Editor's note: This story has been updated to include additional organizations.
Learn more about volunteer and donation opportunities in The Woodlands area. For specific volunteer requirements, contact the organization directly. This list is not comprehensive.
Animal services
Operation Pets Alive
The nonprofit, all-volunteer organization strives to elevate Montgomery County to a no-kill community through programs that raise community awareness, reduce the number of dogs and cats that enter shelters, and increase the number of pets that leave shelters alive.
Sample activities: social media/marketing, vetting, fostering dogs and cats
Donations: Monetary donations can be made on the website, and physical donations including cat litter, puppy and kitten food, and Amazon wishlist items are also accepted.
P.O. Box 132104, The Woodlands, TX 77393
www.operationpetsalive.org
Montgomery County Animal Shelter
The Montgomery County Animal Shelter helps with animal care and placement in Montgomery County. The shelter cares for hundreds of dogs and cats by providing services such as neutering and microchipping while holding animals until they can be placed in a new home.
Sample activities: assist with dog bathing and walking, cat handling, on- and off-site adoptions, fostering and laundry; administrative tasks; serve as vet staffer, a surgery assistant or a photographer’s assistant
Donations: monetary donations, medical supplies, blankets, toys, food, treats, lick mats, crates and kennels
8535 Hwy. 242, Conroe
www.mcaspets.org
Children and education
CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County
The organization provides advocacy and community education, supporting children and families to overcome crisis in order to thrive in a safe, nurturing environment. The vision of the nonprofit is to create a connected community where children and families thrive and work to educate and eliminate childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect.
Sample activities: become an advocate for a child, volunteer for various activities and needs at the CASA office, or help with one of the events
Donations: new toy and new book donations for children and youth from infancy to 18 years old, monetary donations at https://casaspeaks4kids.com/thank-you-for-your-donation
505 N. Main St., Conroe
https://casaspeaks4kids.com
The Champion Project
The organization accepts volunteers for its program to work with children living in residential treatment centers in Harris and Montgomery counties. Mentor volunteers complete a background check and have a one-year commitment to mentor youth twice a month.
Sample Activities: Mentor a child or help manage a program in a partner church, or even begin the program in a new church.
Donation: Online monetary donations are accepted through the website.
7 Switchbud Place, The Woodlands
832-725-3265
www.thechampionproject.org
Children’s Books on Wheels
The nonprofit provides educational and community resources to the Tamina community and surrounding residents. Volunteers are needed for the organization’s tax assistance program, VITA, and other community activities.
Sample activities: tax assistance, distributing books to children
Donations: Book donations and donations of fabric for the Literature in a Pillowcase program can be dropped off at 330 Rayford Road, Spring.
9845 Sleepy Hollow Road, Conroe
www.childrensbooksonwheels.org
Yes to Youth
The organization provides crisis counseling, intervention and suicide prevention services as well as shelter programs for families and youths.
Sample activities: hosting needs drives, helping with events, groundskeeping, meals and spending time with youth.
Donations: monetary gifts including monthly and legacy gifts are accepted
8701 New Trails Drive, Ste. 118, The Woodlands
www.sayyestoyouth.org
Community involvement
Dispute Resolution Center of Montgomery County
The volunteer-driven organization has provided affordable dispute resolution services and training in the Montgomery County area since 1988. The organization helps people with difficult conversations to prevent their escalation into civil or criminal disputes. Training is required for some activities.
Sample activities: mediation, conflict resolution, art contest judging, awards ceremony assistance, office tasks, community outreach, event planning
Donations: individually wrapped candy, snacks and bottled water; office supplies; paper towels and wipes; gift cards; monetary donations
201 N. Thompson St., Ste. 106, Conroe
www.resolution-center.org
Helping Hands Community Garden
The year-round teaching garden offers free organic garden beds for individuals, families, scout groups, senior citizens and those with physical limitations. Volunteers can learn to garden organically while using organic pest control.
Sample activities: help weed, water, plant, pick harvest, mow, and weedwack (weekly or occasionally)
Donations: old rugs or carpeting, dried citrus peels, dried egg shells, bagged pine needles and leaves, Medina Orange Oil (organic ant kill)
31355 Friendship Drive, Magnolia
www.helpinghandscommunitygarden.org
Interfaith of The Woodlands
The faith-based, nonprofit social service organization has volunteer opportunities for its activities including a food pantry and resale shop. Most programs are for volunteers ages 16 and older, and bilingual volunteers are always needed.
Sample activities: working in the food pantry, the resale store or the community donation garden; assisting with senior activities; driving for the senior transportation program
Donations: food, books, clothing, housewares and furniture
4242 Interfaith Way, The Woodlands
www.woodlandsinterfaith.org
Food insecurity
Keep US Fed Montgomery County
The nonprofit has rescued and redistributed over 6.8 million pounds of surplus food at no cost to food-insecure neighbors since 2015, alleviating hunger and reducing food waste in the community.
Sample activities: pick up food from food donor partners and deliver to shelters, group homes, and food pantries in the community; administrative, organizational, fundraising and marketing tasks
Donations: food donations and food drive organization
3915 W. Davis St., Stes. 130-223, Conroe
www.keepusfedmoco.org
The Montgomery County Food Bank
The food bank was established in 1985 as a nonprofit hunger relief organization, providing nutritious food to children, seniors and families through a network of partner agencies.
Sample activities: sort and package food including fruits, vegetables, nonperishable food and frozen food; deliver groceries to low-income seniors; drive-thru food distribution assistance
Donations: monetary donations of $1 provide up to four meals, food donations are also accepted during operating hours
1 Food for Life Way, Conroe
www.mcfoodbank.org
Hospital help
Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
Volunteers help the hospital deliver care to patients, visitors and guests. The volunteer program offers opportunities from interacting with patients to assisting staff or providing administrative support. Volunteers must meet certain onboarding requirements, receive an annual flu shot and be able to commit to volunteering at least one day per week for at least four hours. Houston Methodist also partners with area organizations to provide pet therapy, handmade crafts and comfort items.
Sample activities: greeting, wayfinding, and providing departmental support
Donations: book and magazine donations are accepted
17021 I-45 N., The Woodlands
936-270-2189
www.houstonmethodist.org/giving/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/the-woodlands/
Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center
The hospital has year-round volunteer opportunities for adults over the age of 18 and junior volunteers for high school students at least 15 years old. Applications for 2024 are accepted through Dec. 15 for junior volunteers.
Sample activities: patient interactions, support and clerical services, hospitality, gift shop
Donations: Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center accepts donations to supply programs and resources at www.woodlandscanopy.org. Donations are also accepted for pediatric patients and visitors and the NICU has an active foundation gifting program.
9250 Pinecroft Drive, The Woodlands
www.memorialhermann.org
Women's services
Montgomery County Women's Center
The Montgomery County Women’s Center helps survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault by providing an emergency shelter, legal services, crisis intervention programs, a 24-hour hotline, case management and transitional housing
Sample activities: cooking meals at the shelter, monitoring children during counseling, overseeing counseling sessions, volunteering at the store with unloading and sorting clothes.
Donations: household items, clothes, furniture, dishes, toiletries, toddler beds, portable cribs
1600 Lake Front Circle, Ste. 130, The Woodlands
www.mcwctx.org
Senior support
Meals on Wheels Montgomery County
The nonprofit provides homebound seniors in Montgomery County with hot, nutritious meals and a safety check from volunteers as well as curb-to-curb transportation services
Sample activities: delivering weekday meals, Saturday breakfast bags, working in-office on Tuesdays, helping in the kitchen, holiday gift delivery
Donations: soups, stews, large-print puzzle books, dog and cat food for Animeal program
111 S. Second St., Conroe
www.mowmc.org
