Nashville’s growth has created both opportunity and need — and the city’s volunteer community is strong, welcoming, and essential. The combination of faith-based organizations, community nonprofits, and music-industry philanthropy creates a volunteer ecosystem with something for everyone. Here’s how to get involved.
Food Security Organizations
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee serves 46 counties and provides extensive volunteer opportunities at its Nashville distribution center. Sorting, packing, and distributing food is the core activity, with shifts available throughout the week including evenings and weekends.
The Nashville Food Project combines food rescue with community meals, operating a kitchen that transforms recovered food into nutritious meals served at partner organizations. Volunteers cook, serve, and help with food rescue operations.
Nashville Rescue Mission provides meals, shelter, and recovery programs. Volunteers serve meals, assist with programming, and support the organization’s community outreach events.
Housing and Community Development
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville builds and repairs homes across Davidson County and surrounding areas. Nashville’s growth and affordability challenges make Habitat’s work particularly impactful, and construction volunteers can see their contribution become a family’s home.
Hands On Nashville is the city’s volunteer hub — organizing group projects, maintaining a searchable opportunity database, and coordinating the annual Hands On Nashville Day that mobilizes thousands of volunteers for community projects across the city.
Youth and Education
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee provides mentoring relationships for young people throughout the Nashville area. PENCIL Foundation connects volunteers with Metro Nashville Public Schools for tutoring, mentoring, and classroom support.
Monroe Harding serves youth aging out of foster care with housing, education, and employment support. Volunteers mentor young adults navigating the transition to independence — particularly meaningful work in a city where housing costs challenge young people without family support.
Music-Focused Volunteering
Nashville’s unique cultural identity creates volunteer opportunities that don’t exist elsewhere. Musicians On Call brings live music to hospital patients, and volunteers help coordinate performances. The W.O. Smith Music School provides free music education to children from low-income families — volunteers assist with administration, events, and mentoring. The Nashville Songwriters Foundation offers mentoring programs where experienced industry volunteers guide emerging songwriters.
Environmental and Outdoor
Cumberland River Compact organizes river cleanups, watershed education, and environmental stewardship programs throughout the Nashville area. Nashville Tree Foundation coordinates tree plantings and urban-canopy preservation projects.
For more on Nashville community life, explore our free things to do guide and best neighborhoods.