Open roles

Bilingual Volunteer

Assist Spanish-speaking (and other non-English-speaking) guests in the Market and over the phone, and help take monthly food appointment orders.

⏱ Shifts during business hours: Mon 9am-6pm, Tue-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-1pm

Building & Cleaning Crew Volunteer

Support painting of high-traffic interior areas, and help the room turnover process between resident families — vacuuming, dusting, laundering bedding, and making beds.

⏱ As needed

Campus, Events & Outreach Volunteer

Help around the Heart Campus and at community events — staffing tables at community events, event setup and cleanup, and grounds or garden activities. Group volunteer days for families, coworkers, or friends can also be arranged.

CERAH Emergency Shelter Volunteer

Support overnight emergency shelter guests during weather-dependent shelter operations (winter Code Blue season and extreme heat). Out of respect for guest anonymity, this role is limited to volunteers approved and trained by the CERAH team.

⏱ Overnight shifts during shelter season (historically mid-November to mid-April, 8 PM-8 AM)

Civil Service Commission Member

Serves on the commission that makes rules and regulations providing for the examination of applicants for positions in the police force and as paid fire apparatus operators and for promotions, prescribing minimum qualifications of applicants and passing grades.

⏱ Appointed 6-year term

Club Member / Service Volunteer

Join the club as a Rotarian and take part in its community service projects, club events, and fundraising for local causes. Membership typically begins with attending a meeting as a guest and completing a membership process with club leadership.

⏱ Ongoing membership; regular club meetings and service projects

Committee Member

Lend specialized professional skills on a standing PACS committee: Audit, Communications and Marketing, Facilities, Finance, Human Resources, or Development/Fundraising.

⏱ Late afternoons/evenings, Monday-Friday

Committee or Board Member

Serve on the Governance, Fund Development, Facilities, or Finance committee, or join the Board to help steer the direction of the Center.

⏱ Ongoing, periodic meetings

Committee Volunteer / Board Member

Serve on a PCHF committee addressing topics like diversity, equity and inclusion, finance, human resources, and board education, or stand for the board of directors, which sets the foundation's direction, ensures financial stability, and oversees grants. No expertise required for committee volunteers — an interest in health and human services, nonprofits, or philanthropy helps.

⏱ Committees meet every other month (~1–2 hours per meeting); board ~1–3 hours a month

Community Outreach & Events Volunteer

Represent Orion at community events to spread the word about its work, or help run recurring fundraisers including Casino Royale, Putting out of Poverty, and Music for Everyone. Special-projects volunteers with event-planning or tech skills are also welcome.

⏱ Varies by event

Daily Lunch Program Volunteer

Help prepare and hand out take-out lunches through the Phoenixville Ecumenical Lunch Program, in which several area churches share responsibility for feeding neighbors experiencing food insecurity, Monday through Friday.

⏱ Weekdays, 11:30 AM-1:00 PM (rotating church teams)

Dog Foster

Provide a safe, comfortable temporary home for a rescued dog until adoption. TLC covers all costs: food, crate, leash, toys, bedding, preventatives, and all essential vet care are supplied at no cost to the foster; households with existing pets are welcome.

⏱ Ongoing; duration varies per dog until adoption

Driver

Deliver food to neighbors who cannot get to the Market and drive the PACS van to pick up food from recovery sites.

⏱ Shifts during business hours: Mon 9am-6pm, Tue-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-1pm

Educational Program Leader

Share professional expertise with shelter residents by leading programs such as computer classes, interview skills, or healthy living workshops.

Event Assistant

Help with planning, setup, and teardown of PACS fundraising and community events, including working ticket and raffle tables.

⏱ Varies by event

Event Helper

Assist with set-up, day-of support, and break-down for Good Sam fundraisers and community events. The organization notes this role is well suited to high school students.

⏱ Per event

Events & Fundraising Volunteer

Support recurring Center fundraisers (Spaghetti Dinner, Designer Bag BINGO, Pancake Breakfast, Candlelight House Tour, Holiday Marketplace) and center events such as holiday socials and monthly birthday celebrations, including newsletter assembly.

⏱ Varies by event, recurring throughout the year

Festival Organizing & Build Volunteer

Join the volunteer team that makes the festival happen: build the firebird on Saturdays and Sundays from September to December, feed the build crew, and help year-round with marketing, promotion, and fundraising for the free community event.

⏱ Seasonal build weekends (Sept–Dec) plus year-round marketing/fundraising help

Food Service Volunteer

Help with food prep and food service alongside Chef Brian for the Center's daily breakfast and lunch programs.

⏱ Weekday mornings/lunch

Fresh Start Foundation Class Leader

Teach life-skills classes for shelter residents in your area of personal expertise as part of the Fresh Start Foundation Classes program.

Front Desk Assistant

Greet and assist neighbors with the sign-in process and shopping at the Market, answer phones, and schedule food appointments.

⏱ Shifts during business hours: Mon 9am-6pm, Tue-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-1pm

General Theater Volunteer

Help with productions (set building, backstage support), day-to-day operations, performance-day duties such as ushering, and marketing for this nonprofit community theater.

⏱ Flexible; varies by production schedule

General Volunteer

Support The House's transitional housing program through posted volunteer openings such as Event and Project Help, Office Assistant, and Donations Assistant. Volunteers are matched to current needs by staff.

Green Team Member (Join a Project Team)

Join one of the Green Team's volunteer project teams — Reduce/Reuse/Recycle (ReReRe), the Phoenixville GreenWay Team, or the Clean Energy Team — or propose and help build a new team around a local sustainability idea. Work ranges from recycling and waste-reduction initiatives to trail/greenway advocacy and community clean-energy projects.

⏱ Ongoing; self-directed team participation

Group Work Day Volunteer

Organize or join a group work day to maintain and fix up Good Sam's shelter buildings, with activities such as painting and gardening.

Guest Chef or Guest Baker

Help prepare, cook, or bake meals for shelter families, using the shelter kitchen.

HEART Kitchen Volunteer

Help with community meal and food programs — opportunities range from meal preparation to distribution, organizing to cleaning. Cooking experience is not required.

Historical & Architectural Review Board Member

Serves on the board that advances the preservation and protection of the old historic district, architecturally worthy structures, and landscape features of the Borough of Phoenixville, and encourages the economic development and revitalization of the Phoenixville Downtown Historic District.

⏱ Appointed 4-year term; regular public meetings

Human Relations Commission Member

Serves on the commission that initiates, receives, investigates and seeks the satisfactory adjustment of complaints charging unlawful practices that may constitute a discriminatory violation of federal, Pennsylvania, or Borough of Phoenixville law.

⏱ Appointed 3-year term

Junior Firefighter (Ages 16-17)

A program for teenagers exploring fire service careers or building experience. Junior firefighters respond on emergency calls, participate in in-house training, and attend meetings, with safety limitations per Pennsylvania labor law; at 18 they transition to the full training pathway.

⏱ In-house training, meetings, and emergency response within PA labor-law limits; $15 application fee

Library Volunteer

Assists library staff with day-to-day library operations and services. The library seeks responsible, dedicated volunteers; specific assignments are determined after application.

⏱ Flexible — even a couple of hours a week makes a difference

Lunch Cleanup Volunteer

Help clean up after the Center's daily noon lunch service.

⏱ Weekday early afternoons

Meal Delivery Driver

Deliver midday meals to clients' homes on a local route, providing a friendly check-in along with the food. Volunteers choose which day, which area (including Phoenixville), and how often they deliver; routes take roughly 1 to 1.5 hours.

⏱ Weekdays between 10am and 1pm; frequency is volunteer's choice

Meal Maker

Prepare food for shelter residents or for families attending Good Sam Dinners, program workshops, special meetings, or events.

Mentor

Walk alongside an individual in Good Sam's housing program, building trust and friendship as they work toward stability.

⏱ Ongoing relationship

Morning Concierge

Welcome members as they arrive and assist with the computer sign-in process at the front desk.

⏱ Weekday mornings

Museum & Events Volunteer

Help run the facets of the society's operations: greet and assist museum visitors, support the collection and research functions, and staff the society's recurring special events each year.

⏱ Flexible, ongoing

Office & Special Events Volunteer

Support the theater's nonprofit operations behind the scenes by helping out in the office and assisting staff at special events such as Blobfest and the Phoenixville Film Festival.

⏱ Flexible, scheduled with theater staff

Office Assistant

Answer phones and the door and assist with clerical work including computer input, mailings, technology, bookkeeping, filing, and sorting.

Office Assistant

Help organize supplies and assist with mailings to keep Orion's resource-center operations running efficiently.

Planning Commission Member

Serves on the borough Planning Commission, which prepares the comprehensive plan, recommends adoption or amendment of the official map, prepares the borough's zoning ordinance and makes recommendations on proposed amendments, and prepares, recommends and administers subdivision and land development regulations.

⏱ Appointed 4-year term; regular public meetings

Playroom Volunteer

Take resident children into the playroom for games, crafts, videos, and board games on weeknights, giving parents time for laundry, showers, or classes.

⏱ Weeknights 7-8 PM

Program & Branch Volunteer

Volunteer at the branch as a youth sports coach, in member services, or at YMCA events. Some opportunities require completing paperwork and trainings; committee/advisory and fundraising volunteer tracks are also offered through the association.

⏱ Varies by role; ongoing program and seasonal coaching opportunities

Recreation Board Member

Makes recommendations to Borough Council for the maintenance, equipment, operations, and supervision of borough parks, playgrounds, playfields, and other outdoor and indoor recreation areas and facilities owned or controlled by the Borough of Phoenixville.

⏱ Appointed 4-year term

Rescue Volunteer (Transport, Events, Photography)

Support rescue operations as a transport-day dog handler greeting new arrivals, a meet-and-greet handler or event lead, an event/profile photographer, an application processor calling vets and references, or an adoption counselor. A Mini Paws junior volunteer program lets kids and teens participate with adult supervision.

⏱ Flexible; transport days, weekend meet-and-greet events, and remote tasks

Saturday Breakfast Ministry Volunteer

Join a rotating team that serves a complimentary full hot breakfast every Saturday morning in the church social hall, in a calm, welcoming atmosphere. Teams include both parishioners and at-large community members.

⏱ Saturday mornings on a rotating team schedule, year-round

School Volunteer (District-Wide)

Volunteers in district schools as a classroom helper, field-trip chaperone, coach, or activity/event volunteer. Once Board approved, a volunteer may volunteer at any school in the district, and status automatically renews each year.

⏱ Varies by school and activity; clearances valid for 5 years

STARs Book Club Leader

Share the love of reading and inspire young minds through fun, engaging book discussions in Orion's STARs youth program.

STARs STEM Club Volunteer

Spark curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on activities with youth.

STARs Tutor

Assist students with academic challenges, empowering them to succeed in school.

STARs Youth Mentor

Provide guidance and support to youth in the STARs program, helping them build confidence and reach their goals.

Teen Advisory Group Member

Teens help out the library and give the library feedback on how to better serve teens, contributing program ideas and suggestions for teen-oriented events at regular meetings in the Teen Room.

⏱ Regular meetings at the library (registration requested)

Theater Usher / Ticket Taker

Usher patrons, take tickets, and help the house run smoothly during film screenings and live concerts at the Colonial Theatre. Film-shift volunteers arrive 30 minutes before the first movie; concert ushers arrive one hour before showtime. Volunteers see films for free.

⏱ Flexible — regular schedule (e.g. every Sunday) or ad-hoc shifts

Time Bank Member

Join the time bank to give and receive services hour-for-hour: help neighbors at home, provide rides, support nonprofit partners, join group projects like the Repair Cafe, and earn TimeDollars for every hour given.

⏱ Flexible; members choose their own exchanges

Trail & River Stewardship Volunteer

Assist with trail maintenance on the Schuylkill River Trail, help plan and host events, support environmental education programs, and contribute to water quality monitoring. Opportunities suit individuals or groups, for a single day or a longer commitment.

⏱ Single-day projects or ongoing commitment; sign up by opportunity

Transportation Volunteer

Provide resident families local transportation to and from their employer and daycare, within 5 miles of the shelter.

⏱ Mornings and late afternoons, Monday-Friday

Tree Advisory Commission Member

Promotes public support for and involvement in street tree and public tree programs in the borough, works to involve neighborhoods in street tree planting, maintenance and removal planning, and provides a forum to coordinate policy recommendations and community input for the Manager, Council and Mayor.

⏱ Appointed 5-year term

Volunteer Firefighter

Responds to fire, rescue and medical support calls with the Phoenixville Fire Department. New volunteers complete approximately 200 hours of training in the first 12-18 months at the Chester County Public Safety Training Center plus weekly in-house drills, mostly on nights and weekends.

⏱ ~200 hours of training in first 12-18 months; weekly drills, mostly nights and weekends; 6-month probationary period

Warehouse Assistant

Stock and sort donated food in the PACS warehouse and help with quality control, including checking expiration dates.

⏱ Shifts during business hours: Mon 9am-6pm, Tue-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-1pm

Water Rescue / Dive Team Volunteer

Serves with an all-volunteer underwater search, rescue and recovery team in diving, rescue, or surface-support roles, responding to water rescues, ice rescues, underwater recoveries, and evidence searches across the tri-county area.

Yardwork & Raised Garden Volunteer

Do light yard work such as pulling weeds, mulching in spring and fall, and tending floral beds; or support the raised garden weekly with watering, weeding, and harvesting vegetables donated to community partners.

⏱ Yardwork at volunteer's convenience; garden support weekly in season

Youth Coach / Program Volunteer

Coach or assist with PAL youth programs such as boxing, wrestling, and golf, or support educational offerings like computer programming and babysitting classes. Volunteers share their knowledge, talents, and life experiences to guide and inspire local youth.

⏱ Ongoing; program sessions typically run weekday evenings at the PAL gym

Zoning Hearing Board Member

Considers applications for variances, special exceptions, and appeals concerning the interpretation of the borough's Zoning Ordinance by the Zoning Officer, plus other duties specified by the Borough Code.

⏱ Appointed 5-year term; public hearings