15th Annual Volunteer Expo at The Pru

15th Annual Volunteer Expo

News

Volunteers make the world go round. And there’s always a need for more. That’s where the

15th Annual Volunteer Expo, April 27, 4-6 p.m. at Prudential Center, enters the picture.

The event works like a matchmaker between local nonprofit organizations and people who want to make a difference in their community. Whether your passion is arts and culture, diversity and inclusion, education and research, environment and animals, human services, or a little bit of everything, here’s your chance to literally lend a helping hand.

Which organization will benefit from your volunteering? Let’s put the spotlight on a few that want to connect.

Arts & Culture

Beats by Girlz

“Beats by Girlz has made my dream of producing music professionally seem possible.” That quote belongs to Kallee Bernish-Good, a student at Beats by Girlz, a growing nonprofit organization with 35 chapters worldwide.

On a mission to empower the next generation of women and gender-expansive people through music and technology, Beats by Girlz makes an impact in classrooms and communities. Among the accomplishments: it has given performers in the making a platform to showcase their talent.

Kallee, again: “I feel accepted, celebrated, and most importantly, I feel heard. And that’s all a beat-maker like me could ask for.”

Education & Research

Alray Scholars Program

Calling all caring, responsible adult volunteers who can serve as a trusted friend, advisor and advocate to an Alray Scholar. The Alray Scholars Program was founded to honor Alray Taylor’s memory by assisting promising students in overcoming many of the same hurdles that Alray faced during his short but unforgettable life. Alray, who grew up in Mission Hill, was the victim of a homicide just days short of his 22nd birthday and the start of a new school year.

All you need to understand the impact of the Alray Scholars Program is to listen to the testimony of mentors and their mentees.

Yaselis Gonzalez-Castillo, a mentee, says, “I was sitting at a dead-end job when it hit me: the only way out was to complete my education and land a job with a purpose. Thanks to Alray, I will be the first in my family to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, and I’ll walk away as a member of the National Honors Society.”

Environment & Animals

Boston’s Forgotten Felines

Joaquin Phoenix said it best, “It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.” Now, his quote is on the website of Boston’s Forgotten Felines, a nonprofit that works tirelessly to make life brighter for the city’s homeless cats.

The biggest need? Feeders, trappers, and fosters. If you have no car for feeding or trapping, and no spare room to house a kitty, you can still help. Run a cat food drive, host a BFF fundraiser, share pictures on social media of kittens looking for forever homes, and talk up the benefits of giving a cat a permanent home — it’s all part of being a BFF volunteer.

Human Services

Boston Area Gleaners

Are you able to harvest, sort, and pack surplus food from local farms for distribution to local food banks, pantries, and meal programs? Then, you can volunteer at Boston Area Gleaners, the largest gleaning organization in the northeast. Gleaning is the practice of harvesting surplus food from farms, and it’s at the heart of the organization’s mission to reduce food waste and support food-insecure families.

Once harvested and packed, volunteers help deliver the fresh food to a network of local food pantries, food banks, and meal programs. There’s also the newly launched Boston Food Hub program, a wholesale market for local produce. Growing season will be here before you know it.

Come see us

Finally, here’s a fun fact for all dedicated volunteers — one report says those who volunteer over 100 hours a year are some of the healthiest people in the United States. With so many participating nonprofits to choose from at our Volunteer Expo, you’re off to a good start.

This event is free and open to the public. Make sure to register here, so we know you’re coming!

Here’s the full list of nonprofits:

Arts & Culture

Diversity & Inclusion

Education & Research

Environment & Animals

Human Services

Women’s Services

Youth Services