For those looking to help out in the Tomball and Magnolia community, there are several local nonprofit groups that offer volunteer opportunities and accept donations. This list is noncomprehensive.
Empower children
1. Boys and Girls Country is a nonprofit certified children’s home for kids from families in crisis. Children receive spiritual guidance, education, counseling and other life-enrichment programs in a safe and nurturing environment. Community members can learn more about the organizations at monthly Walk of Hope tours. The next tour is scheduled for Jan. 7.
Requirements: background check
18806 Roberts Road, Hockley
281-351-4976
www.boysandgirlscountry.org
2. CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County supports children and families involved in the child welfare system. After completing around 35 hours of initial training, CASA volunteer advocates are assigned to one or two cases at a time and focus solely on that one child or sibling group and their family. CASA also has volunteer opportunities in fundraising, event planning and helping around the office.
Requirements: application, orientation, background check; opportunities for under age 18
505 N. Main St., Conroe
936-441-5437
www.casaspeaks4kids.com
3. JoyRide Center’s mission is to help people with different abilities find joy through equine-assisted services. Volunteers can help through the nonprofit’s two main positions, for which there is training: side walkers, who walk alongside clients during lessons, and horse handlers. Volunteers must be age 14 or older.
Requirements: application, orientation; opportunities for under age 18
29550 Tudor Way, Magnolia
281-356-5900
www.joyridecenter.org
4. SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship is in need of volunteers to help as side walkers—offering support to the rider during the lesson—and leaders, who are responsible for leading the horse during the lesson. No horse experience is necessary to volunteer as a side walker, while extensive horse experience is needed to volunteer as a leader.
Requirements: application, orientation, opportunities for under age 18
4610 Sloangate Drive, Spring
281-356-7588
https://sire-htec.og
5. Yes to Youth Montgomery County Youth Services provides crisis counseling, intervention and suicide prevention services as well as shelter programs for families and youths. The organization also offers a 24-hour crisis hotline. Volunteers assist by hosting needs drives, helping with events, groundskeeping, providing meals and spending time with youth at the Bridgeway Shelter.
Requirements: background check
31335 Friendship Drive, Magnolia
281-259-0440
www.sayyestoyouth.org
6. The YMCA is committed to the health of more than half a million people to grow and thrive through programs and services across the Greater Houston area. Volunteers are needed to help with activities, such as coaching youth sports teams, assisting with adaptive programs for youth and adults with disabilities, serving at community events, fundraising and mentoring youth.
Requirements: application, orientation, background check; opportunities for under age 18
19915 Hwy. 249, Houston
281-469-1481
www.ymcahouston.org/volunteer
Feed the hungry
7. Helping Hands Community Garden offers free garden beds for individuals, families, scout groups, senior citizens and those with physical limitations. Volunteers can donate their time to help maintain the garden beds or donate items, such as seeds, bagged pine straw and garden tools. Volunteers garden on Wednesday and Friday mornings with hours changing seasonally. Gardeners are expected to volunteer an hour a month.
Requirements: orientation
31355 Friendship Drive, Magnolia
832-257-6601
www.helpinghandscommunitygarden.org
8. Montgomery County Food Bank receives, processes, packages and distributes donated and surplus food throughout the county. Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals, families and groups. Children ages 7-15 can volunteer with an adult.
Requirements: orientation; opportunities for under age 18
1 Food for Life Way, Conroe
936-271-8800
www.mcfoodbank.org
9. Started 14 years ago, the Tomball Community Garden grows fresh produce to donate to Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries, which then distributes the food to those in need. 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. Activities include weeding, fertilizing, mowing, edging, planting and harvesting.
Requirements: opportunities for under age 18
1603 Baker Drive, Tomball
281-351-1249
www.tomballumc.org/tomball-community-garden
Serve seniors
10. Meals on Wheels Montgomery County• •provides meals to local homebound seniors and pet food through its aniMeals program. Volunteers deliver meals, help in the kitchen and assist with various office tasks. Volunteers under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent.
Requirements: application, orientation, background check; opportunities for under age 18
111 S. Second St., Conroe
936-756-5828
www.mowmc.org
Help animals
11. Abandoned Animal Rescue is an all-volunteer dog and cat rescue adoption center. Volunteers are needed to help with dog and cat care. Shifts are two hours long, and volunteers ages 14-15 must be accompanied by a parent. Orientation is offered on Saturdays. Activities include walking or playing with dogs, cleaning kennels and litter boxes, and feeding or administering medications.
Requirements: application, orientation; opportunities for under age 18
32632 Wright Road, Magnolia
281-789-4142
www.aartexas.org
12. Friends of Texas Wildlife rescues, rehabilitates and releases injured, orphaned or abandoned wildlife. Interested volunteers will attend an orientation to learn more about the organization. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old, and anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Requirements: application, orientation; opportunities for under age 18
29615 Highland Blvd., Magnolia
281-259-0039
www.ftwl.org
13. Montgomery County Animal Shelter offers opportunities to assist with dog bathing and walking, cat handling, on- and off-site adoptions, fostering and laundry. Volunteers can also help with administrative tasks or serve as a vet staffer, surgery assistant or photographer’s assistant.
Requirements: application; opportunities for under age 18
8535 Hwy. 242, Conroe
936-442-7738
www.mcaspets.org
14. Texas Litter Control• provides low-cost spay and neuter services for animals and 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.
Requirements: orientation; opportunities for under age 18
Petsmart, 14420 FM 2920, Tomball
TLC Resale Shop, 28437 Hwy. 249, Tomball
281-528-1238
https://texaslittercontrol.org/volunteer
Help the community
15. The Community Assistance Center• offers essential assistance programs and provides disaster relief, housing services and a food pantry. Volunteer activities include sorting donations, assisting with its voucher program, assisting on the resale shop sales floor, organizing resale shop merchandise, assembling homeless care kits with the food pantry and assisting with donation collection.
Requirements: application
1022 McCall Ave., Conroe
936-494-4414
www.cac-mctx.org
16. A nonprofit housing organization, •Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County•’s mission is 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.
Requirements: application, orientation
9407 Hwy. 242, Conroe
936-441-5888
www.habitatmctx.com
17. Inspiration Ranch offers therapeutic riding and equine-assisted mental health services at its 40-acre facility for people with physical, emotional and social disabilities. Volunteers can help with the riding program, farm chores, and events and fundraising and must be at least 15 years old. Horse experience is not required. Activities include assisting with the riding program, helping with groundskeeping, and providing event and fundraising help.
Requirements: application, orientation, background check; opportunities for under age 18
33029 Wright Road, Magnolia
281-719-9322
www.inspirationranch.org
18. 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. Volunteer activities include maintaining facilities, making meals, helping with Christmas programs, and organizing and sorting donations at the resale store.
Requirements: application, orientation, background check
1401 Airport Road, Conroe
936-441-4044
www.mcwctx.org
19. Resale with a Purpose is a nonprofit resale shop that donates all proceeds to local ministries in the Greater Tomball area. Items accepted for donation include clothing, furniture, home decor and other goods. Activities include straightening item displays, organizing store merchandise, and carrying donated items in and out of the shop.
Requirements: application, orientation; opportunities for under age 18
28583 Business 249, Tomball
281-255-1450
https://tomballresaleshop.com
20. Society of Samaritans assists the homeless and those in crisis by providing food, clothes, household items, financial assistance and other basic needs. The nonprofit also offers a food pantry, a resale shop and a giving center. Volunteers ages 14-16 must be accompanied by an adult. Activities include helping with food distribution, unloading trucks and stocking shelves, and sorting and displaying donated merchandise.
Requirements: application; opportunities for under age 18
31355 Friendship Drive, Ste. 500, Magnolia
281-259-8452
www.societyofsamaritanstx.org
21. Christian-based nonprofit Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries• provides food, financial assistance and other support to Tomball-area residents in crisis. The nonprofit includes a resale shop, a food pantry and an assistance ministry. Volunteers help in three-hour shifts, and those under age 13 must be accompanied by a parent. Activities include receiving, cleaning and sorting donations; serving as a cashier; hanging and tagging clothes; and staging and organizing merchandise.
Requirements: application; opportunities for under age 18
300 W. Main St., Tomball
281-351-6700
www.teamtomball.com
Support health & wellness
22. Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has an active volunteer service program for adults and a summer program for high school students. Volunteers must undergo a drug screen and a tuberculosis test and receive mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccines as well as safety training. Volunteer opportunities include patient interaction, assisting in various departments across campus and clerical support.
Requirements: application; orientation; opportunities for under age 18
18220 Hwy. 249, Houston
281-737-1063
www.houstonmethodist.org/giving/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/willowbrook
23. TOMAGWA HealthCare Ministries• is a comprehensive family practice clinic that provides medical services to those who are without health insurance. Volunteer opportunities include as medical professionals, translators and clerical helpers. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Activities include scanning documents, taking appointment calls, translating and greeting patients.
Requirements: application; background check; opportunities for under age 18
455 School St., Ste. 30, Tomball
281-357-0747
www.tomagwa.org
