915 North Main is a collaborative community hub in the heart of North Hill. Five community organizations now call it home, including First Serve. The Day of Service kicks off here! You will help set up/take down tables and tents, direct traffic, greet fellow volunteers, and serve a breakfast snack and a well-earned lunch. You can also help refresh the landscaping at 915 and man the collection drop-off point so goods can be later distributed to participating partners. Your efforts will ensure the Day of Service runs smoothly and is fun for all.

Elizabeth Park, across from the Ohio-Erie Canal and Cascade Locks Park, is an important part of North Hill’s Cascade Valley neighborhood. Young and old alike enjoy recent improvements, including a new splash pad, nature play area, and tennis and basketball courts. You will help keep the park looking good by joining the community in painting a mural on the new bathroom building, tidying the pavilion area, pulling weeds, and laying mulch. Even the youngest volunteers will find fun activities to do.

Findley Community Learning Center is a K-5th grade school in North Hill that has partnered with First Serve for over 14 years. Faculty, staff, and students alike appreciate the work First Serve volunteers do to contribute to the school’s safe and inviting atmosphere where basic needs are met, community is built, and students are ready to learn. You will help clean the free pantry closet and cafeteria tables, pick up litter, refresh the front entry landscaping, and write notes of encouragement to students. This is a family-friendly volunteer location.

Forest Hill Community Learning Center is a K-5th grade school in North Hill and home to Akron Public Schools’ Principal of the Year, Juanita Rogers. She and her dedicated team work hard to educate students and celebrate the school’s diversity—10 languages spoken and counting! You will join the community in a variety of activities, including a free soccer clinic for kids, a bike rodeo, and improving the playground with fresh paint and mulch. You can also write letters of encouragement to students and paint rocks that are later hidden for students to find and cherish. This is a great place to volunteer with your kids.

Gennesaret, located in west Akron on W. Exchange St., is an all-volunteer nonprofit that provides hot meals and groceries to those in need every Saturday. It has partnered with First Serve for over 15 years to serve the Akron community. You will support Gennesaret’s mission by helping deep clean the kitchen and eating areas.

Harris-Jackson Community Learning Center is a PreK-5th grade school in North Hill with 15 different languages and 23 nationalities represented. In addition to academics, the school focuses on fostering a sense of belonging and school spirit. Support that effort by installing welcome banners and stair decals in the entry hall, as well as refreshing the playground with a fun, painted playscape. You can also help organize the free clothing closet, beautify staff spaces, and prepare staff appreciation gift bags for all five Akron Public Schools in the North Hill Cluster.

Legacies of Success is a Christian community development corporation dedicated to revitalizing and stabilizing the North Hill community through affordable housing and promotion of homeownership. An important part of its work is rehabilitating properties. Join Legacies of Success volunteers on a residential home project.

North High School is a four-year high school serving the North Hill community. While the school will be rebuilt in the coming years, current faculty, staff, and students need immediate support to remain ready to teach and learn. You will help beautify spaces and boost morale by painting select classrooms, tidying the community preschool, washing windows, and deep cleaning the free pantry and clothing rooms. You can also help organize and tag prom dress donations. This is a great place to volunteer with your kids.

North Hill Community Development Corporation is a nonprofit that fosters economic development, creative placemaking, and social cohesion through its Exchange House, Maker House, and People’s Park—all well-loved and used by the community. Help keep these gathering spaces looking their best by weeding, refreshing outdoor planters, and staining benches and two wooden decks. You can also help weed and mulch flowerbeds at the Howard St. Heritage Courtyard. North Hill CDC is a family-friendly volunteer location.

Patterson Park Community Center opened its doors in June 2025 after a complete renovation and has been busy ever since. It offers recreational programs and activities for all ages and features a gymnasium, gaming and meeting rooms, and outdoor facilities, including a brand new playground, splash pad, andbasketball courts. The center is a hub for local engagement, and you will be part of it. Help run a free soccer clinic for kids, join the community in a trash pick-up, or [table top activity]. This is a great place to volunteer with your kids.

Rooted in Christ Community Church stands as a beacon of faith and community in North Hill, lending a helping hand when and where it is needed most. The church has identified elderly parishioners whose homes require exterior repairs to improve safety and accessibility. You willwork at one of three locations to help rebuild deteriorating front steps, paint a wheelchair rampthat First Serve volunteers built last year, and replace leaky drainage pipes.