Ways to Give Back in MetroWest, MA: Community Meals, Farms & Volunteer Opportunities

Concord • Acton • Lexington • Surrounding Communities

MetroWest is known for its history, natural beauty, and top-rated schools — but what truly defines this region is its spirit of community. Whether you live in Concord, Acton, Lexington, or a nearby town, there are countless ways to help neighbors, support families, and contribute to meaningful change.

Below is an expanded guide featuring five outstanding volunteer opportunities that reflect the heart of our local communities. Each one offers hands-on, rewarding ways to give back.

Open Table (Concord & Maynard)

Website: https://www.opentable.org/

Open Table is one of the most beloved nonprofits in the region, offering weekly community meals and a client-choice food pantry that serves individuals and families from Concord, Maynard, and beyond. Their mission focuses on providing healthy food in a welcoming and dignified environment, with a strong emphasis on kindness and community connection.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Preparing meals in their commercial kitchen
  
  

• Sorting and stocking pantry shelves
  
  

• Distributing groceries during market hours
  
  

• Delivering food to seniors and homebound residents
  
  

• Helping with mobile pantry programs
  
  

• Assisting with holiday meals and special events
  
  

Volunteering here provides immediate, tangible support for neighbors facing food insecurity, and Open Table’s organized, friendly staff make the experience meaningful and enjoyable.

Household Goods (Acton)

Website: https://householdgoods.org/

Household Goods is a highly respected Acton-based nonprofit that provides furniture and essential household items to individuals and families who are transitioning into safe and stable housing. Clients may be coming out of homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, recovering from a fire, or rebuilding after difficult circumstances.

The organization operates almost entirely through volunteers and serves thousands of households each year.

Volunteer roles include:

• Sorting and organizing donated items
  
  

• Helping clients “shop” for furniture and essentials
  
  

• Loading items into trucks or cars
  
  

• Driving donations or pickups
  
  

• Repairing or refurbishing furniture
  
  

• Supporting warehouse operations
  
  

Every shift directly contributes to helping a family create a real home — often for the first time in months or even years.

Mass Audubon – Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary (Lincoln)

Website: https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/drumlin-farm

Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary offers one of the most engaging volunteer experiences in MetroWest, blending agriculture, education, conservation, and wildlife care. Volunteers support both the working farm and the sanctuary’s mission to promote environmental stewardship.

Ways to volunteer:

• Trail maintenance and habitat restoration
  
  

• Assisting with seasonal farm chores
  
  

• Helping with educational programs for children
  
  

• Supporting wildlife and nature-based events
  
  

• Gardening and ecological care projects
  
  

• Contributing to citizen science and conservation initiatives
  
  

Drumlin Farm is particularly welcoming to families, teens, and groups, offering an active, outdoor way to connect with nature while giving back to the community.

Gaining Ground (Concord)

Website: https://gainingground.org/

Gaining Ground is a remarkable, volunteer-powered organic farm in Concord that grows and donates fresh produce to local food pantries, meal programs, shelters, and senior centers. Everything grown on the farm — tens of thousands of pounds each year — goes directly to neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

The farm promotes sustainable, regenerative agriculture and relies heavily on community volunteers to make its mission possible.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Planting seedlings and preparing crop beds
  
  

• Weeding, mulching, and maintaining fields
  
  

• Harvesting vegetables and herbs
  
  

• Washing, packing, and preparing produce for delivery
  
  

• Supporting special farm projects throughout the growing season
  
  

Volunteering at Gaining Ground is energetic, outdoor, and deeply impactful — a perfect choice for anyone who wants to support hunger relief in a hands-on way.

Heading Home (Boston/Metro Area)

Website: https://www.headinghomeinc.org/

Heading Home is one of Massachusetts’ leading organizations working to end homelessness by helping individuals and families move into — and remain in — safe, permanent housing. Many of the families they serve come from MetroWest communities.

Their approach focuses on long-term stability, offering shelter, transitional housing, case management, and support programs that help families rebuild their lives.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Participating in “Up & Out” move-in projects, where volunteers furnish and set up an entire apartment for a family transitioning out of homelessness
  
  

• Assembling welcome baskets or household starter kits
  
  

• Preparing meals for shelters
  
  

• Hosting donation drives for furniture, bedding, and essentials
  
  

• Supporting children's programs and enrichment activities
  
  

• Assisting at events or fundraisers
  
  

Move-in days are especially meaningful — volunteers often describe them as some of the most rewarding community service experiences they’ve ever participated in.

Final Thoughts

Our area's strength lies not only in its history and natural beauty, but in the generosity and involvement of the people who live here. Whether you're planting food for local families, restoring wildlife habitats, helping furnish a new home, or preparing meals for neighbors, your time makes a genuine difference.

These five organizations offer diverse, fulfilling ways to connect with your community and support those who need it most. Whether you're new to the area or a longtime resident, volunteering is one of the most meaningful ways to deepen your roots and give back.