Volunteer

About Volunteering at the Y

At the YMCA, your time and talent go a long way. Every hour you spend as a YMCA volunteer translates into the caring attention a child or teen needs to grow up healthy and resilient. It translates into support for families so they can be successful and strong, as well as into healthier lives for people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and incomes. This creates a safer, more viable community that's a good place to live and work.

As a YMCA volunteer, you can lead an exercise class, read to a preschool class, coach a basketball team, cook for a bake sale, design a program brochure, greet people at the front desk, collect items for an garage sale, serve as a role model for young people, help out in the office or at a special event, or be part of a group or committee working on a neighborhood problem. No matter how you help, you'll make a big difference as you work with others to create a feeling of connectedness in your community.

Types of Volunteer Opportunities

Program volunteers help lead programs or assist in delivering programs (e.g., a program instructor, coach, aide or member of a program advisory council).

Support volunteers serve in the office, at the front desk, in the locker room or on the grounds.
Fundraising volunteers raise money by working in annual, sustaining, capital or other special campaigns; working on endowment development; or by working at or running special events.
 
Policy volunteers serve on the Y's board of directors, on a committee or task force.
Managerial volunteers help manage and administer YMCA operations and programs (e.g., a pro-bono accountant or PR specialist).

Please note that young people can serve in all of the above capacities as long as, like adults, they have the proper skills, training and supervision.

How do I Apply?

Volunteers in YMCA programs go through a similar interview and training process as paid staff.  This process ensures the best fit for new volunteers, while also ensuring the safety of our members, participants, staff, and other volunteers.

For more information about volunteering at the Berkeley-Albany YMCA, please contact Trudi Petersen, Volunteer Specialist, at tpetersen@baymca.org or (510) 848-6834, ext. 534.

Click here to download a Downtown Berkeley YMCA Volunteer Application.