Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers make a difference every day at The ROC. From mentoring a child to registering guests at a Good for the Neighborhood health fair, volunteers are able to make an impact on those we serve and on our community as a whole.

Become a Volunteer

The ROC is currently looking for drivers, tutors, and mentors. New Paths, our Household Goods Redistribution Program is looking for volunteers to help on Saturday mornings with loading furniture items and for an on-call volunteer during the week. We're also open to other ideas! Please contact Amelia Leggett at 716-240-2220 ext. 202 or aleggett@theroc.co with questions about general volunteer opportunities. For mentoring and tutoring volunteer opportunities, please contact Nichole Barrett at 716-240-2220 ext. 107 or nbarrett@theroc.co

Volunteer as a Group!

The ROC welcomes businesses, churches, youth groups, schools, and other organizations who wish to volunteer as a group! Many group opportunities involve outdoor work or sorting/organizing as we prepare for fall and winter distribution events. Please contact Amelia Leggett at 716-240-2220 ext. 202 or aleggett@theroc.co for more information.

As a Volunteer, You Could...

Mentor or tutor a child

Clean & sanitize frequently played-with toys in our play therapy rooms

Drive Participants to medical appointments, work, stores, etc.

Assist with seasonal yardwork and landscaping

Provide support at one of our Kids’ ROC Experiences

Assist with event set up and take down

Join a special events committee

Provide an adult Participant with targeted mentoring & support

Help with our Back-to-School and Winter Prep Distribution Days

...and so much more!

Volunteer FAQs

What days of the weeks and what times are available for volunteering?

Most volunteer opportunities are available during The ROC’s normal business hours. We have limited weekend and night volunteer opportunities available.

Can I complete community service hours at The ROC?

Please let us know ahead of time if you are looking to complete a certain number of hours and if you will need a staff member from The ROC to sign off on your hours. We will do our best to find you volunteer opportunities so you can meet your hour requirements.

The ROC may not be able to provide opportunities to cover all of the community services hours you need.

How old do I have to be to volunteer?

The ROC welcomes volunteers of many ages! Volunteers under the age of 18 must have their parents/guardians’ permission and we ask that there be adult supervision available for groups of teen volunteers.

Can I volunteer just once or twice or do I have to commit to a longer amount of time?

The ROC has volunteer opportunities for people who prefer volunteering as it fits their schedules and for people who are interested in something more regular Opportunities like mentoring and tutoring require a commitment of at least an hour every other week for the duration of the school year. Volunteering for events and programs typically do not require a commitment beyond that one event.

Other Ways to Get Involved

The ROC always welcomes collection drives in support of Sarah’s Pantry, our basic human needs pantry that provides families with items not covered by supplemental food assistance. These items include cleaning products, personal hygiene products, and paper products. Our Amazon wishlist for Sarah’s Pantry can be found here or you can call The ROC directly at 716-240-2220 ext. 101 for more information on our current needs.

Please note that any volunteers who will be working directly with any of The ROC’s Participants will be asked to complete a background check and be fingerprinted, as required by our NYS licensing body. You will also need to complete required trainings.