Volunteer in Your Local Community

The kindhearted volunteers like you help fulfill The Salvation Army's promise to do the most good. Whether you have a specific talent to offer or simply an hour of your time, The Salvation Army is the place to turn your passion into action.

*Please note that all medical clinic volunteers must be licensed to practice medicine in the State of MN. If you are licensed to practice medicine in another state or country, you may still volunteer for the dental clinic or as a medical receptionist for the pharmacy. If you have questions, please contact our medical clinic coordinator directly at 507-529-4100.

Please complete a volunteer application and background check online to initiate your volunteering here in Olmsted County, MN. With questions about volunteer opportunities other than the medical clinic, or about the application process, please call 507-288-3663 ext. 3800. 

Our open volunteer opportunities are listed below. Volunteers must complete the above volunteer application and background check form to participate in any of these activities.

 

Volunteer Needs during the Holidays

Bell Ringers

The Salvation Army Red Kettles provide the most accessible volunteer need of the year. With volunteer shifts available at local businesses across Rochester, Stewartville, Byron, and Chatfield, MN, and with shifts open from 9am-7pm Monday through Saturday, there's a time and place where everyone can ring a bell. Olmsted County bell ringers usually raise about $100 an hour, and all dollars raised directly support healthcare, housing, and other basic needs programs for thousands in our local area. 

To sign up to ring bells between November 8 and December 24, please visit registertoring.com. 

Toy & Joy Shop

Every year during the week before Christmas, The Salvation Army works with dozens of volunteers to distribute gifts to hundreds of families in need. We always need more volunteers to help with this event, which will take place from Dec. 17 through Dec. 19 this year. Click here to sign up to volunteer. 

To register to receive gifts from the Toy & Joy Shop, please visit the home page of this website between November 1 and December 13. The application will be available in both English and Spanish. For any questions, please call 507-288-3663.

 

Pharmacy

Medical Receptionist

The Pharmacy of The Salvation Army's Good Samaritan Health Clinic is seeking a volunteer medical receptionist. This volunteer opportunity does not require a medical license from the State of MN. 

When: Thursdays, 12:30-4pm (Volunteers are not required to volunteer for both shifts each week.)                                                                                    

Where: The Good Samaritan Heath Clinic, 120 N. Broadway Avenue, Rochester, MN 55906

 

Social Services

Food Shelf Volunteer

The Salvation Army's Food Shelf is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am-3:30pm, and volunteers make it possible to keep this resource available to the downtown area. Volunteers are needed from 10am-1pm and 1pm-4pm. 

The food shelf is also looking for volunteers to help stock Food Shelf shelves on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Please note this as an additional volunteer need. 

When: Tuesdays and Fridays- between 10am and 4pm

Where: The Salvation Army Social Services Center, 115 First Avenue NE, Rochester, MN 55906

Social Services Front Desk Volunteer

These volunteers are critical to the success of our social services building. Volunteers check in our clients and assist with basic questions, in addition to helping our front desk staff with laundry and donation collection. Volunteer shifts are flexible. 

When: Wednesdays and Every Other Friday, Between 8am and Noon

Where: The Salvation Army Social Services Center, 115 First Avenue NE, Rochester, MN 55906

Resource Room Volunteer

The resource room is located in our social services center, and provides all manner of basic needs items (clothing, winter outerwear, shoes, boots, new underwear, new socks, hygiene products, etc.) for our unsheltered homeless population. Donations come in regularly for this room, and we need volunteers to help us keep the room stocked, sorted, and organized. Volunteer hours are flexible.

-When: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm. Volunteers shifts are flexible.

Where: The Salvation Army Social Services Center, 115 First Avenue NE, Rochester, MN 55906

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Volunteer

The Salvation Army is proud to work with VITA to ensure that our low-income and elderly neighbors have a support system when filing their taxes each year. Volunteers need only have basic computer skills, and a desire to help those in need. The VITA team will provide all other training required. 

When: Mondays-Saturdays, Shift times vary, but take place between February and April of every year.

Where: The Salvation Army Administration Building, 120 First Street NE, Rochester, MN 55906

 

Dental Clinic

Dentists Needed

The Good Samaritan Dental Clinic provides emergency dental care for uninsured and under-insured people needing tooth extractions and treatment for tooth pain. We are seeking dentists able to volunteer on Monday, Wednesday or Friday mornings once a quarter to ensure that we are able to relieve our patients of pain as quickly as possible. We are currently seeing a large number of patients, and without additional dentists, these patients are waiting up to three weeks to be treated for dental pain. Your help makes a massive impact. 

When: Monday- Friday, Hours Vary by Week                                                                                            

Where: The Good Samaritan Dental Clinic, 120 N. Broadway Avenue, Rochester, MN 55906