Volunteer Opportunities

Becoming a United Way volunteer is a fulfilling opportunity to make a significant impact in your community. Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting various programs and initiatives that improve lives and strengthen communities. Whether you prefer working behind the scenes or being at the forefront of events, there's a place for you at United Way.

You can be part of a team that helps people who are forced from their homes due to fires, storms and other disasters.

Meet Pedro, the penguin who teaches pre-school children about first safety and checking smoke alarms. Pedro also teaches children two ways to escape from the house during a fire and how to crawl below the smoke. It's a fun and interactive way for children to learn at the American Red Cross of Sandhills. We need volunteers to dress up as Pedro, join us in teaching children about fire safety.

Better Health is blessed with amazing volunteers, some serving for over a decade! Opportunities include interns, special events, community outreach, committee members, office volunteers, fundraisers, Spanish translators, and Board of Directors. Volunteers can lead Fayetteville Fit Youth activities (Tuesdays and Fridays, 6-8 pm), assist at diabetes clinics, or help with the Thursday evening Take Charge of Diabetes program (6:30-8 pm). Better Health's mission is to address unmet healthcare needs in Cumberland County through education, referral, and assistance.

Have you ever wondered what sorts of things get hidden away in a theatrical costume shop? Have you ever wanted to have fun while helping a wonderful non-profit? Cape Fear Regional Theater is getting the building ready for a big renovation and we would love some help packing up the rest of our costume stock and putting it on a trailer to take to storage. Your small commitment will have a huge impact! Pizza provided!

Catholic Charities leverages community partners to provide over 3 million pounds of food to families in need each year. Their Food Pantry Services are dedicated to distributing healthy groceries, increasing access to food, and developing innovative solutions to address food insecurity collaboratively.

This annual event happens each November to provide health and human services access to Cumberland County residents in need. Some of the resources include personal hygiene kits, no perishable food bag, dental screenings and more! We need volunteers to assist us during the event with set up and break down

Connections of Cumberland County collaborates with community resources to empower women experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness to develop self-sufficiency and enhance their children’s future. Volunteers are at the heart of what they do and are always needed. Supportive and hardworking community members can lend a hand through several agency programs and services.

Provides quality driven prevention and intervention services for at-risk and court involved youth, adults and families that create local alternatives to juvenile/district court and address problem behaviors through evidenced-based treatment and programs.

The Cumberland County Council on Older Adults are seeking volunteers! They offer a wide variety of options for those who would like to support the seniors in our community.

Employment Source is dedicated to facilitating services, resources, and partnerships to support people with disabilities and others they serve, along with their families, caregivers, and community members. Their mission is to build more inclusive communities through these efforts.

Fayetteville Area Operation Inasmuch (Inasmuch) runs the Living Hope Program, aiming to offer life recovery and restoration to men experiencing homelessness, and is seeking volunteer Class Instructors for various Life Skills Classes such as literacy, interest-based, hands-on skills, and health-related topics. The classes are scheduled Monday - Thursday from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM, with volunteers expected to commit to the same day of the week for a minimum of 4 weeks to foster relationship building and in-depth learning. Volunteers will collaborate with Emily Ruth Perry, Deputy Director, to develop or find a curriculum outline that meets the program’s desired outcomes.

Volunteers will sign up to drive individuals to doctor appointments, court appointments, school and work when it falls outside of the city bus route or schedule.

If you’re seeking philanthropic fulfillment, get involved as a tutor, intern, or volunteer with the Adult Literacy Program. This program is designed to address the needs of adults who are interested in empowering themselves in the areas of reading, writing, math, general academics (GED), English as a Second Language, Career Readiness, Financial Literacy and Computer Literacy.

Fayetteville Urban Ministries' Find-A-Friend program, established in 1982 as one of North Carolina's pioneering mentoring initiatives under Governor Hunt, has expanded to include multiple afterschool components that provide wrap-around support services for at-risk youth. Recognized as a "Champion for Children" by the Child Advocacy Center in 2009, the program serves over 200 at-risk and court-involved youth annually, boasting a 96% success rate in keeping youth out of trouble and succeeding in school. With a dedicated team of seven skilled individuals, the program stays abreast of current events and trends, fostering leadership, growth, and trust among staff, mentors, and the youth they serve.

Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines offers a rewarding volunteer experience where you can make a difference in girls' lives. By being yourself, you become a trusted mentor who listens, encourages goal-setting, and fosters confidence in girls. Together, you'll build a community where every girl is celebrated and valued, regardless of previous Girl Scout experience. Volunteer roles include troop co-leadership from Daisy (grades K-1) to Ambassador (grades 11-12), mentoring Girl Scout Cookie entrepreneurs, providing behind-the-scenes support, and more. Whether you have a few hours or months to give, volunteering with Girl Scouts is flexible, fulfilling, and fun!

Greater Life of Fayetteville (GLOF) offers programs that advocate for, counsel, and refer services to youth (3rd to 8th grade), providing a safe environment to enhance their academic and social skills. Participants engage in activities promoting positive decision-making, focus enhancement, role-playing, and etiquette training. Counseling and mentoring foster self-confidence and interpersonal understanding. Programs include Suspension Intervention Program (SIP), Out-of-school Short-term Suspension Customized Schedule Program (CSP), After School, I Am YOU-nique Summer Academy (YOUSA), Five-week Summer Program, and Mentoring Programs On Campus, all aimed at empowering youth and promoting personal growth.

The radio reading club has been relaunched! Come audition to volunteer to read news articles to the visually impaired over the air. You are giving back with your voice. The VRC provides training, will give you the articles to read (you may have to help us cut out the articles) and snacks.

United Way Board and Committee Members are dedicated community leaders who actively support the mission of United Way of Cumberland County. By lending their expertise, strategic insights, and network connections, they help guide our initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and ensure effective stewardship of resources. These members play an essential role in making impactful decisions that drive positive change, fostering a collaborative environment to address the most pressing needs within our community.

In 2024, an impressive team of over 500 volunteers packed 70,000 meals in just 42 minutes. These meals were donated to 7 Cumberland County nonprofits to help feed individuals and families. For 2025, we hope to have an even larger impact.

United is raising funds by partnering with Over the Edge and the Dogwood Festival to give people the chance to rappel down the side of a building. Our goal is to raise $100,000 to help our community. Volunteers needed during this event from 7:00 am to 12:30 am or 12 pm to 5:30 pm. Volunteers will help with registration, staging, landing zone, roof top security, roof top radio, lading zone announcer, floater and rope volunteers.