceaustin.org
