Giving Back: Volunteer Opportunities for Houston Seniors

Volunteering is a chance for older adults to stay active and connected to the community. The good news is that plenty of Houston organizations welcome seniors who are eager to share their time, energy, passion, and skills to support meaningful causes. 

To help seniors find the best match, we have compiled a list of volunteer opportunities tailored to different interests and abilities. Whether you're looking for an active, hands-on role or something more relaxed and flexible, there's something for all seniors to enjoy while giving back to the community.

Our selection criteria are based on physical demand, accessibility, and time commitment. Many older adults prefer activities that avoid excessive lifting or physical strain, focusing instead on experiences adaptable to their physical abilities. We specifically excluded tasks involving safety risks, such as lifting heavy loads, using power tools, and driving long distances multiple times daily. 

With this in mind, here’s a list of organizations in Houston that offer volunteer opportunities for seniors.

Participating in food drives, sorting donations at food banks, or delivering meals to those in need can be fulfilling for older adults looking to make a difference. These activities often involve light physical work but can be adjusted to match varying mobility levels.

• Houston Food Bank is looking for volunteers to inspect and sort food, prepare and repack meals, and distribute them to various schools and communities. Older adults with valuable leadership experience can sign up for the Apple Corps program to manage training and keep the food bank’s operations running smoothly. Simply create a volunteer profile on their website and choose any available shift in the next three calendar months.
• Kids’ Meals is a non-profit that packs and delivers around 9,000 nutritious meals to underserved preschoolers. Older adults are welcome to help in food drives or join other programs like food bag decorating, DIY lunch pack assembly, and an annual summer juice box challenge. Volunteer shifts are available weekdays between 9 AM to 12 PM and 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Visit the Kids’ Meals website to sign up or join a waitlist.

Target Hunger Houston distributes groceries and pre-packaged meals to over 80 food pantries throughout Houston. Older adults can volunteer at the organization’s food fairs and mobile pantries by helping load the meals into the clients’ vehicles. The organization also operates a community garden where beginners and experts alike can assist in cultivating plants and harvesting them for ingredients. Sign up for a volunteer shift on their website.

Older adults bring valuable wisdom to pass on to the next generation. Volunteering as mentors or tutors, providing career guidance and professional development, or being a trusted figure for at-risk children and teens can be incredibly rewarding.

• Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation hosts the Connect4Literacy program, where volunteers serve as book readers in schools and community events. Older adults with mobility challenges are suited for this activity since it mainly involves sitting and reading. Those who prefer some more physical work can help at a book warehouse by moving and disassembling packages of donated books or scanning them for inventory purposes. Register online and check their calendar for the next available opportunities at various locations in Houston.
• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston inspires youth ages 6 to 17 to reach their full potential through programs that help improve their academic success and life skills. Older adults can fill out the application form on the organization’s website to volunteer as a homework tutor (science, math, or language arts), sports coach (basketball, flag football, soccer), or administrative staff (front desk or activity planner) at their local BGCGH club.
• Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) Houston provides arts education to underserved communities, including dance, music, and visual art classes. Older adults can apply as tutors in math, English, chemistry, or reading subjects. During MECA-hosted events, they can also work as information or advocate volunteers, providing directions and responding to guests' inquiries. Register online to qualify for volunteer opportunities.

Writers in the Schools (WITS) brings professional writers into classrooms to teach writing skills to thousands of Houston students. Older adults with writing or teaching experience can help with public readings, creative writing workshops, and after-school writing clubs. These programs are held in safe, family-friendly venues and do not involve heavy physical work. Apply online by completing the registration form on the WITS website.

Houston has plenty of public spaces, such as parks, gardens, and sports arenas. Older adults who love to go out and do light physical work can join park cleanup days or assist with environmental advocacy projects.

• Friends of Texas Wildlife focuses on rehabilitating injured or orphaned wildlife in Houston until they can be released to their natural habitat. Older adults with a soft spot for animals can volunteer and be trained as home-based wildlife rehabilitators. The organization also has an intake center where older adults who prefer administrative tasks can help in animal intake, marketing, fundraising, and community outreach. 
• Galveston Bay Foundation promotes water quality and conservation through advocacy, education, and research programs. Volunteer opportunities include marine debris surveys, office support, community outreach, watering monitoring, and dolphin research.

Keep Houston Beautiful has spent the last 37 years organizing events to clean up the city’s various public spaces. Older adults with a passion for community service can create a volunteer profile on their website and apply for the organization’s cleanup programs.

Older adults can also support libraries, churches, or community centers by helping at fundraisers and other local events. To expand your search, check out websites like VolunteerMatch.org and VolunteerHouston.org.

We hope you find the perfect volunteer match!