After playing and singing "Little Wonders," by Rob Thomas for Army veteran John Fay at the DC VA Medical Center's Hospice Unit, Musicians On Call performer, Dante Ciolfi, thanks Fay for his service. Tyrone Turner/WAMU for NPR hide caption
November 11, 2026 • Volunteer musicians play for veterans and others who are hospitalized. They're part of Musicians On Call, a group that spreads the healing power of music.
Dr. Mary Marfisee conducts a brief breathing check on a woman on Los Angeles' Skid Row on December 15, 2025. Zaydee Sanchez for NPR hide caption
January 14, 2026 • Homeless women face unique health challenges with few dedicated resources. And as the number of women experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles continues to grow, Dr. Mary Marfisee hopes to bring them lifesaving resources.
September 16, 2026 • It takes a group of dedicated volunteers to make sure mountain trails are wide enough so everyone can have fun.
July 29, 2026 • Volunteers at a Maryland senior living community bring back letter writing in a unique pen pal program.
July 1, 2026 • Volunteer scientist spend their time tracking living things in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's all part of an important science project.
June 29, 2026 • For our series Here to Help, we speak with Jennifer Timmick, volunteer tour guide at the National Museum of American History. She talks about the stories of ordinary people who did extraordinary things.
June 24, 2026 • A man who volunteered as an otter spotter made some scientific discoveries along the way.
June 16, 2026 • Sometimes a broken appliance gets thrown out even though it just needs a little fix. That's where volunteer tinkerers come in. They make it work again and give it to people in need.
May 19, 2026 • A rock climber is using his skills to help those who are visually impaired to enjoy the sport as well.
April 15, 2026 • Picking up trash in Mangrove forests has become a calling for one Florida man.
March 31, 2026 • When you hike or ride a bike in Charlotte, N.C., it's likely you're on a path built and maintained by volunteers. We'll meet them in our series Here to Help.
March 11, 2026 • When a small town with a lot of senior citizens had no community services for them, one volunteer stepped up and created a thriving program.
February 23, 2026 • Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the busiest National park in the U.S., but with the park service cutting nearly a quarter of all positions last year, volunteers have made up the difference.
February 16, 2026 • Michelle Elise is known in repair cafe circles as the "Zipper Queen." She finds that most broken zippers just need some TLC, not replacing.
January 26, 2026 • A poor neighborhood in Baton Rouge, La., has a volunteer initiative that's making a difference for the children there.
January 14, 2026 • Brandon Jay and his wife, Gwendolyn Sanford, created Altadena Musicians to help those who may have lost their beloved musical instruments in last year's LA wildfires.
January 5, 2026 • Each year, Reno, Nev., has several months of below-freezing temperatures. A longtime advocate for homeless people in the city has established a warming center that offers a safe place to stay.
December 31, 2025 • As the cost of living rises, volunteers fill a crucial role cutting downed trees into firewood for people who rely on woodstoves to heat their homes. "Wood Banks" in Maine are seeing more demand.
December 24, 2025 • The Washington, D.C., Jewish Community Center has designated Dec. 25 as a day of service. On Christmas Day, hundred of volunteers fan out, offering food, gifts, warm clothing for those in need.
December 19, 2025 • When a child receives a diagnosis of cancer, parents can feel overwhelmed. A new program helps connect them with volunteers who have cared for children who survived cancer.
December 11, 2025 • A retired nurse knew that many families in her community struggle to afford diapers, so she picked a volunteer job where she could really help.
December 4, 2025 • Volunteer emergency responders give their time to train just in case they may be needed in a disaster. Meet some of those volunteer responders in our series Here to Help.
November 27, 2025 • From building homes to filling pantries to re-enacting medieval history for middle-schoolers – yes, you read that right – acts of volunteerism have remained vital for communities across the country.
November 26, 2025 • During the holiday season, young Scouts across the country work to collect food items for local pantries. It's an annual event, called Scouting for Food, that's more than 40 years old.
