Volunteer Opportunities

United Way of Blount County - 865.982.2251

The United Way is an organization that strives to improve lives. To do this, United Way teams up with multiple organizations in the community. The goal of the United Way of Blount County is to correct the sources of the County's problems in order to promote a better life for citizens.

For Adults

The American Red Cross (865.983.0821) needs volunteers for both office work and for the Disaster Action Team. Disaster Action Team members must have flexible availability 24/7 as they are emergency responders. The Disaster Action Team combats local, small-scale disasters. Training courses are required. Administrative volunteers will be doing data entry, inventory control and making and answering phone calls. Administrative volunteers must have flexible availability from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Appalachian Bear Rescue (828.524.9904) needs volunteers usually on the weekends to work with an information table at various events. Volunteer requirements include the ability to enjoy meeting people and discussing bears and the nonprofit organization. All training and materials are provided.

Blount County Animal Shelter (865.980.6244): Training will be provided on site, but most of the jobs are easy to learn. The most needed volunteers are kennel cleaners and walkers. Other volunteer work needed is help with laundry, organizing supplies, washing toys and food bowls and helping with events.

Blount County Children's Home: Supervised Visitation Program. Volunteers will observe non-custodial parent-child visitations in family environment. BCCH will provide ongoing training to observation specialists. Volunteer hours will be noon until 8 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., on Saturday. Volunteers must consent to a criminal background check. Volunteers are also needed for clerical duties including filing, answering phones and general office duties from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For supervised visitation volunteers, please call 865.233.4448 or 865.724.5948. For administrative volunteers please call 865.982.6361 or 865.724.5947.

Blount County Community Action Agency (865.983.8411, ext. 27): Route drivers to deliver meals to the Blount County home-bound elderly. Program hours are from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. Volunteers are also needed to assist with packing canned goods and distributing food bags as part of the Commodity Food Program, which is held once per quarter on a weekday from 9 a.m. until noon., and from 1 until 3 p.m.

Blount County Habitat for Humanity (865.982.8717): On construction sites and in the Habitat ReStore, the volunteers work at these two locations painting, landscaping, construction, sorting donations, answering phones and helping customers. Construction hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Hours are the ReStore are from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from 1 until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Blount County Schools Read for Success Program (865.984.1212): Meets one day a week for one hour to read with a student. Volunteers will be trained and materials will be provided. Days and hours may vary, but will fall within normal school hours Monday through Friday.

Blount Memorial Hospice (865.981.2322): Visit with caregivers, stay with patients to give caregivers a respite, provide light housekeeping or yard work and read to patients. Must attend four sessions of volunteer training.

East Tennessee Technology Access Center (865.219.0130): Next Chapter Book Club, which provides people with disabilities the opportunity to read and discuss books while making friends in a fun community setting. Help is also needed at special events such as movie nights, vendor fairs and summer camps.

Fine Arts Blount (865.356.4361): Help with office work and special events. No special skills are necessary and days and hours may vary. Training will be provided.

"GATE -- Gateway to Independence" (865.379.7904) is a day program for young adults with disabilities. Volunteers of all ages who enjoy games, arts and crafts, music and interacting with young adults are welcome from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday.

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center (865.448.0044): Guides to lead school and other groups through the center are needed. Volunteers to work in the museum store, collect tickets, sell admissions, park cars and work the concessions stand for special events, such as the summer concert series and the Blue Ribbon Country Fair in the fall. Training will be provided.

Harmony Adoptions (865.983.1661): Assist with the renovation of Camp Montvale to turn it into a residential adoptive family treatment program that will be the first of its kind in the nation. Volunteer opportunities include general maintenance, grounds-keeping and much more. Harmony Adoptions also needs highly skilled professionals such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, dry-wall hangers, etc., to assist with the effort.

Haven House (865.983.6818): Assist with child care from 6-7 p.m. Monday support group. Volunteers are also needed for office help including special projects and mailings and fundraising help including planning and implementation of an event. Volunteers must be 18 or older, pass a criminal background check, maintain confidentiality and for child care, pass a drug screening. Training will be provided by the Haven House staff. Volunteers must be willing to make a time commitment and work regularly scheduled hours.

Housing Repair Collaborative (865.982.8717, ext. 227): Home repair projects for low income households. The projects are either indoor or outdoor work and may include fixing roofs or building ramps. 

John Weston Sr. Memorial Food Garden (865.984.1690): Garden dedicated to growing food for donation to food banks and other organizations in our county. Volunteers assist with all aspects of gardening, from planting, to weeding to harvest. Scheduled work days are once a month, but additional volunteer days can be made by appointment. All work is supervised and training on site. 

The Blount County Children's Advocacy Center (865.981.2000) is a child-friendly, safe place for child victims of sexual and physical abuse. Volunteer tasks may include assisting around the office by answering phones and greeting guests, helping with special events and fundraisers throughout the year, providing child care during support group and any other opportunities that may arise. 

Keep Blount Beautiful (865.681.4809): Help with litter cleanups. All volunteers will receive bags, gloves, vests, bag pickup service and litter pickers if available. All ages are welcome, but children ages 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult for roadside cleanup. Volunteers chose a time that is convenient for them.

Senior Citizen's Home Assistance Service (865.983.4710): Volunteers are needed to plan and set up a car show.

Senior Outreach (865.223.4737): Volunteers are needed to call on and help senior shut-ins in Blount County. Senior outreach requests that volunteers give 16 hours per month, volunteer for at least one year and have a valid driver's license.

Sexual Assault Center of East Tennessee (865.558.9040): Volunteers are needed to help with office work up to and including answering phones and filing. Volunteers are needed to help with client advocacy. Volunteers should have good people and organization skills. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

TN Valley Coalition to End Homelessness (865.982.3454): Answer phones and take messages in the Maryville office. The Coalition serves clients in 12 counts and has a very high call volume.

For Children

Bedtime Snack Sacks
To help children who are living in homeless shelters and seldom get a bedtime snack, this program strives to provide children with this treat. Children decorate lunch bags with markers, sequins and glitter and then fill each bag with a juice pack and non-perishable treats, such as a granola bar, packaged crackers or dried fruit. Then, as a special surprise, a small "Happy Meal" type toy is added to the bag. Deliver the snack sacks to a shelter with children. For privacy reasons, you may not actually see any residents at the shelter.
Haven House: 865.982.1087
Family Promise of Blount County: 865.233.4737
Heaven Sent Home: 865.977.8882

Coupon Collecting

Look through newspapers and magazines and collect coupons for groceries and household supplies. Ask your neighbors to contribute some also. When you have a bundle of coupons, donate them to a shelter or food pantry to help stretch their budget.
Haven House: 865.982.1087
Family Promise of Blount County: 865.233.4737
Heaven Sent Home: 865.977.8882
Chilhowee Baptist Center: 865.981.2992
Community Food Connection: 865.977.4400

Decorating Delight

Volunteer to decorate for seasonal activities at nursing or group homes. Purchase inexpensive streamers, balloons and decorating supplies or make your own for a personal touch. Even toddlers can help with paper chains or adding their own artwork.
Everett Senior Center: 865.983.9422
Asbury Place: 865.984.1660
Shannondale: 865.982.4599

Dog and Cat Fun

Local humane societies look for volunteer dog walkers. See if your family can register as dog walkers and get exercise along with the dogs! Old towels and newspapers can also be collected and donated to shelters for animal care.
Blount County Humane Society: 865.742.3070
Blount County Animal Care Center: 865.980.6244

Seniors

Many senior citizens cherish their pets, but seniors on limited income may not be able to afford pet food or supplies. Collect pet food and supplies and donate them to a local senior center.
Everett Senior Center: 865.983.9422
Senior Citizens Home Assistance: 865.983.4710

Reading Fun

If the local library needs help with reading programs, make posters for upcoming events or even dress as a story book character. Good readers may read to the elderly at nursing homes or to people who have lost their vision.

Entertainment

Prepare a skit, song or musical piece and offer to present a "talent show" to a local nursing home.
Everett Senior Center: 865.983.9422
Asbury Place: 865.984.1660
Shannondale: 865.982.4599

Outdoor Clean Up

Contact the local Parks and Recreation department to volunteer with trail clean up. Kids can help staff create trails, plant flowers and maintain park facilities.
Parks and Rec: 865.983.9244
Keep Blount Beautiful: 865.681.4809

Road Runs

Special Olympics: 865.983.9244
American Cancer Society: 865.584.1668