Whether you donate time to help filers during tax season or pick up fresh food from a local farm and deliver it a pantry, you make a difference. Volunteers are a crucial driving force behind the success of many of our programs. Our goal is to match your skills and talent with meaningful opportunities that help local families in need of a helping hand up. Caring, committed volunteers contributed more than 52,827 of their time to helping other last year.

Opportunity Council 101

The first step toward volunteering with the Opportunity Council is to attend Opportunity Council 101, which is a ninety-minute orientation that introduces prospective volunteers to all aspects of service provision, volunteer job opportunities, and the Opportunity Council’s unique approach to helping families achieve self-sufficiency.

Upcoming Opportunity Council 101 dates in central and lower Bucks County:

The Opportunity Council 101 schedule for 2012 is coming soon. Please contact David Ford, Outreach Director, by email or call 215-345-8175 x 204 to be notified when the schedule is finalized.

Once you attend Opportunity Council 101 and complete the Volunteer Information Packet we will send you additional information about specific volunteer opportunities and instructions on how to access and use VolunteerHub, our online volunteer scheduling system.

Registration Form

Please complete the following form and click "Send Email" to sign up for the Opportunity Council 101 session that is most convenient for you:

First name:

Last name:

Telephone:

Email:

Select the Opportunity Council 101 orientation you would like to attend:

Select One

How did you hear about the Opportunity Council?: Select One Friend The Intelligencer Bucks County Courier Times Bucks County Herald Television news Volunteer website Other

Are you willing to take a criminal and child abuse background check? Select One Yes No

Please contact David Ford, Outreach Director, at 215-345-8175 x 204 if you have questions, need additional information or would like information about volunteer opportunities for groups.

The following is a list of volunteer opportunities:

Administrative/Clerical
Volunteers provide critical support by answering the telephone, greeting walk-ins, prescreening potential clients for basic eligibility, and performing basic data entry and filing.

Board of Directors
Volunteers serve as voting members, oversee adherence of the agency to its mission, develop policies, procedures and regulations for the operation of the agency, and monitor finances, programs, and performance of the agency.

Bucks Back Free Tax Preparation
Volunteer opportunities range from hospitality (no tax preparation experience necessary) to preparation (quality review (significant tax preparation or tax law experience required). IRS training and certification is required for some positions. To ensure high-quality customer service and consistency for filers, staff and other volunteers, we ask you to commit at least 4-6 hours per week from January thru April. Hours of operation vary by site. Daytime and evening shifts are available Monday thru Saturday.

Food and Nutrition Network
Volunteers assist with the pick-up, processing and delivery of food donations to affiliated pantries throughout Bucks County. Regularly scheduled and “on call” daytime opportunities are available throughout the year. Tasks may include distributing produce, gathering produce, publicity, recruit volunteers, or coordinating volunteers.

Fundraising
Volunteers work in partnership with staff to ensure that the Opportunity Council has the resources it needs to carry out its work through participation in fundraising activities, including identifying, cultivating, and soliciting prospective donors.

Holiday
Volunteers provide critical support during the busy holiday season by answering phones, scheduling appointments, reviewing applications and providing hospitality, as well as assisting with data entry and the distribution of toys. Daytime shifts are available Monday thru Friday throughout Bucks County from mid-November thru the end of December.

Legal
Volunteers with knowledge, skills, and expertise in legal matters pertaining to nonprofit gift acceptance and constructing gift agreements meet as needed to provide guidance and support in constructing and/or reviewing gift agreements.

Planned Giving
Volunteers with knowledge, skills, and expertise in planned giving meet as needed to provide guidance and support in establishing a planned giving program.

Special Event Planning
Volunteers assist with all aspects of the Opportunity Council’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Achievement Awards and Graduation, which is the organization’s marquee annual special event. Activities include soliciting sponsors, driving ticket sales and attendance, and assisting with hospitality and logistics the night of the event.