Citywide Volunteer Opportunities

Find out how you can help the Fishers community through volunteer opportunities, donation, and nonprofit needs in Fishers.

Join the Fishers Fire Corps

A Fire Corps member provides support to the firefighters by performing services at emergency incidents and non-emergency events at department facilities and department functions. This includes responding to incidents to provide incident rehabilitation to firefighters and support to individuals affected by an emergency. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, pass a criminal background check, and have received a high school diploma or GED. Learn more.

Available Opportunities at Local Non-Profits & Organizations

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana: Bigs and Littles are matched within 20 minute driving distance from their homes or work and see each other 4-6 hour per month for at least a year. Although most matches go on and stay matched longer than one year! Matches are expected to stick to free to low cost activities plus have the option to attend agency sponsored activities. Each match is assigned to a Mentoring Relationship Specialist, who is a professional staff member who provides coaching, resources, and support to Bigs, Littles, and parents/guardians. Volunteer are needed in Fishers and throughout Hamilton County, especially male volunteers.  To step up and become a Big, please sign up here.
• Blood Donation: Versiti Blood Center is accepting Blood Donation Appointments at their Fishers location. Sign up for an appointment.
• Child Care Answers: Child Care Answers is currently looking for board members to advance their mission who have expertise in law, fundraising, marketing, and/or finance. The organization works to help entrepreneurs open their own child care business; they would love for you to volunteer your time and talents to share your business expertise. Please contact Vicki Lehman at victorial@chilcareanswers.com.
• Climb Out of the Darkness: The Climb Out of the Darkness is the world’s largest event raising awareness and funds for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and the mental health of families. This year’s Hamilton County Climb is looking for sponsorships, in-kind donations, and monetary donations. The Climb will take place on June 26 in the Village of West Clay (following all CDC guidelines).
• Fishers Arts Council: Seeking general volunteers to help support thier events such as assisting with greeting guests, assisting artists, Saturday gallery hours, data collection, and event support. Please contact Tom Rich by email.
• Food 4 Souls: Food 4 Souls needs consist of volunteers to prepare meals, serve our friends without walls. Volunteers may sign up via Donaide.
• Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County: Good Samaritan Network (GSN) is a collaborative/network of non-profits in Hamilton County. The central hub of all Hamilton County Agencies and Pantries in Hamilton County Indiana; the Good Samaritan Network meets the rebuilding of our community during or after a disaster through the Hamilton County Emergency Management. They are also the COAD – Community Active in Disaster working through the disaster to get food to pantries in county. They have 45 food pantry which are part of 260 agencies in Hamilton County and have year-round weekend large groups and have volunteer opportunities for all ages. To volunteer, please email Nancy Chance.
• Humane Society for Hamilton County: Become a volunteer! Our animals come to us with a variety of needs… emotional, social, financial, and medical. By donating your time, you can simultaneously help offset the cost of running the shelter and keep our animals happy, healthy, and ready to find new homes. The time and effort our volunteers give to the shelter is invaluable and incredible. Simply put, we couldn’t do what we do without them. Get more info here: https://www.hamiltonhumane.com/how-to-help/volunteer Foster an animal. Simply put: Foster homes save lives. As an open-admission, truly No-Kill shelter, we are always at capacity. So it only takes one big intake day, or a hoarding case, or the seasonal peaks we see with kitten season and before holidays, for us to find ourselves in a space crisis. On any given day, we have more than 200 animals in foster homes…and we need more. Without the open hearts and homes of our foster families–we couldn’t give each animal the second chance they deserve. Learn more.
• International Talent Academy: Seeking volunteers to help find, identify, and contact families who would qualify for their scholarship program.
• Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County: We are always looking for friendly, compassionate volunteers to deliver meals to those who are unable to prepare their own nutritious meals due to a physical and/or mental challenge. You must be 18 years of age with a valid drivers license, proof of insurance and pass a criminal history background check. We ask for a commitment of at least one time per month. For more information you can call 317-776-7159 or visit their website.
• Midwest Food Bank: Seeking volunteers.  Please email Debbie Wingate.
• Million Meal Movement: Volunteer – Volunteers help us run meal packing events, making it possible for our packing participants to donate thousands of hours and distribute millions of meals to the hungry in Indiana. Volunteer when it works for your schedule. In just a few hours, you can make a meaningful difference. Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals and groups of all ages and abilities. Please contact Molly Adams by email.
• Paws and Think, Inc: Paws & Think needs volunteers to assist with their Pet Therapy training classes. These are the classes where dogs and their handlers learn the skills to become a registered therapy team with Paws & Think. Our Trainer leads these classes, and volunteers are needed to help the Trainer practice different exercises with the dogs. As a volunteer, you would not bring your dog with you for this opportunity. They also welcome school-age children to volunteer along with their parent or guardian. All volunteers must either complete the Paws & Think volunteer application and background check or provide a signed waiver before volunteering at a class.  Please contact Kathy Janes by email.
• Phone-a-Friend: Phone-a-Friend is a network of college students here to create community with the elderly and immuno-compromised. Volunteers and seniors can sign up on the website. Seniors can additionally email the organization or call 317-847-8411.
• Prevail: To volunteer with Prevail, please contact Susan Ferguson by email.
• Riverview Health Hospital: Riverview Health relies on the assistance of hundreds of volunteers each year, and new volunteers are always welcome. Volunteering is great way to foster community involvement while improving the experiences of patients and their families. Please contact the manager of Volunteer Services by email or at 317-776-7236.
• Second Helpings: Sign up for their emergency volunteer wait list here. These volunteers assist in the kitchen with making sandwiches and meals to serve the community due to increased demand.
• The Children’s TherAplay Foundation: Children’s TherAplay provides physical and occupational therapy on horseback (hippotherapy) for children with special needs. They provide in-clinic speech therapy for our current client base as well, with plans to expand the speech program in the future. Sidewalking is their highest volunteer need. This includes walking alongside the horse during a therapy session to help the therapist stabilize the patient and ensure safety. Volunteer sidewalkers might be asked to engage in playing games with the child during certain activities, or possibly to stay quiet as they walk along depending on what the child is working on that day. They have a range of size horses and ponies depending on the rider’s size, so volunteers should feel comfortable walking alongside the different sizes. However, no horse experience is required since they have trained horse handlers who guide the horses during the therapy sessions. If you are interested in learning more and getting started please email McKenzie Land.

  Donations: As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Children’s TherAplay couldn’t operate without the generosity of our community. If you’re interested in supporting the organization, there are quite a few ways to do so!
  If you’re interested in giving a monetary donation, you can do so here. You can also reach out to McKenzie.

  In-Kind Donation: A big area TherAplay can use a lot of in-kind help is with their major fundraising events. Ideas for these types of items include but are not limited to:
  • Food and beverages
  • Silent auction items
  • Printing event items
  • Printer quality paper for invitations, program books, etc.

  There are many other ways TherAplay can use in-kind donations, so please reach out if you have something in mind! Or support TherAplay by buying an item off their wishlists! Clinic Wish List and Barn Wish List. The Children’s TherAplay Foundation’s staff, kiddos, and kiddo’s families are so grateful for your support.

• The Mustard Seed: The Mustard Seed is looking for volunteers to help create sheets that they have in their warehouse that they later give to clients with no furniture. Please contact Matt Emery by email.
• The Shepherd Center: The Shepherd Center is looking for volunteers to serve virtually during the pandemic as phone pals. In addition, they also need delivery drivers to drop off care packages to seniors in need. During non-pandemic times, our volunteers offer transportation, friendly visits, and home repair needs to their clients.
• United Way of Central Indiana: Find a list of volunteer opportunities in the area.
• Volunteer Match: COVID – 19 Volunteer Opportunities & Virtual Volunteer Opportunities
• Youth Mentoring Initiative: YMI is looking for caring adults in the Fishers community to commit to a school year and spend one hour out of their week to mentor a student while they are in school. One hour of your time each week will make a difference in the life of a student! Interested in becoming a mentor? Learn more.

Donate

• Come to Me Food Pantry:  canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat – tuna, chicken, roast beef, ham, etc., 1 pound boxes of pasta and 1 pounds bags of rice, toaster pastries, cereal, canned beans, SpaghettiOs and canned ravioli, pancake mix, and syrup, jiffy corn muffin mix, dried potatoes and stuffing, gravy and broth, soups of any kind, flavored rice and flavored pasta packets, oatmeal and instant oatmeal, tea and coffee, mac and cheese, Raman noodles.

• Community Cats of Hamilton County: CCHC can often use donations of humane live traps, cat food both wet and dry, puppy pads, dry straw, black rubber or silicone feeding bowls,  labor to build feeding stations and winter shelters, people to sew trap covers, people willing to work on trap repair. carpentry skills to build feeding stations and winter shelters, and mechanical skills to repair bent traps. Monetary donations as well to cover veterinary expenses for the community cats. They spay/neuter, vaccinate and ear tip every cat they trap and the minimum expense is $35 each, and can go up based on the condition the cat is in at that time.

• Community North Hospital:  PPE (personal protective equipment) Donations

• Early Learning Alliance Network: The Early Learning Alliance Network supports over 350 preschools and childcare providers in Hamilton County. In Fishers alone, ELAN works with the care and early learning providers for over 11,000 children under the age of five. They are currently seeking donations of hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, gloves, and thermometer covers for preschools/childcare centers. In addition, they are seeking donations of diapers and wipes for local food pantries. To donate, please email Dr. Jody Britten.

• Fishers Arts Council: For several of their events, they have various donation levels available. But in all cases, they are requesting monetary support to help provide supplies and pay for artists. These donation levels range from $150 to $2500+, depending on the level of support and involvement the business wants.

• FLiCK: FLiCK needs your help to reach more families! They provide financial education to students, families with low income, and people with significant financial obstacles like incarceration and abuse. Your donation at flickcorp.org/donate will help them reach as many people as possible with their free financial literacy programs.

• Food 4 Souls: Warm winter clothing, hand warmers, tents, tarps and financial support. Monetary donations may be made via Donaide.

• Food Pantries: Find a list of needs at local food pantries.

• Hands for Hope: Seeking donations of Diapers, pull-ups, and wipes for children in foster care Toiletry packs for when children first enter foster care (please put in a galloon size Ziploc bag and include: shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrush, and toothpaste) Underwear for children in foster care.

• Humane Society for Hamilton County:  Donations to the Humane Society for Hamilton County saves lives. You can make a one time gift or become a Love & Let Live supporter with an automatic recurring monthly gift. Other ways to support are by simply picking up a few extra items on our Amazon wish list! Check out our wish list to see what we need most. Foster an animal. Simply put: Foster homes save lives. As an open-admission, truly No-Kill shelter, we are always at capacity. So it only takes one big intake day, or a hoarding case, or the seasonal peaks we see with kitten season and before holidays, for us to find ourselves in a space crisis. On any given day, we have more than 200 animals in foster homes…and we need more. Without the open hearts and homes of our foster families–we couldn’t give each animal the second chance they deserve. Learn more.

• International Talent Academy: Seeking volunteers to help find, identify, and contact families who would qualify for their scholarship program.

• HSE Schools Foundation (HSSF): HSSF is looking for monetary donations in support of its mission and to support teachers and students of HSE Schools during the closure period of April 2020. Donate here.

• Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide:  Any small donation would have a lasting impact on the youth and children in our community.

• Meals on Wheels of Hamilton County: This organization is seeking assistance for the influx of new clients that need financial assistance to pay for home-delivered meals. Hot meals are $4.95/meal, cold supper meal $2.75/meal, and frozen meals for weekends or supplemental nutritional needs are $6/meal. Please visit their website for more information and to donate.

• Michele’s Mission of Love: In-kind Donations of Breast Cancer related items for thier Special Project of gifts for Breast Cancer Survivors. Financial donations are always appreciated to support their many projects.

• Million Meal Movement:   They rely on gifts from individuals and the business community to cover the costs of materials and operations – just $1 provides roughly four meals. Your tax-deductible donation, whether monetary, in-kind, or in the form of pack sponsorships, will help shape an Indiana where everyone can hunger for something greater than their next meal.

• Paws and Think, Inc.: Items on our Wish List: -Printing Services (Flyers, Brochures, Business Cards, Posters, New Banner, etc.) -Gift Cards for Pet Valu, Pet Supplies Plus, City Dogs Grocery, or Pet People for supplies for Youth-Canine Program -Kroger Gift Cards for Hot Dogs and Cheese for training dogs in the Youth-Canine Program -$25 Gift Cards for Thank You Gifts to Volunteers and Guest Evaluators (Restaurants, Shops) -Stamps (Need Several Sheets and Rolls) -NEW books for kids at K-2nd grade reading levels. -Squeeze Cheese -Pupperoni Sticks -Peanut Butter -Stuffed, Durable Dog Toys (Our pups go through these quickly.) -Hand Sanitize Wipes -Non-Splatter Bleach (Lavender Scent Preferred) -Printer Ink for Canon PGI-1200XL Black and Color Combo -Printer Ink HP 61 Black and Color Combo -Printer Ink Canon PGI-225 Black -Printer Ink HP64 Black & Color -Legal Size #10 Envelopes (No windows) -Command Damage -Free Hanging Strips-Medium or Large -Baskets

• Prevail:  In-kind donation options are available on our wish list. The most needed in-kind donation is gift cards for gas and grocery stores.

• Riverview Health Foundation: The COVID-19 Support Fund has been created to provide financial assistance to Riverview Health staff who are juggling caring for patients, their families, their homes and themselves. This COVID-19 Support Fund is designed to provide assistance as needs continue to be identified, increase or change at Riverview Health. Donate here.

• St. Vincent’s Fishers Hospital: For PPE Donations, please call 317-415-9000

• The Cooper House: In need of a HOME to operate out of! They cannot fully serve families and live out their mission until they have a place to call HOME for The Cooper House!

• The Mustard Seed: The Mustard Seed is the only furniture bank in Central Indiana with the mission of helping those coming out of homelessness, either directly off the street, through care facilities, out of domestic abuse situations, incarceration, long term care facilities, or other situations. They are seeking monetary donations to expand their warehouse to be able to accept more donations in the future.

  Donations can be made on their website.

• The O’Connor House: For this upcoming holiday season they are in need of gift cards, specifically gas gift cards (GetGo, Shell, etc.). They provide transportation for residents to their daily destinations such as work, school, daycare, doctor appointments, etc.

• The Shepherd’s Center Senior Supply Donations: Donate non-perishable food items, personal care items, or cleaning supplies. Please email Lauren Guynn. Seeking in-kind donations for care package supplies of cleaning items and personal care items to hand out to seniors in need. Monetary donations help support their mission. Right now, donations support their Crisis Response Plan. For a full list of in-kind donation items or more about monetary donations, please visit their website.

• Youth Inspirations Theatre: Stereo equipment, piano, Marley dance floor, printing, season sponsors, donors circle, operating expense money. looking for in-kind monetary donations to help with necessary equipment for their new facility. Also looking for business sponsors, donors as well as businesses looking to advertise in their programs.

• Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI): Stand with us as we continue to keep mentors connected to their mentees at a time when they need them the most! We are re-tooling and equipping staff and mentors to handle the challenges our kids are facing with social distancing, isolation, pandemic fears, economic and food insecurity, as well as missing their school family. Your financial support lets us stay focused on what we do best…mentor students, build community. Donate here.

Submit a Volunteer Opportunity or Nonprofit Need

 The City of Fishers is collecting information from local Non-Profit organizations regarding general needs, and how the City and community can best support you and your efforts. Non-Profit needs can range from general or skilled volunteers to in-kind or monetary donations. The sky’s the limit!

Please complete this form to submit your organization’s needs.