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ACT Volunteer Center

Since 2007 ACT has been a full service volunteer center serving the entire Franklin-Hampshire-North Quabbin region.  ACT is the only affiliate of the Points of Light Institute in Western Massachusetts, coordinates Make A Difference Day each year and manages the Volunteer Coordinators Network of the Pioneer Valley.

The ACT office is currently located in Greenfield at 21 Abbott Street.

ACT is funded by private foundations (including Bank of America Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Western MA), as well as by charitable gifts from generous residents and local businesses.

Call 413-774-7054 ext. 119 or email act@dialself.org for more informaiton.

Interested in volunteering for a facilitated one-time event?
Then click here for our NEW Hands on Network Calendar Program.

Volunteer Opportunities (11/9/2009)

North Quabbin Area:

  • EBay Whiz – Help oversee the selling of donated items online from EBay. You will be working with youth who are working to build their entrepreneurial skills. This opportunity is located in Orange, Massachusetts and has a fairly flexible schedule.
  • Green Team Captain – Help youth organization establish and maintain environmentally sustainable practices throughout the organization. This opportunity is located in Orange, Ma and has a fairly flexible schedule.

Franklin County:

  • Safe Place Site Laison – Help Safe Place sites in the community maintain a connection to the TeenLine program and ensure the sites are complying with Safe Place program expectations. Training is available. Must be 21 years of age or over, must pass a CORI, must have transportation, experience with community networking/relations preferred. This opportunity is available 1-2 hours/month in Greenfield, Ma.
  • Safe Place Program Response Team Member – Help staff respond to youth who present at Safe Place sites, and if necessary help transport youth to DIAL/SELF facility.  Must be at least 21+, must pass a CORI, must have a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle, must have good character references, and must be willing to work with youth in crisis. Training is provided for this opportunity. This opportunity requires being “on-call” for a 24 hour period of time, for a day, week, month, or some combination of the above. This opportunity is located in Greenfield.

  • Bicycle Repair Specialist – Help publicize local bicycle donation program and aid Americorps member with basic bicycle repair. Help create and hang flyers in community, give bicycles to youth, educate them on safe practices while riding, and complete appropriate paperwork. Must be 21+, must pass a CORI, knowledge of basic bicycle repair preferred. There is training for this opportunity. There is a 2-5 hour/week time commitment. This opportunity is located in Greenfield, Ma.

  • Community Outreach Specialist – The Community Outreach Specialist will help publicize a youth and community services program throughout the community by helping create, update, and maintain outreach materials and stock and restock areas in community where outreach is needed.  Must be 18+, able to pass a CORI, and have valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle. Training is available for this opportunity. 2-3 hours/week, flexible. This opportunity is located in Greenfield, Ma

  • Emergency Food Pantry Specialist -  Help ensure that a food pantry for teenagers remains stocked with food. Must be 16+, be able to life up to 50 lbs at once, and pass a CORI if over 18. This opportunity is available for 4 hours each Wednesday afternoon, in Greenfield, Ma

  • Emergency Housing Specialist – Assist with evening/overnight staffing at our emergency housing center, the Night Owl. Help provide a safe and supportive environment for homeless and at-risk youth between the hours of 7PM and 8AM. Must be at least 21+, pass a CORI, and have experience working with youth between ages of 17-21.  Schedules are 4-8 hour shifts and very flexible.



  • Senior Companion - Visit with isolated seniors, bring them to a doctor appointment, or provide friendship. This opportunity is located in Turners Falls and has a fairly flexible schedule.
  • Skate Park Steering Committee – Serve on the ongoing Turners Falls Skate Park Steering Committee. This opportunity is located in Turners Falls. The committee meets once a month and sometimes works directly with youth.
  • Story Reader – Spend some time with young children, reading stories and providing companionship. This opportunity is available in Greenfield, Monday – Friday, 9-5.
  • Data Researcher – Nonprofit financial advice organization needs a data researcher who is skilled in Microsoft Office to help with data entry, internet research, and possible website development. This opportunity is available in Turners Falls, Monday – Friday 9-5 with some flexibility for weekend hours.
  • Archivist/Historian – Volunteer to collect, sort, and present historical data for youth and community service nonprofit agency. This opportunity is located in Greenfield and is available Monday – Friday 9 – 5.
  • Recycling Assistant – Help with discarded materials and moving books to dumpster for a public library. This opportunity is located in Greenfield, and is available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, morning and afternoon.
  • Tutor for Children –  Help tutor children, build life-skills, do arts and crafts, and be a good role model at a community center. This opportunity is located in Greenfield, any day of the week during afternoons and evenings.
  • Volunteers needed to act as teacher's assistants during after school help.
    Hours would be from 3:45-5:15 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This opportunity is located in Greenfield. Consistency of volunteerism for this program is not required but is always helpful for establishing connection with students.
  • Volunteers needed to staff middle school Library. Volunteers will help students find locate materials, assist teachers with classes in Library, check books in and out, re-shelve returned books and of course have time to read for themselves. Some training provided. This opportunity is located in Greenfield. Shifts available between 8am and 2:20pm all school year.
  • One male and one female volunteer are needed to travel with 4th and 5th graders
    to a children’s center from a middle school. Volunteers will perform a headcount during boarding and while students are disembarking from the bus, and will make sure all students enter and exit the locker room expediently. This opportunity is located in Greenfield and is available from 2:20-3:45 Monday, Thursday and Friday.
  • Volunteers needed to help supervise recess time at middle school, 11:15-12:30 pm daily. No long term commitment required. This opportunity located in Greenfield.
  • Volunteer lunch monitors for middle school are needed, 11:30 to 1pm daily.
    No long term commitment required. This opportunity located in Greenfield
  • Volunteers to help students with reading. Times not yet specified. This opportunity located in Greenfield.

Hampshire County Opportunities:

Short Term

  • Haunted Train Ride - Volunteers can participate in an array of different activities including: lighting and special effects (ex. fog machines), dressing in costume to scare kids riding on the train and getting their pictures taken in costume with kids.  This opportunity is in Northampton and it is the two weekends before Halloween.  Volunteers needed from 5pm-8pm.   

Long Term

  • Coffee Shop Volunteer - Work with other volunteers by staffing a volunteer run coffee shop. Serve coffee, sandwiches and desserts to patients, visitors, and staff.  This opportunity is in Northampton and shifts are available mornings, afternoons or evenings.
  • Donated Food Sorter - A part-time volunteer opportunity to work with a Food Distribution department in the upcoming year sorting donated food and produce. The volunteer position is also an excellent opportunity for individuals to do hands on work towards while doing physical activity. This position is located in Hatfield.
  • Mentor – Mentor student’s grades 4 through 5 in Holyoke on weekday afternoons.
  • ESL Tutor - Volunteers work one-on-one with adult students who are enrolled in English classes, helping them to improve skills such as speaking, listening, reading and writing. Training and ongoing support are provided. This is located in Northampton.
  • Flower Delivery – Help deliver bouquets to cancer patients. This is located in Holyoke and hours are mornings, afternoons and evenings on Saturdays and Sundays.
  • Garden Volunteer - This project is a way to provide fresh organic vegetables, herbs & flowers to our friends & neighbors living with HIV/AIDS in Hampshire County.  If you are a fan of cooperative gardening and/or working with the soil, this is a perfect way to help out.
  • Grocery Packer – Create food packages for local low-income and homeless families.
  • Mentor Foster Children - Volunteers are trained and supported while they mentor foster teens and teach them the importance of connection as they learn independent living skills.  This is centered in Northampton and hours are flexible.
  • Letter Answering – Answering letters and sending requested book packages to prisoners in New England and Texas.  This is in Hadley on Sunday afternoons.

Call 413-774-7054 ext. 119 or email act@dialself.org for more informaiton.