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5 Opportunities to Volunteer in Northwest Florida

Volunteering is a wonderful way to make a difference in our community. Whether you are in need of community service hours or just want to invest your time in something […]

Photo Credit: Feeding the Gulf Coast

Volunteering is a wonderful way to make a difference in our community. Whether you are in need of community service hours or just want to invest your time in something meaningful, here are five volunteer opportunities on the Emerald Coast.

Pawsitive Love Foundation

The Mission

The mission of Pawsitive Love Foundation is “to provide properly trained Service Dogs and handler training that will bring a measure of freedom through healing, helping, and support to Veterans and Children. “

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Dog walkers
  • Dog training helpers
  • Puppy raisers

How to Apply

To inquire about volunteering, please submit a contact form on their website.

Photo Credit: Pawsitive Love Foundation

Emerald Coast Science Center

The Mission

The Emerald Coast Science Center is a wonderful place where children and families can go to explore science in a creative way. Their goal is to make a positive impact, foster a scientifically engaged community, and show how science shapes the world around us.

Volunteer Opportunities

  • exhibit development and maintenance
  • docent shifts
  • event shifts

How to Apply

Fill out a volunteer form and then sign up for a volunteer shift at the bottom of that webpage.

Photo Credit: Emerald Coast Science Center

Panhandle Animal Welfare Society

The Mission

  • To offer refuge, medical care, nourishment and an opportunity for a second chance for life to unwanted animals in our community.
  • To protect animals from cruelty, neglect, carelessness and ignorance.
  • To encourage and promote responsible pet ownership.
  • To educate and inform the public about animal issues, and to assist in the development of short and long term community oriented solutions to such problems. 

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Exercise dogs
  • Work in the Junk Yard Dog Thrift Store
  • Socialize, brush and play with the cats
  • Wash towels & blankets for the animals
  • Wash dishes
  • Collect aluminum cans & recycle them for cash
  • Bathe and groom the animals
  • Help decorate floats or the building for holidays
  • Participate in adoption events and fundraisers (PAWS adoption events happen weekly at locations throughout the county)
  • Serve on a committee for fundraising, volunteers or events

How to Apply

Fill out the volunteer form and e-mail it to paws.felicia@gmail.com or stop by PAWS and fill out a volunteer form.

Photo Credit: PAWS

Feeding the Gulf Coast

The Mission

Feeding the Gulf Coast works through member organizations and special programs to provide nutritious food to meet the challenge of feeding people who are hungry as a result of systemic poverty, personal crisis or disaster. 

Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Food Sorting
  • Preparing Backpacks
  • Clerical Work
  • Special Events
  • Onsite Garden
  • Gleaning
  • Produce Sorting
  • Outreach Assistance
  • Emergency Response

If you don’t have the time to volunteer, donations are also greatly appreciated.

How to Apply:

To volunteer, register through this link.

If you are serving to fulfill court-ordered community service requirements, please make sure to contact Feeding Gulf Coast first.

Photo Credit: Feeding the Gulf Coast

Fisher House of the Emerald Coast

The Mission

“Our mission is to keep military families together during times of medical need, providing a support system for healing.  We believe a family’s love is the best medicine.”

Volunteer Opportunities:

How to Apply

To provide a meal, sign up here. For other volunteer opportunities, fill out a volunteer form and email to director@fisherhouseemeraldcoast.com. For more information, contact the Fisher House at 850-259-4956.

You must have base access to volunteer as the Fisher House is located on Eglin Air Force Base.

Photo Credit: Fisher House of the Emerald Coast

Do you know of any organizations in need of volunteers or do you volunteer at one of the organizations we featured? Let us know!

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