Intro – Why Volunteer on Cleveland’s Westside

Cleveland’s Westside has no shortage of heart. From Rocky River to Lakewood and Avon, neighbors show up for each other — whether it’s cooking meals for families fighting cancer or walking dogs waiting for their forever homes. Volunteering isn’t just about helping others — it’s how we strengthen our community, one good deed at a time.

Featured Organizations

Laura’s Home Women’s Crisis Center

Location: Cleveland (West Side)
Website: thecitymission.org/volunteer-opportunities

Laura’s Home provides refuge and restoration for women and children experiencing homelessness. With 166 beds and wraparound support, it’s a bridge from crisis to stability. Volunteers play a vital role — from caring for kids in the childcare center to helping with meal prep, sorting donations, or even offering beauty care classes.
Groups and individuals alike can help serve more than 600 meals a day or mentor residents rebuilding their lives.
Tony & Jodie’s Note: When we visited during our Walk the Westside fundraiser, we were blown away by the organization and compassion here. They keep families together — and even built transitional townhomes so women can gain independence while staying connected to support.

‍

The Village Project

Location: Bay Village
Website: ourvillageproject.com

This Westside gem brings together students, adults, and families to cook and deliver nourishing meals for local families fighting cancer. Volunteers prep food, maintain gardens, craft cards, and help at community events. Whether you love to cook, garden, or just show up to help, Village Project has a place for you.
As one volunteer put it, “Being part of the Village Project gave me peace — knowing I’m helping families like my own who’ve faced cancer.”

‍

LakewoodAlive

Location: Lakewood, Ohio
Website: lakewoodalive.org

If you’ve ever been to Light Up Lakewood, the Front Porch Concert Series, or the Spooky Pooch Parade, you’ve already seen LakewoodAlive in action. This community-centered nonprofit works year-round to keep Lakewood vibrant, inclusive, and well-maintained — not just through big events, but through neighbor-to-neighbor support.

Volunteers help seniors and residents with disabilities stay safe at home by shoveling snow, raking leaves, or performing light yard work. Others lend a hand at large-scale housing projects or help run city-wide festivals that make Lakewood the lively place it is.

As one long-time volunteer, Tom Ostromek, puts it: “LakewoodAlive has been like a second family for me — rewarding, and a lot of fun.”

From helping someone age safely in place to handing out cocoa at Light Up Lakewood, this is a Westside volunteer opportunity where you can see the impact on your own block.

‍

‍

‍

FAQ About Volunteering in Cleveland

‍