Your community needs you more than ever.

Our community is facing unprecedented challenges. Serve Saint Paul: Neighbors Helping Neighbors supports a community of service in Saint Paul by connecting neighbors, community organizations, and businesses who could use a helping hand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In partnership with Cities of Service and AARP, this initiative engages volunteers to safely support community members experiencing barriers to meeting some basic needs due to age, mobility, income, or other factors. Serve Saint Paul: Neighbors Helping Neighbors also supports neighborhood clean-up efforts and connects volunteers with local businesses needing fortification assembly and removal. 

Working together as a community, our city will emerge stronger and more connected.  

Neighbors Helping Neighbors is presented in partnership with:

AARP-LogoCities of Service.org

Snow shoveling assistance

The City does not have the resources to assist residents in clearing their sidewalks. However, you might try these resources:

  • Saintly City Snow Angels (Volunteer-coordinated Facebook page - neighborhood volunteers)
  • State of Minnesota's Senior Linkage Line or call 1-800-2433 - Volunteer service groups
  • Neighborhood Network for Seniors (only for Union Park, Mac-Groveland, Summit-University, and Lexington-Hamline neighborhoods) - call 651-646-2301

Please note that some of these groups and resources may only have programs and services that require payment.

Would you like to help someone with snow shoveling this winter season? Learn more about volunteer opportunities below.

Volunteer Opportunities

All Saint Paul residents can safely volunteer their time and talents to make an impact now. Fill out the Volunteer form and Serve Saint Paul: Neighbors Helping Neighbors will connect you to the latest opportunities matching your interests. 

Featured volunteer opportunities include: 

  • Assist a food distribution point, including sorting, stocking, bagging food, and curbside or walk-in pick up. This food distribution may be a food shelf, a city-led effort, etc. 
  • Deliver grocery and basic needs items to home-bound individuals using proper social distancing protocols. 
  • Assist a food shelf with tasks as assigned including volunteer coordination, inventory, and supply management and operations. 
  • Assist with prepping, cooking, serving, packing, and cleaning up after meals that are available to the public or individuals who need assistance at a reduced cost or no cost. 
  • Sew homemade face masks and other personal protective equipment (such as gowns) using CDC-approved guidelines. 
  • Receive ideas on ways community organizations can help from home or with minimal coordination from a partner as a Together-Apart Volunteer. Volunteers may be referred to an organization that has a need for virtual volunteer support. 
  • Support needs that require direct outreach in the community. 
  • Support local organizations and efforts that help clean up neighborhoods or prepare neighborhoods for any future clean up needs including fortification assembly and removal. 
Find Volunteer Opportunities

Community Organizations

Community organizations and businesses can request a volunteer for these needs by filling out the Volunteer Opportunities form.

All volunteers and organizers are encouraged to follow Volunteer and Community Safety guidelines below. 

Submit a Volunteer Opportunity

Featured Video

Join Neighbors Helping Neighbors

This is the story of two Neighbors Helping Neighbors volunteers and their contributions to our community.

Volunteer Safety

To ensure personal and community safety, all volunteers should consider the following before serving: 

  • Have you experienced any respiratory symptoms such as congestion, cough, sore throat or fever in the last 72 hours? 
  • Have you had any contact with someone who has recently been tested for novel coronavirus or is under investigation for novel coronavirus (COVID-19)? 

If you answer yes to either question, avoid volunteering for at least 14 days. If you develop symptoms within that time frame, please consult your healthcare provider. 

Volunteers engaging in physical interactions should observe proper social distancing measures by maintaining 6 feet of separation and wearing a mask. Bring hand sanitizer to use periodically and wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and hot water after taking a break and at the end of your volunteer shift.  Learn more about proper social distancing measures on the CDC’s website. 

Volunteers handling or packaging materials should follow the CDC’s guidelines for disinfecting surfaces. 

Detailed Information: Provided by Ramsey County Public Health 

Last Edited: December 13, 2024