Ready to make a difference in Sioux Falls but not sure where to start? You're definitely not alone… nearly 800 people are already volunteering through United Way alone, and trust me, there's room for more. Whether you've got two hours or twenty hours a week, this guide will help you find the perfect volunteer opportunity without the usual runaround of calling fifteen different organizations.
Here's the thing about volunteering in Sioux Falls: the city has done most of the hard work for you already. Instead of playing phone tag with dozens of nonprofits, you can browse hundreds of opportunities in one place, get matched with organizations that actually need what you're offering, and start making an impact faster than you can say "where do I sign up?"
Start here first: your volunteer matchmaker
Before you dive into specific organizations, let me save you about three hours of googling. The Helpline Center's Volunteer Connections service is basically the Match.com of volunteering, except instead of finding your soulmate, you're finding your perfect volunteer gig.
Just call 211 or visit volunteer.helplinecenter.org to browse their database of hundreds of current opportunities. They update everything weekly, so you're not going to show up somewhere only to find out they filled that position six months ago. Plus, they've got specialized programs if you're a high school student (SALSA) or an adult 55 and over (RSVP).
The numbers don't lie about volunteering's impact here. Xcel Energy's single day of service created $117,000 in local economic value, and with volunteer hours valued nationally at $31.80 each, your time translates to real financial support for these organizations. But honestly, the human connection part is what volunteers say matters most.
Feed people who need it most
Food insecurity hits harder than most people realize, and Sioux Falls has some seriously impressive organizations tackling hunger. The best part? Most of these opportunities welcome complete beginners and don't require you to commit your firstborn child to volunteering.
Feeding South Dakota: your easiest entry point
If you've never volunteered before, start here. Feeding South Dakota runs their main warehouse at 4701 N Westport Ave, and they distributed 11.7 million meals last fiscal year. That's a lot of sorting, packing, and organizing that needs doing.
The process couldn't be simpler: register online at feedingsouthdakota.galaxydigital.com, sit through a brief orientation that won't put you to sleep, and then pick shifts that actually work with your schedule. They welcome all ages (kids just need adults with them), and the work ranges from sorting donated food to packing those weekend BackPack Program bags that keep kids fed when school's out.
Current volunteer Michael Albertus puts it perfectly: "For me, it's a pleasure to talk to these people. I might be the only one they see in a day and it's a welfare check." Sometimes the conversation matters as much as the meal.
The Banquet: 100% volunteer powered since 1985
Here's something wild: The Banquet serves 16 meals every week at two locations with exactly zero paid staff. None. Every single person who helps serve those 190,000+ annual meals is a volunteer, and somehow this system has worked since 1985.
They operate at 900 E 8th Street downtown and 710 N Marion Road on the west side. The deal is simple: your group sponsors a meal, shows up to serve it, and gets to actually interact with the people you're helping. Call (605) 335-7066 or email volunteer@thebanquetsf.org to get your group on the schedule.
Union Gospel Mission: daily commitment, real impact
Union Gospel Mission at 701 E 8th St takes the "365 days a year" approach seriously. They serve three meals every single day, including holidays, blizzards, and that one random Tuesday when everyone calls in sick to their day job.
Beyond the kitchen help, they run a Food Box Giveaway every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-4 PM that always needs extra hands. Contact Ann at annjl@ugmsiouxfalls.com or 605-553-5388 to get started. Fair warning: volunteers often mention that helping others ends up changing their own lives just as much.
Quick food volunteer options:
- Feeding South Dakota warehouse shifts
- Banquet meal sponsorship and service
- Union Gospel kitchen and food boxes
- Bread Break food recovery routes
Bread Break: saving food from the dumpster
If food waste makes you irrationally angry, Bread Break is your organization. They run 22 weekly routes collecting perfectly good surplus food from 48+ restaurants and stores, then deliver it to 30+ food banks and shelters before it hits the landfill.
In 2023 alone, they recovered over 300,000 pounds of food. The requirements are pretty straightforward: valid driver's license and 2-4 hours weekly. Contact Executive Director Pam Cole at breadbreaksf@gmail.com to join their food rescue mission.
Healthcare and senior support
Healthcare volunteering requires a bit more commitment upfront, but the impact is profound. These organizations need people who can stick around long enough to actually build relationships with patients and clients.
Sanford Health: 95+ ways to help
Sanford Health has turned volunteer coordination into an art form with 95+ different positions across their medical center, clinics, and hospice programs. The most popular gigs include being a hospital wayfinder (basically a human GPS for confused visitors), working in the gift shop, and the coveted NICU baby rocker position that currently has a waiting list.
Here's what you're signing up for: you need to be 16 or older, pass a background check, complete health screenings, and commit to weekly 3-4 hour shifts for at least 12 months. Apply online at volgistics.com/appform/853510890 or call (605) 333-6374.
Joan, a NICU volunteer, sums up why people keep coming back: "Rocking babies in the NICU is the best thing I have done since I retired. Rocking babies in the NICU is good for the babies and good for you!" For hospice work, they offer everything from pet therapy to recording patient life stories.
Active Generations Meals on Wheels: critical volunteer shortage
This is where I'm going to be blunt: Active Generations desperately needs more than 40 daily volunteers to pack and deliver 550+ meals, and right now they're coming up short. If you're looking for a place where your help is genuinely needed, this is it.
The morning shift starts at 9:20 AM at their main campus (2300 W. 46th St.) for meal packing, which takes under an hour. Delivery routes run from 10:45 AM to 12:30 PM Monday through Friday and take about 1.5 hours each. Call (605) 333-3305 to volunteer, and prepare to become someone's favorite part of the day.
As volunteers constantly point out, you might be the only person a meal recipient sees all day. That's a lot of responsibility, but also a lot of opportunity to make someone's week better.
VA Healthcare: serious commitment, serious impact
The VA Sioux Falls Healthcare System at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans' Memorial Hospital doesn't mess around with their volunteer requirements. You're looking at a minimum 6-month commitment and 50 hours of service, plus fingerprint background checks and health screenings.
But here's the trade-off: you get to work directly with veterans, the VA provides free flu shots to volunteers, and you'll be part of a system that takes volunteer coordination seriously. Contact their main number for volunteer services information.
Essential healthcare volunteer requirements:
- Background checks for most positions
- Health screenings and TB tests
- 6-12 month minimum commitments
- Weekly scheduled shifts preferred
- Orientation and training sessions
Youth mentoring that actually works
If you want to see measurable impact from your volunteer time, youth mentoring programs in Sioux Falls have the data to prove their effectiveness. Plus, most of these programs have figured out how to work with real people's actual schedules.
Lutheran Social Services: three ways to mentor
Lutheran Social Services took over Big Brothers Big Sisters operations and now runs three distinct mentoring programs that don't require you to reorganize your entire life. Their office is at 705 E 41st St., Suite 220, and you can call (605) 444-7803 to get started.
The In-School Mentoring program is their largest and requires just one hour weekly at whatever school and grade level you prefer. Community Mentoring involves 4 monthly hours doing activities with youth ages 7-14. High School Mentoring requires a 4-year commitment, but mentees can earn scholarship opportunities.
Here's the statistic that matters: 94% of mentored students graduate high school. Background checks and training are required, but the time investment pays off in ways that go far beyond test scores.
Junior Achievement: teaching kids about money
Junior Achievement of South Dakota operates out of 300 South Phillips Avenue, Suite L102, and brings financial literacy and entrepreneurship education to schools across Sioux Falls. Their 2,000+ volunteers serve 55,000+ South Dakota students annually, which is impressive by any measure.
The elementary programs last 30-45 minutes over 5 weeks, and the training is designed for people who didn't major in business education. Contact them at (605) 336-7318 or jasd@ja.org to find out which schools near you need volunteers.
Boys & Girls Clubs: beyond after-school care
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire serve kids from 4 weeks to 18 years at locations in Sioux Falls, Brandon, and Harrisburg. While they primarily need board volunteers and special event support rather than daily programming help, call (605) 338-8061 or email info@bgcsiouxempire.org to discuss current opportunities.
Their programs include early learning, after-school activities, and teen workforce development, so there's usually something that matches your interests and skills.
Animals and the environment
Animal welfare volunteering tends to attract people who've reached their limit with humans for the day, and environmental work appeals to those who want to fix problems they can actually see getting solved.
Sioux Falls Area Humane Society: they really need you
Director James Oppenheimer doesn't sugarcoat the situation: "We absolutely need volunteers. It's not just a want, it's a need for us." With a 25% increase in animal intake and over 200 current volunteers, they're constantly looking for more people to help with dog walking, cat socialization, and administrative support.
The application process involves an information session, application, and training that totals about 2 hours. After that, you commit to just 4 hours monthly and choose from morning, afternoon, or evening shifts that work with your schedule. Visit sfadopt.com/volunteer to start the process.
Big Sioux River Cleanup: one day, big impact
Mark your calendar for April 26, 2025, from 10 AM to noon. The annual Big Sioux River Cleanup happens at seven locations throughout the city, and since 2014, volunteers have hauled over 16,000 pounds of trash out of local waterways.
Register at helplinecenter.jotform.com/250654088391866 or contact Public Works at (605) 367-8276. It's exactly the kind of volunteer work where you can see immediate results and go home feeling like you actually accomplished something tangible.
Outdoor Campus: teaching people to love nature
The Outdoor Campus needs volunteers for outdoor education programs, with positions ranging from teaching assistant to animal care specialist. Youth volunteers (12+) commit to 25 hours annually, while adults (18+) commit to 50 hours. Over 25 years, they've logged 125,000+ volunteer hours.
Apply at volgistics.com/appform/1957333821 or contact paige.ofarrell@state.sd.us to get involved with environmental education that actually gets people excited about spending time outdoors.
Popular animal and environment opportunities:
- Humane Society dog walking shifts
- River cleanup event participation
- Outdoor Campus teaching assistance
- Wildlife education programming
- Environmental conservation projects
Community building and special causes
Sometimes you want to volunteer for something that builds lasting change rather than just addressing immediate needs. These organizations focus on creating opportunities and infrastructure that stick around.
Habitat for Humanity: building homes and community
Here's the thing about Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls: you don't need to know how to use power tools or read blueprints. Since 1989, they've built or rehabilitated 163 homes with help from volunteers who learned on the job.
Beyond home building, they run ReStore retail operations and neighborhood revitalization projects. Contact Volunteer Coordinator Brittany Bandstra at brittany.bandstra@siouxfallshabitat.org to find out what they need help with currently.
Volunteer Steve Cook explains the appeal: "It gives me a renewed sense of purpose. I have been blessed with good health and financial security, so I want to give back." Plus, you get to learn actual skills while helping families build equity and stability.
Special Olympics South Dakota: sports that transform lives
Special Olympics South Dakota operates out of 800 E. I-90 Lane and serves athletes 8+ with intellectual disabilities through year-round sports programs. They maintain a 100% Four-Star Charity rating, which means they're exceptionally good at using donations and volunteer time effectively.
Call (605) 331-4117 to volunteer as a coach or event-day support person. The organization provides training, and volunteers consistently report that they get more out of the experience than they put in.
Making the leap from thinking to doing
Most volunteer applications require background checks for positions involving vulnerable populations, but don't let that stop you. It's standard procedure that the organizations handle, not a judgment on your character or a bureaucratic nightmare.
Time commitments vary wildly, from one-time event support to weekly scheduled shifts. The key is being honest about your availability and physical capabilities upfront rather than overcommitting and burning out after two weeks.
Janet Kittams, Helpline Center President with 20+ years of service, offers this perspective: "Out of all the phone calls I've taken over the years, I can see now that people are just in need of a human connection." That's ultimately what volunteering provides… connection between people who want to help and people who need help.
Start by picking one organization from this guide that genuinely interests you rather than the one that sounds most impressive on paper. Make that phone call or fill out that online application today, because thousands of Sioux Falls residents are waiting for exactly the kind of help you can provide. The hardest part is taking the first step, and you've already done the research.
