11 Wisconsin organizations that need your help this winter

These volunteer opportunities range from stocking food pantry shelves to aiding animals. Check out these 11 ways to help your community this winter.

Winter is the most wonderful time of the year, or so the old adage goes. The bright, multi-colored twinkling lights are alluring, and the holiday magic can feel contagious. Wisconsin’s magical winter festivals even bring people together in fun ways. Yet for many, the cold months are among the toughest times of the year. As with practically every other facet of life, socioeconomic class plays a pivotal role in how well many people perceive and experience not only the holidays but also winter generally.

Those who are less fortunate economically may not have enough warm clothes to get through the winter, or they might not have enough money to spare on holiday gifts for their loved ones. They may not even be able to afford a spread of food for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other holidays they celebrate. This is why volunteer efforts typically ramp up beginning in November. People come together to help others not only survive but also enjoy the colder months.

If you’re looking to get in on the action this year, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered some excellent winter volunteer opportunities in Wisconsin for you to check out. This is only scratching the surface, though—don’t forget to check with your local communities for opportunities that may directly help your neighbors.

1. Firefly Acres Horse Farm

Address: W155 Pearl St, Oneida, WI  54155

Oneida’s Firefly Acres Horse Farm is seeking volunteers to help feed horses this winter. You can sign up for one-hour time slots on Volunteer Wisconsin to connect with the animals, but keep in mind that there’s an age floor of 16 for this volunteer position. Not sure about feeding horses for the first time? Fret not—each volunteer receives training during their first volunteer shift to ensure they’re not harmed and the horses remain both fed properly and oh-so happy.

2. Habitat for Humanity of Dane County

Address: 6201 Odana Road, Madison, WI 53719

Home to Madison, Dane County is home to many people, and Habitat for Humanity is here to help bring people and housing together. The organization constructs and repairs homes year-round, but we all know that winter can be particularly hard on homes. That’s why it brings in more volunteers during the cold months with its Winter Warriors program, ensuring that lower-income families keep roofs over their heads. There are even indoor positions for those who can’t be outside for long!

Check out the Habitat for Humanity Wisconsin webpage for additional opportunities near you.

3. Milwaukee Community Crossroads Emergency Food Pantry

Address: 807 S 14th St, Milwaukee, WI  53204

Keeping people fed is important in general, but especially during the cold months when other aspects of life can become increasingly difficult. Enter the Milwaukee Community Crossroads Emergency Food Pantry, an amazing resource that helps community members in the city fill their fridges and cupboards. The organization is looking for volunteers to stock shelves and tidy up the space throughout the cold season. On Volunteer Wisconsin, three volunteers are desired each day, and all of the spaces remain open at the time of writing.

To find more food pantries across Wisconsin, click here.

4. Sheboygan County Food Bank

Address: 3115 N. 21st St, Suite 1, Sheboygan, WI  53081

Another food service in need is the Sheboygan County Food Bank, which is seeking volunteers to help pick up and transport food between the food bank at Evergreen Park between Nov. 27 and Dec. 31. There, the annual Making Spirits Bright event will be underway, bringing the community together and filling tummies with warm, nourishing food. Two people—a driver and a helper—are needed on each volunteer shift, which runs from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. This is an excellent way to give back if you enjoy driving and want to spend some quality time with your helper (or vice versa).

5. Coulee Region Humane Society

Address: 911 Critter Ct, Onalaska, WI 54650

It’s no secret that humane societies are often busiest during the winter. Many animals are brought to shelters after being found in the cold, and others come to shelters after folks adopt them for holidays before realizing they don’t actually want pets. Perhaps because of this, Onalaska’s Coulee Region Humane Society is looking for volunteers to help in its medical room. This is great for folks who want to go into veterinary medicine in the future, but that’s certainly not a requirement. Tasks will include coordinating paperwork, maintaining medical-room cleanliness, and keeping animals at bay. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays need the most aid right now, and you can sign up on Volunteer Wisconsin. Give the animals an extra pet from us!

6. United Way’s Annual Winter Bites Meal Packaging Event

Address: 555 S. Executive Drive, Brookfield, WI

United Way has a lot of volunteer opportunities throughout the year, but the most well-known one is its annual Winter Bites Meal Packaging Event, which will be held on Dec. 6 this year. This initiative is specifically aimed at making sure students eat over the winter break, so the event sees volunteers filling packages to send home with students. The 2025 event is full, though there is a waitlist in case extra help is needed. Still, this is a great event to keep in mind for future years, as it happens like clockwork.

7. Do Good Wisconsin’s Snow Angel Program

Do Good Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization that aims to help Wisconsin’s people in any way that can better their circumstances and lead the way with goodwill, and its Snow Angel Program is the latest way it’s working to make that a reality. It’s a rather simple initiative: Folks who can’t shovel their sidewalks or driveways can sign up to receive a sign that says so to put in their yards. Then, when folks in their neighborhoods see these signs, they know they can help their community members by taking care of their walkways. It’s not volunteering in the traditional sense, but watching out for these signs and taking action is an easy and free way to help those who live around you.

8. Sheboygan County Museum’s Holiday Memories 2025

Address: 3110 Erie Ave, Sheboygan, WI  53081

The Sheboygan County Museum’s annual Holiday Memories event does exactly what it says it does: gives families and community members the chance to have a fun, cheery time that they’ll always remember. Of course, volunteers are needed to get something as big as this off the ground each year. The museum is seeking volunteers from Nov. 28 to Dec. 30, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some tasks include helping with kids’ crafts, refilling snacks, and welcoming attendees. Check out Volunteer Sheboygan for signup information.

9. Rotary Winter Wonderland

Each year, Rotary Winter Wonderland descends on the Marshfield area to help community members stock their homes with food during the cold months, but it’s only able to do so with the help of volunteers. The event runs from Nov. 28 to Dec. 30, and each day, two volunteer shifts are needed at different locations throughout the Marshfield area, from Trinity Lutheran Church to Stratford High School and Staab Construction, to accept donations. Additionally, a “ranger” position is needed each day. This person will essentially be a manager for the day, coordinating volunteers and overseeing operations. To sign up, check out the event’s website.

10. Bayview Community Center Food Pantry

Address: 103 La Mariposa Ln, Madison, WI  53715

The Bayview Community Center is another food pantry in Wisconsin looking for help throughout the winter. Specifically, it’s seeking volunteers on Friday afternoons from 12:30 to 4:30. Like other similar opportunities, volunteers are tasked with aiding any guests who visit the pantry, keeping shelves stocked, and ensuring general tidiness. You can volunteer for a single Friday afternoon or many on Volunteer Wisconsin—any help is better than none!

11. Hope Center’s Clothing Store

Address: 101 W Broadway, Waukesha, WI 53186

Food isn’t the only necessity that needs to be distributed during the cold months. If you want to help people stay warm with winter clothing, check out the Hope Center in Waukesha. This nonprofit organization’s Clothing Store runs with the help of volunteers, who keep the clothing stocked and help visitors look through their options. Looking and feeling good in your outfits is a magical feeling, and if you want to help people stay warm in style, you can apply here.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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