One of the easiest ways to feel more at home in Midland is to pitch in, and there’s no shortage of local organizations that could use the hands. Here are a few of the places we point people to when they ask how to get involved, and what each one does.
This isn’t a complete list of every nonprofit in town, just a starting point across a few areas: hunger relief, families, and housing. Most of these groups take individual volunteers as well as company and church groups, and many have flexible shifts including evenings, so it’s worth reaching out directly to find a fit. For a wider look at the groups shaping life here, see our roundup of organizations making a difference in Midland.
Start With Every Neighbor
If you’re not sure where to begin, the easiest first stop is Every Neighbor, a Midland-based 501(c)(3) that pulls local volunteer opportunities into one place. Rather than checking each organization’s site one at a time, you can browse open needs from nonprofits across the area on its Ways to Serve board, filter for what fits your schedule and interests, and sign up directly. It also keeps a running events calendar and an organizations directory so you can see who’s active in the community. It’s built for individuals, students, families, businesses, churches, and clubs, which makes it the simplest way to find a need you can meet, and it’s where we point most people first. We sat down with Every Neighbor’s Cindy Payton and Leslie Crisp on the Best of Midland podcast to talk through how it connects volunteers with local nonprofits.
West Texas Food Bank
The West Texas Food Bank is one of the largest volunteer draws in the region. Its Midland Community and Volunteer Center, a space of more than 11,000 square feet, is built around volunteers who sort, pack, and help distribute food across the area. Shifts run throughout the week, including several evenings for people who can’t come during work hours, and volunteers register through the organization’s Volunteer Hub. Children 16 and older can typically volunteer independently, with younger kids welcome under parental supervision, which makes it a common choice for families and groups. For a closer look at what a shift can feel like, read about the volunteers behind a Midland food pantry.
Casa de Amigos
Casa de Amigos is a multicultural neighborhood center in southeast Midland that provides social services and support to local families. The organization offers volunteer placement within its programs, so if you’re looking to help closer to the neighborhood level, it’s a good place to start.
Midland Fair Havens
Midland Fair Havens works with single mothers and their children, providing housing, support programs, and assistance aimed at long-term stability. It also connects families with food and clothing resources. Volunteers can support the organization’s programs and events, a fit for anyone who wants to help families get back on their feet.
Permian Basin Habitat for Humanity
Permian Basin Habitat for Humanity builds and repairs homes alongside local families working toward homeownership. Volunteers help on build sites (no construction experience required) and the local ReStore, which sells donated home goods to fund the mission, is another place to lend a hand. It’s a hands-on option if you’d rather be out doing physical work.
Midland Soup Kitchen Ministry and the Salvation Army
For hunger relief closer to a daily meal, the Midland Soup Kitchen Ministry serves meals to people in need and relies on volunteers to help prepare and serve. The Salvation Army of Midland runs a range of assistance programs and takes volunteers year-round, with need often rising around the holidays.
How to Get Started
The simplest first step is to browse Every Neighbor’s Ways to Serve board, pick an opportunity that fits your schedule, and sign up. It gathers needs from nonprofits across Midland in one place, so you don’t have to hunt organization by organization. If you already have a cause in mind, you can also reach out to any of the groups above directly; most have a volunteer coordinator or an online sign-up, and many offer group shifts so you can bring coworkers, a class, or a few friends along.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I volunteer in Midland, Texas?
The easiest place to start is Every Neighbor, a local hub that lists volunteer opportunities from nonprofits across Midland in one place. From there you’ll find groups like the West Texas Food Bank, Casa de Amigos, Midland Fair Havens, Permian Basin Habitat for Humanity, the Midland Soup Kitchen Ministry, and the Salvation Army of Midland, among many others.
What is Every Neighbor?
Every Neighbor is a Midland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects people with local serving opportunities. Its Ways to Serve board and events calendar gather volunteer needs from nonprofits across the area, so you can find a cause and sign up in one place.
How do I volunteer at the West Texas Food Bank?
Register through the organization’s Volunteer Hub on its website. Shifts run throughout the week, including some evenings, and volunteers help sort, pack, and distribute food at the Midland Community and Volunteer Center.
Can kids or families volunteer in Midland?
Yes. The West Texas Food Bank generally allows volunteers 16 and older to serve independently, with younger children welcome under parental supervision. Many organizations also welcome family and group shifts.
Are there group or corporate volunteer opportunities in Midland?
Many local nonprofits, including the food bank, host group shifts for companies, churches, and clubs. Contact the organization directly to arrange a group.
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