The Day That Music Cares is back for the third annual day of service on Friday, April 25, 2025.

The nationwide volunteer event brings together a diverse community — from songwriters and musicians to fans and industry insiders — all giving back at the local level. The Recording Academy and MusiCares offer a variety of ways for you to get involved and make a difference.

Pledge to participate and volunteer at your favorite charity or cause. Whether you spend the day volunteering at a local food bank, helping out at a beach clean-up, or participating in your own activity, any act of service close to your heart will add to this day's collective impact.

To commit to volunteering, visit thedaythatmusiccares.com and complete the form to find service opportunities in your area. You can also find ways to give back in your community through our nonprofit partner, VolunteerMatch, by visiting info.volunteermatch.org/musicares.

Stay updated on the evolving list below of volunteer opportunities available nationwide for The Day That Music Cares, and regularly check for new additions.

Alabama

Food Bank Of North Alabama

Location: Huntsville\
Time: 7 to 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CT

Join the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter for a shift at the Food Bank of North Alabama. In partnership with the Huntsville Music Office, sign up to volunteer in the Food Bank's warehouse. Exact jobs vary and details will be shared ahead of time, duties could include moving boxes, or reviewing food expiration dates.

All projects take place inside a working, active warehouse. No open-toed shoes allowed, so bring your sneakers and join us!

Sign up HERE.

California

Alameda County Community Food Bank

Location: Oakland

Join San Francisco Chapter Members at the Alameda County Community Food Bank for a day in the warehouse sorting and packing food for families in need. Your efforts will help ensure that fresh, nutritious food reaches thousands of people across the community. Sign up for a shift that works best for you.

Sign up HERE.

Conejo Valley Food Bank

Location: Thousand Oaks

The Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank's mission is "To feed hungry people in the Conejo Valley," providing food assistance to residents in need since 1971. Join fellow L.A. locals and MusiCares staff for a shift at the food bank where you'll pack food and stock shelves.

Contact TheDayThatMusicCares@musicares.org to sign up.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Location: Los Angeles

By donating a few hours of your time, you'll help the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank provide food for the 2 million people in Los Angeles County who face food insecurity. Volunteers help box, sort and glean food that is later distributed through our network of more than 600 agency partners to our neighbors in need.

Contact the LA Food Bank to find out what volunteer opportunities are available and how you can join in!

Sign up HERE.

San Francisco Community Music Center (Donation Drive)

Location: San Francisco

Free up some space at home while giving your old instrument a new life! The SF Community Music Center is accepting gently used and new instrument donations. To join the Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter in donating.

Sign up HERE.

St. James Episcopal Church

Location: Los Angeles

Join fellow Los Angeles residents at St. James Episcopal Church where you'll serve food to the unhoused community. At this volunteer opportunity, you'll help in food prep and setup, serving of food, packing leftovers, and cleanup.

Contact mecker1948@gmail.com to sign up.

Colorado

The Black Rose Acoustic Society

Location: Colorado Springs

The Black Rose Acoustic Society is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to the promotion, preservation and presentation of acoustic music performed on traditional acoustic instruments.

Contact feedback@blackroseacoustic.net to see how you can support.

Food Bank Of The Rockies

Location: Denver

Join Colorado-based Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter members at the Food Bank of the Rockies, where we will work together to sort and pack food to support families facing hunger. Your time and effort will help provide essential meals to individuals and communities across Colorado. Sign up for a shift that works best for you.

Sign up HERE.

We Don't Waste

Location: Denver\
Time: 10:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. MT

We Don't Waste needs your help in staffing their mobile food market on The Day That Music Cares! Join other Denver-based Recording Academy members in serving your community to fight hunger.

Sign up HERE.

Connecticut

Filling In The Blanks

Location: Norwalk

Join staff from the social impact agency HelpGood who will be packing meal bags for children in need! A fun and rewarding way to give your time. Work in an assembly line with other volunteers to fill meal bags. This is a fast-paced, active volunteer opportunity. Must be able to stand for 2 hours and lift 10 LBS.

Sign up HERE.

Florida

Feeding the Fosters

Location: Various

Make a difference in the lives of foster families across Florida.

Sign up HERE.

Feeding South Florida

Location: Pembroke Park

Feeding South Florida provides food assistance and other resources and support to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and hunger in Broward, Miami Dade, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties. We rely heavily on the support of volunteers to help us serve our community on a daily basis.

We welcome individuals, families, students, groups, corporate teams, community organizations, and more, to join us in our mission. We offer opportunities for service-learning hours, team building, and private group sessions as well. View and sign up for any of our opportunities below.

Sign up HERE.

Feeding Tampa Bay

Location: Tampa Bay\
Time: 1 to 3:30 p.m. ET

Warehouse sorting at Feeding Tampa Bay. Volunteers help inspect perishable and/or non-perishable foods for expiration dates and quality, then package those good foods into bags/boxes that will be distributed to our neighbors soon thereafter. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to this activity, however it is best suited for volunteers ages 5+ years old.

Sign up HERE.

Georgia

Helping Mamas (Donation Drive)

Location: Norcross\
Time: 9 a.m.

Join the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter in their donation drive for Helping Mamas. Helping Mamas began with one social worker's unwavering commitment to meet the unmet needs of mothers and children.

As an organization, Helping Mamas elevates the well-being and dignity of women by providing diapers, period products, and other essential baby supplies. Donate diapers (sizes 3-6), new bottles, diaper cream, and new toys for ages 6 months through age 5.

Sign up HERE.

Illinois

Cradles To Crayons

Location: Chicago\
Time: 1:30 p.m.  – 3:30 p.m. CT

Cradles to Crayons provides more than 100,000 children living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive. Join the Recording Academy Chicago Chapter for a fun, hands-on volunteer shift at the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory where you will help process donations and package essential items to help Chicagoland children get what they need this spring.

Sign up HERE.

Cradles To Crayons (Donation Drive)

Location: Chicago

Stop by Beat Kitchen to give your clothes a new life by donating any new or gently used items to Cradles to Crayons. Most needed children's items: long pants, pajamas, t-shirts, and sweaters.

Sign up HERE.

Massachusetts

4 Star Dance Studio

Location: Boston\
Time: 6 to 8 p.m. ET

Join Lunch Is Ova in providing 4 Star Dance Studio dancers with snack packs to stay hydrated and energized.

Contact Djwhysham@gmail.com to sign up.

New York

Lighthouse Mission & More (Donation Drive)

Location: New York City \
Time: April 14-25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

The New York Chapter is organizing a donation drive focusing on the following need areas: clothing, school supplies, animal welfare, local food pantries, books, and musical instrument donations. Donations will be distributed across the Chapter's region, including Long Island, New Jersey, NYC, Connecticut, and Westchester.

Click HERE for more details and drop-off information.

Musicians On Call

Location: New York City

Join a group of fellow musicians in a lunchtime performance for patients and hospital staff at a NY-based hospital with Musicians on Call!

Contact lee@thirtytigers.com to sign up.

Oklahoma

Food On The Move

Location: Tulsa\
Time: 11 a.m. CT

Join the Tulsa-based Recording Academy Texas Chapter member in volunteering for Food on the Move: "By mobilizing healthy and quality food into hard to reach and economically challenged areas of our community, our goal is to eliminate some of the barriers that currently exist. Building a better community – one bag of groceries at a time." On The Day that Music Cares, help us plant crops for this season.

Sign up HERE.

Oregon

The Hive

Location: Silverton

Join fellow Oregonians volunteering at The Hive Silverton, a safe, inclusive place for kids ages 3rd through 8th grade to hang out after school.

Sign up HERE and email thehivesilverton@gmail.com for more information.

Pennsylvania

World Cafe Live

Location: Philadelphia\
Time: 11 a.m. ET

Join the Recording Academy Philadelphia Chapter at World Cafe Live on April 25th. As part of The Day That Music Cares, we will host a speed-dating style volunteer service opportunity featuring three activations:

1. Creating no-sew lap blankets to provide warmth and comfort for individuals in need. \
2. Participating in Love for Our Elders by writing heartfelt letters to brighten a senior's day. \
3. Collecting non-perishable food, toiletries, and feminine care products to support local food banks and shelters Volunteers will rotate through each station, making a tangible impact in just a short amount of time. This is a wonderful way to give back while connecting through creativity, compassion, and community care.

Sign up HERE.

Rankin Christian Center

Location: Rankin\
Time: 5 p.m. ET

Join Pittsburg/Rankin-based Recording Academy Philadelphia Chapter members for an evening of music and community connection. Starting at 5:00 PM, volunteers will hang out with youth in our Afterschool program, ages 6 to 12, and sing karaoke together. After a short break, volunteers will help lead karaoke for families and community members of all ages by hyping up the crowd, encouraging participation, and singing along.

If we have enough volunteers, we may also ask for help serving dinner to community members, with special attention to our elders.

Sign up HERE.

Tennessee

St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Running Series

Location: Nashville\
Time: 9 a.m. CT

This is an opportunity to join Recording Academy Nashville Chapter members in one of Nashville's premier events, the St. Jude Rock & Roll Running Series. A precursor to race day, you will participate in the Health & Fitness Expo onsite at the Music City Center to assist runners with packet pickup for the race and other events. The Expo will also feature a marketplace for fitness gear, apparel, and other related products. If you're a runner, join us!

Sign up HERE.

Texas

Feed the Hunger

Location: Houston\
Time: 2 p.m. CT

Join the Recording Academy Texas Chapter at Houston's Feed the Hunger to pack meals for community members in need.

Sign up HERE.

Rowing Dock

Location: Austin\
Time: 9 a.m. CT

Join the Recording Academy Texas Chapter on Friday, April 25 for our fourth annual community wide Earth Day lake and land clean up along Lady Bird Lake!

Sign up HERE.

Washington

Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association

Location: Seattle\
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT

Volunteers led by Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association staff will be helping restore this important natural area in the Longfellow Creek Watershed in Seattle. Depending on site needs, work may involve spreading wood chip mulch, removing invasive plants, or other tasks.

Volunteers should dress for the weather, including wearing closed-toed shoes and long pants, and should bring water. DNDA will provide tools, gloves, and training.

Sign up HERE.

Mode Music & Performing Arts

Location: Seattle\
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT

Join the Recording Academy Pacific Northwest Chapter in volunteering at Mode Music & Performing Arts. MMPA's mission is to ensure all children can experience the arts through music and performance.

Volunteers will declutter and organize classroom spaces in both the music studio and performance/arts studio, which will help prepare MMPA for summer classes. MMPA Staff will direct activities on hand.

Sign up HERE.

Virtual & Nationwide

American Red Cross (Blood Donation)

Help save lives by volunteering to donate blood with the American Red Cross. A whole blood donation takes about an hour from start to finish, but the actual donation itself only takes about eight to 10 minutes.

Click below to schedule an appointment to give near you on or around April 25 in support of The Day that Music Cares. As a special thank you, all blood donors who come to give April 1 to 30 will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards. Plus, all donors April 14-30 will receive an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Sign up HERE.

American Red Cross (Virtual Assistance)

Volunteers providing remote support can work in several different departments and positions. Volunteer Services Intake Center (VIP) Representatives help new volunteers navigate the volunteer database intake process through phone and email support. Volunteer Dispatchers / Regional Duty Officers receive calls from First Responders and deploy Red Cross volunteers to assist those in need. Caseworkers provide follow up casework to families and individuals.

Sign up HERE.

Be My Eyes

Be My Eyes connects blind and low-vision users who want sighted assistance with volunteers and companies anywhere in the world, through live video and artificial intelligence. As a Be My Eyes volunteer, you are able to help out blind and low-vision individuals with their daily tasks through your smartphone. Blind and low-vision users can ask for help with tasks ranging from explaining the color of a shirt, to navigating unfamiliar surroundings, but no matter the case, your assistance allows them to lead more independent lives.

Sign up HERE.

Career Village

Share career knowledge with inquisitive students and young professionals that want to gain knowledge in your field/area of expertise. Please note, this opportunity only becomes active when someone asks you a question.

Sign up HERE.

CommunityHealth

CommunityHealth relies on generous volunteer interpreters to make sure Spanish-speaking patients have the opportunity to communicate successfully with their care providers. Interpreters assist medical providers and patients in the exam room, for a variety of appointment types, including primary care, dental, and over 20 specialties. Volunteers commit to at least two four-hour shifts per month for at least one year, with the option to do more. Training on medical vocabulary is provided, but basic fluency is a must! Volunteer interpreters are currently serving remotely, by phone.

Sign up HERE.

DoSomething.org

DoSomething empowers young people to enact social change both online and off. Volunteer online through one of our campaigns to help solve real-world problems.

Visit DoSomething.org to browse opportunities and take action.

Feeding America

Volunteer at a food bank, prep and donate meals, or host a food drive with Feeding America. You can help your neighbors get the food and resources they need to thrive. Whether you're looking to contribute your time, skills, or resources, every action brings us closer to a future where no one goes hungry.

Sign up HERE.

Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth is a bold voice for justice and the planet. They offer many ways to volunteer and/or join causes you believe in to save the planet through meaningful action.

Sign up HERE.

Love For Our Elders

Did you know that 43 percent of Americans of the age 60 and older report feeling lonely? Help reduce isolation in this population through the nonprofit Love For Our Elders by writing letters to older adults. This is a virtual opportunity that can be done from anywhere!

Sign up HERE.

Musicians On Call

Musicians and music lovers can help bring live music directly to hospital patients with Musicians On Call. We're looking for anyone who believes in the healing power of music to join us in bringing music to those who need it most both virtually and in person across the country.

On The Day That Music Cares, share your commitment to volunteering all year long by submitting your volunteer application. Have more questions? Contact volunteers@musiciansoncall.org.

Sign up HERE.

Musically Fed

Help fight against food waste in the live music industry! Musically Fed donates surplus catering to local nonprofits to serve the food insecure. Volunteers are needed to assist with food pick-up and deliveries from local live entertainment venues. Immediate needs in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Las Vegas.

Apply & Learn More HERE

Translators without Borders (For Bilingual Volunteers)

Translators without Borders is a global community of over 100,000 members helping people get vital information and be heard, whatever language they speak. Walk through the quick registration and get started on simple translation — no certification or previous education required.

Sign up HERE.

Upchieve

There are 8 million low-income middle and high school students in the U.S. Most can't afford or lack access to private tutoring, which starts at $20 an hour and easily reaches over $100 an hour in some subjects. Without academic support, they face challenges that will limit their chances to attend college and receive a higher education. With UPchieve, you'll work directly with students to help them overcome their academic struggles through 1:1 online tutoring and college counseling.

Sign up HERE.

World Hunger Education Service

Take a quiz, and the World Hunger Education Service will donate up to 10¢ to fight world hunger. Learn more about hunger by reading essential information on important aspects of hunger in the world and the United States, and answering several questions. When you answer one or more of these quizzes, Hunger Notes will make a donation to assist hungry people. Donations per quiz range from 2-10¢, depending on the availability of funding.

Sign up HERE.

Other Opportunities

On The Day That Music Cares, you could…

• Clean up/beautify a park, beach or public space

• Visit an elderly neighbor

• Bring a meal to a new parent

• Volunteer to read a story at local or school library

• Donate food

• Donate clothes

• Donate goods

• Sweep sidewalks

• Mow a neighbor's yard

• Contact a local church, temple, police or fire station for ways to help

• Play an instrument or offer a free performance at local park

• Plant a tree

• Make small kindness kits to include a water bottle, protein bar, toothbrush, socks and other basic necessities and hand them out to unhoused individuals or others in need

• Bake muffins or cookies and surprise a neighbor

• On your local NextDoor app, click "Discover" then "Help Map". Raise your hand to help a neighbor with errands or chores.

There are so many ways to make a difference at the local level. If you have any more ideas to share, send them to us at TheDayThatMusicCares@musicares.org.

How To Participate In The Day That Music Cares 2025: A Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Involved