Boston Cares

Boston Cares is a flexible volunteer agency that connects individuals with volunteer opportunities throughout Greater Boston. To become a Boston Cares member and begin signing up for projects through our year-round Calendar Program, you must attend a brief, one-time New Volunteer Orientation. Every orientation covers the same material, so feel free to sign up for the session that best fits your schedule.

COVID-19 UPDATE effective 3/16/2020:

In response to the ongoing coronavirus concerns, effective March 16, 2020, Boston Cares will move our New Volunteer Orientations to live virtual sessions until social distancing recommendations are lifted by local officials.  Sessions will be listed below up to two weeks in advance and a link for a live webinar will be emailed to participants prior to the scheduled session. While video capabilities are not required for participation, we do encourage it for the opportunity to connect with your fellow volunteers – something we all need as we practice social distancing during this time!
 
We are currently seeing a number of our nonprofit partners pause their volunteer projects in response to COVID-19, while others are expressing an increase in need due to larger volunteer groups cancelling.  We are working through this with all of our partners and keeping available projects up to date on our website.  We encourage you to get oriented as a Boston Cares volunteer now so you can be ready to help where needed.  

Individuals who have completed a New Volunteer Orientation have access to approximately 200 service projects each month, ranging from 1 to 6 hours. Our web-based system allows volunteers to register online for projects in advance and also to track and print out their volunteering history. This is an honor system and all volunteers are expected to accurately record their volunteer service.


Registration Fee: Please Note that Boston Cares collects a one-time registration fee of $30 from all new members which helps us cover a small portion of the costs associated with providing programs to both our volunteers and our community partners. We offer a reduced fee of $20 for college students, senior citizens, people currently unemployed, and veterans of the United States Armed Services.

If you are a currently a high school student, serving in the Armed Services, or enrolled in a Service Year program (e.g. AmeriCorps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, etc.), your fee can be waived. Additionally, we understand many of our community members are facing unique financial challenges at this time and will waive the fee for those facing financial hardship to prevent any barriers to serving. You can request a fee waiver via the form linked in the Registration Fee Form. 

The fee can be paid online via our Registration Fee Form. 


Court Ordered Service: if you are doing court-ordered service, you may be able to complete your hours through Boston Cares. Please contact the Trial Court Community Service Program to confirm your elligibility.

Youth-friendly, 13+. All youth may register and attend orientations on their own. All volunteers under 18 years old must bring a Permission Form signed by a parent or guardian to give to the Project Leader. Please email volunteers@bostoncares.org or call 617-422-0910 if you have any questions.

Please note: when you sign up for this orientation, you will be prompted to read and agree to Boston Cares Terms and Conditions, which are viewable here. Please email volunteers@bostoncares.org with any questions.