Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify the size of donated rugs Helping Hands Community Garden accepts.

Residents of the Tomball and Magnolia area have several options for places they can volunteer to help with the community, children, animals, food insecurity programs and other nonprofit groups. Here are a few organizations accepting volunteers or donations. This list is not comprehensive.

Animals

Abandoned Animal Rescue

The organization is an all-volunteer dog and cat rescue and adoption center. Volunteers 14-15 years old can volunteer with a parent.


Sample activities: help in the cattery and in the dog play yard; dog handling; cleaning kennels, front office tasks; maintenance

Donations accepted: wishlist items included on website, monetary donationsFriends of Texas Wildlife

The organization rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured, orphaned or abandoned wildlife alongside hosting many educational presentations. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, and anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Sample activities: email [email protected] for more information


Donations accepted: monetary donations accepted online; Amazon wishlist items at https://a.co/dX2FHvQMontgomery 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 accepted: monetary donations, medical supplies, blankets, toys, food, treats, lick mats, crates and kennelsTexas Litter Control


The nonprofit provides low-cost spay and neuter services for animals, and volunteers are needed to care for cats at the Petsmart adoption center as well as the TLC Resale Shop in Tomball. Resale volunteers 18 and older are needed Thursday-Saturday to prepare and sell donated items. Volunteers ages 16-18 are able to volunteer with a parent or guardian at the adoption center and must volunteer at least once per month.

Sample activities: Intake of donations, assisting customers, cleaning cat kennels

Donations accepted: dog and cat food, books, artwork, household goodsCommunity

Assistance League of Montgomery County


Assistance League’s all-volunteer nonprofit organization has been transforming the lives of children and adults in Montgomery County since 1985 through its seven community programs.

Sample activities: work in the thrift shop, assist with various community programs, serve as team leaders, administrative work, information technology, accounting/bookkeeping, marketing and social media

Donations accepted: Donations of gently used clothing and household items can be made at 126 N. San Jacinto St., Conroe. Monetary donations can be made on the website, in person, or by mail to the thrift shop location.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, conflict resolution education, office tasks, community outreach, event planning

Donations accepted: individually wrapped candy, snacks and bottled water; office supplies; paper towels and wipes; gift cards; monetary donationsHands of Justice

The nonprofit strives to provide economic empowerment to survivors of human trafficking through awareness, outreach, survivor scholarships, survivor-led and trauma-informed support groups, counseling, advocacy, and more.

Sample activities: planning and executing the following events: Annual Human Trafficking Collaborative Summit, Fashion for Freedom, assembling Freedom Bags for donations

Donations accepted: financial donations and items for Freedom BagsPrecinct 3 Volunteer Program

Eight community centers in Harris County are operated by Precinct 3, offering residents of all ages sites to enjoy group activities, fitness classes, educational seminars and social support. Volunteer opportunities are available at some locations. Purchase of supplies or entrance fees may be necessary for some activities/trips.

Sample activities: craft making; working outdoor festival activities; holiday decorating; exercise classes; and helping with Summer Kids programs, game days, art classes and senior citizen trips

Donations accepted: monetaryResale with a Purpose

The nonprofit resale shop donates all proceeds to local ministries in the Greater Tomball area. Items accepted for donation include clothing, furniture, home decor and other goods.

Sample activities: straightening item displays, organizing store merchandise, and carrying donated items in and out of the shop

Donations accepted: clothing, furniture, home decor and other goodsTomball Emergency Assistance Ministries

The nonprofit serves Tomball-area families in crisis by providing emergency assistance with food, clothing, medical and dental care, and other household bills. The organization also operates a resale shop. Volunteers under age 13 must be accompanied by a parent.

Sample activities: retail service in The Resale Shop; local food delivery and pickup; caseworkers and mentors

Donations accepted: Gently used household items and clothing are accepted Wednesdays and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; nonperishable items and toiletries are accepted Wednesday and Fridays 10 a.m.-2 p.m.Environment

Bayou Land Conservancy

Bayou Land Conservancy conserves over 15,000 acres from Bryan to Beaumont, focusing on key areas that impact the water supply, wildlife and flood control. Volunteers can work on trail maintenance, special events, join the board of directors or lead guided hikes for the community.

Sample activities: conduct guided hikes, trail maintenance, removing invasive species, and educational outreach, volunteer committees and events

Donations accepted: Money is accepted as well as donations of land.Tidy Up Tomball

Tidy Up Tomball, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2023, is a community-led initiative dedicated to tackling the growing litter problem in Tomball.

Sample activities: biannual cleanup events where volunteers can sign up to clean up litter around town

Donations accepted: sponsorships of cleanup events, monetary donations for the items necessary to run the cleanup eventsFood insecurity

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 accepted: 4-by-12-foot old rugs or carpeting, dried citrus peels, dried egg shells, bagged pine needles and leaves, Medina Orange Oil (organic ant kill)Keep US Fed Montgomery County

The nonprofit has rescued and redistributed over 7.9 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 accepted: food donations and food drive organizationKids’ Meals

Kids' Meals Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating childhood hunger by providing free, healthy meals to preschool children in need, delivering directly to their homes. Volunteers ages 8 and older are needed for shifts Monday-Friday from 9-11:30 a.m., and all children under 18 must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Sample activities: making sandwiches, preparing snacks, compiling lunch bags, sorting food donations, packing grocery bags

Donations accepted: decorated lunch bags, DIY-packed lunchesMontgomery County Food Bank

The food bank provides nutritious food to children, seniors and families through a network of partner agencies.

Sample activities: sort and package food, deliver groceries to low-income seniors, drive-thru food distribution assistance

Donations accepted: monetary donations, food donationsTomball Community Garden

Tomball Community Garden grows fresh produce to donate to Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries. Located at Tomball Methodist Church, volunteers work in the garden every Tuesday and Thursday for one hour, and children must be supervised by an adult.

Sample activities: weeding, fertilizing, composting, mowing, edging, planting seeds and transplants and harvesting

Donations accepted: gently used garden tools, vegetable seeds and bags of pine needles. Monetary donations can be made by giving to Tomball Methodist Church with Tomball Community Garden listed as the recipient.Health

Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital

Volunteers interact with patients, assist staff and provide 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: rounding on patients, greeting/wayfinding and providing departmental support

Donations accepted: books and magazinesHouston Methodist Willowbrook

Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is a not-for-profit, faith-based hospital that serves the growing Northwest Houston community. The hospital has 358 licensed beds and is committed to health care in a range of services, including emergency care, cardiology, comprehensive women’s services, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, and primary and general medicine.

Sample activities: patient interaction, assisting staff and administrative support

Donations accepted: call volunteer services team to discuss in more detail at 281-737-1063 or visit hospital websiteMemorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center

The hospital has volunteer opportunities for adults over the age of 18, and junior volunteer opportunities for high school students at least 15 years old. Applications for 2025 are accepted through Dec. 15 for the year-round junior volunteers program.

Sample activities: patient interactions, community event support and clerical services

Donations accepted: Canopy Cancer Survivorship Center accepts donations to supply programs and resources. Donations are also accepted for pediatric patients and visitors, and the NICU has an active foundation gifting program.TOMAGWA Healthcare Ministries

TOMAGWA provides compassionate Christian health care to community members with limited resources by offering medical, dental, vision, lab, pharmacy and case management services. With its partners, the nonprofit can treat many levels of care from preventive to chronic and complex medical needs.

Sample activities: administrative, clinicians, events, marketing, facilities, translators (www.tomagwa.org/volunteer for complete list)

Donations accepted: 500mg acetaminophen, copy paper, hygiene kits, paper lunch bags for prescriptions; or items from the Amazon wishlistHousing

Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County

The nonprofit aims to build safe and sustainable housing. Volunteers must be at least age 17 to help at the nonprofit’s resale shop, ReStore, and home repair volunteers must be at least age 18.

Sample activities: home repairs, construction, resale shop

Donations accepted: monetary contributions, donated home goods, supplies through the resale shopSeniors

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 and Saturday breakfast bags; helping in the kitchen; Thanksgiving meal bag delivery and holiday gift delivery

Donations accepted: soups, stews, large-print puzzle books, Breakfast Bags, and Thanksgiving Meal BagsWomen

The 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 accepted: household items, clothes, furniture, dishes, toiletries, toddler beds, portable cribsYouth and families

Angel Reach

The nonprofit serves kinship families and youth aging out of the foster care system as well as young people ages 16-24 at risk for homelessness. The organization provides housing, counseling, transportation, employment coaching and educational advising.

Sample activities: provide cooking classes or life lesson trainings once a week, or sign up to be a mentor for those in the program

Donations accepted: Donations can be made online or by check. Donations of tangible items are also accepted.
  • 900 W. Dallas St., Conroe; donations accepted at 2121 Timber Lane, Conroe
  • www.angelreach.org
Child Advocates of Montgomery County

The organization empowers vulnerable children through volunteer advocacy. The vision of the nonprofit is to create a connected community where children and families thrive, and members work to eliminate childhood trauma, abuse and neglect.

Sample activities: become an advocate for a child, volunteer for various activities and needs at the Child Advocates office in downtown Conroe, or help with one of their fundraising events

Donations accepted: new toy and new book donations for children and youth from infancy to 18 years old; monetary donationsD. Bradley McWilliams YMCA at Cypress Creek

This local YMCA serves the Spring and Klein community through programs and social services designed to help individuals and families learn, grow and thrive. For more information, contact 281-469-1481.

Sample activities: coach youth sports teams, mentor youth and serve on the board of advisers

Donations accepted: monetary donationsInspiration Ranch

The organization offers therapeutic riding and equine-assisted services for people with physical, emotional and social disabilities. No horse experience is required to volunteer, but volunteers must be at least age 15.

Sample activities: side-walking, horse leading, grooming and feeding

Donations accepted: monetary donations; horses, tack and related itemsJoy Ride Center

JoyRide Center’s mission is to help people with different abilities find joy through equine-assisted services, and it also features a day program called PREP for clients who have aged out of high school. Volunteers are encouraged to commit to a semester of service.

Sample activities: horse handlers who groom, tack and lead the horses during classes; and side-walkers who walk alongside the horse and rider for safety

Donations accepted: tack, monetary donationsYes 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 accepted: monetary gifts