Are you looking for places to volunteer in Akron, OH, or Medina County? United Way of Summit & Medina is local, innovative, and relationship-driven. Our mission is to transform our community to make it easier for people to get help and build fulfilling, healthy lives. We have plenty of volunteer opportunities near you so you can get involved in our mission. Keep reading to learn more about our services and how you can help!
What Does United Way of Summit & Medina Do?
United Way of Summit & Medina is transforming Summit and Medina County, making it easier for people to access the support they need to build fulfilling, healthy lives. We envision a community where leaders and organizations come together to solve problems, where help is always within easy reach, and where the opportunity to build a better life is available to everyone.
We are building that vision through our ecosystem of free community services. United Way of Summit & Medina offers housing support, free tax prep, and a 211 hotline, which help us meet the practical needs of people in our community. Additionally, we point community members to programs like Youth United, the Akron Financial Empowerment Center, and College & Career Academies of Akron, which focus on guiding residents toward a stable, successful future.
None of these services would be possible without our dedicated volunteers. If you are looking for volunteer opportunities in Akron, OH, and Medina, OH, keep reading. Whether you want to help with tax preparation, mentoring, or something else – there are plenty of volunteer opportunities available!
Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities Near Me
There is always volunteer work available with United Way of Summit & Medina. Our events calendar will keep you updated on specific volunteer opportunities, but there are a few ways to help that are available year round. Learn more below and be sure to get email notifications for more information.
Advocacy
Advancing public policy is crucial for our success as a community. We don’t just understand our community’s needs and provide services – we advocate at the local, state, and national level for policies that advance our Bold Goals for 2028. Our longstanding community connections and firsthand experience help guide policymakers as they tackle the problems that face Summit and Medina counties.
Becoming an advocate is a much-needed volunteer opportunity. There are many ways to be an advocate and to educate yourself, members of the community, and local, state, and federal legislators. Two simple ways to become involved are ensuring you’re registered to vote and knowing who your elected officials are. If you are looking for more ways to advocate for your community, email [email protected] to start the conversation.
Bridges Summit County
Through the Bridges Summit County workshop, volunteers learn how economic realities of poverty, middle class, and wealth impact individuals, communities, systems, and structures. In order to positively impact the education and lives of individuals in poverty, we must explore the way we think and behave. Bridges Summit County workshops offer a structure to help us assess the mindsets and world views we hold as individuals, institutions, and communities.
College & Career Academies
College & Career Academies of Akron offers students learning pathways tailored to meet the needs of the local business community. Through United Way of Summit & Medina, your company can invest in a program that boosts graduation rates, nurtures local talent, and helps students become skilled employees and business leaders our community needs. There are multiple levels of commitment your business can make to CCAA. Learn more by emailing Sarah Palace at [email protected].
Annual Volunteer Opportunities
Other than year-round community service, we have a few annual events that have proven to be beloved by our volunteers and community. All of our events welcome individual volunteers or corporate groups seeking to serve together. So grab a friend or coworker and decide which volunteer opportunities in Akron, Ohio or Medina County you’re interested in!
Stuff the Bus
Students having the necessary school supplies is essential for success in the classroom. But for many local families – some of which live paycheck-to-paycheck – the growing cost of these supplies can be a serious financial strain. Stuff the Bus events are held in August, bringing volunteers together to collect, sort and distribute supplies to Summit and Medina County students, so that kids can focus on learning instead of how they will find a notebook for class.
Read to Me Day
On Read To Me Day, volunteers visit schools in Summit and Medina counties to read their favorite picture books to students. Reading to children helps stimulate their imaginations, contributes to language development, and encourages early literacy. Each volunteer was sponsored, which helped raise money to further United Way of Summit & Medina’s efforts in local schools. Stay tuned for more Read to Me Day events in the future!
Day of Action
Our 2024 Day of Action generated nearly 1,000 hours of community service throughout Summit and Medina counties. Thanks to 233 people from 17 local organizations, our groups rehabbed houses, packed goodie bags for kids, landscaped and more. The energy in our communities on this day was electric. Everyone was excited to make a difference in Akron and Medina County. Look out for our 2025 Day of Action – you won’t want to miss it.
How You Can Get Involved
We greatly appreciate all who give their time and talent to power our mission to create lasting, meaningful change in our community. If you’re interested in volunteering with United Way of Summit & Medina, reach out and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss how you can be part of providing help and hope to our community!