Ohio Community Service
Ohio Community Service, Volunteer & Court-Ordered Hours
A living directory of community service and volunteer options across Ohio that may work for people on probation, parole, pretrial release, or with court-ordered hours. Listings are grouped by metro region. Policies change often — always call ahead and get approval from your officer, attorney, or court before you start any hours.
Cleveland & Northeast Ohio
Counties: Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Summit, Medina, Stark (and nearby)
✅ Verified Regular community service partners & reentry-friendly sites
Cuyahoga County Community Service Program
Most courts and probation offices keep an approved list of community service worksites (parks clean-up, city maintenance, nonprofit partners). Ask your officer which sites are currently approved.
Most courts and probation offices keep an approved list of community service worksites (parks clean-up, city maintenance, nonprofit partners). Ask your officer which sites are currently approved.
Check with your supervising officer for the current approved list
Via probation / court
Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Large food bank with warehouse and pantry shifts. Some locations accept people completing court-ordered hours when charges meet their criteria.
Large food bank with warehouse and pantry shifts. Some locations accept people completing court-ordered hours when charges meet their criteria.
Ask specifically about court-ordered service & documentation
Cleveland, OH
Habitat for Humanity (Northeast Ohio ReStores & builds)
Habitat ReStores and build sites often host supervised volunteers for donation sorting, loading, and basic construction support. Some affiliates work with people on supervision on a case-by-case basis.
Habitat ReStores and build sites often host supervised volunteers for donation sorting, loading, and basic construction support. Some affiliates work with people on supervision on a case-by-case basis.
Contact your local Habitat affiliate about eligibility & safety rules
Multiple counties
Goodwill Industries of Akron / Canton
Retail stores and donation centers sometimes allow court-referred community service and can offer light warehouse or retail tasks that match your restrictions.
Retail stores and donation centers sometimes allow court-referred community service and can offer light warehouse or retail tasks that match your restrictions.
Have your paperwork ready and ask if they take referred volunteers
Akron · Canton
🛠️ Eligible Other volunteer options (confirm first)
Cleveland Metroparks & local parks departments
Park systems frequently need help with litter pick-up, gardening, and trail maintenance. Some will document hours for court or probation when approved ahead of time.
Park systems frequently need help with litter pick-up, gardening, and trail maintenance. Some will document hours for court or probation when approved ahead of time.
Contact the volunteer office and mention supervision before you sign up
Various sites
Animal shelters & humane societies
Dog walking, kennel cleaning, laundry, and front-desk help. Many shelters have policies about certain charges, so always disclose your situation honestly.
Dog walking, kennel cleaning, laundry, and front-desk help. Many shelters have policies about certain charges, so always disclose your situation honestly.
Ask if they accept court-ordered volunteers and what paperwork they need
County-by-county
Faith-based food pantries & clothing closets
Many churches run pantries, free meals, or clothing rooms that welcome help with sorting, stocking, and serving.
Many churches run pantries, free meals, or clothing rooms that welcome help with sorting, stocking, and serving.
Call first to see if your hours can be documented for court
Local congregations
Columbus & Central Ohio
Counties: Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Union, Fairfield (and nearby)
✅ Verified Supervision-aware community service options
Franklin County Court / Probation Community Service
Courts and probation in Franklin County coordinate community service through approved nonprofit, city, and county worksites.
Courts and probation in Franklin County coordinate community service through approved nonprofit, city, and county worksites.
Ask your officer which placements are currently approved
Via probation / court
Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Large regional food bank serving Central Ohio, with warehouse, pantry, and community market shifts. Some roles may be appropriate for court-ordered or probation service when cleared ahead of time.
Large regional food bank serving Central Ohio, with warehouse, pantry, and community market shifts. Some roles may be appropriate for court-ordered or probation service when cleared ahead of time.
Ask volunteer services about court-ordered hours and documentation
Columbus / Grove City
Furniture Bank of Central Ohio
Helps families furnish their homes with donated items. Volunteers may assist with sorting, loading, basic repair, and customer support.
Helps families furnish their homes with donated items. Volunteers may assist with sorting, loading, basic repair, and customer support.
Check if they can accept volunteers on supervision
Columbus, OH
LifeCare Alliance & Meals-on-Wheels
Kitchen prep, packing meals, and other behind-the-scenes tasks can sometimes be used for service hours when arranged correctly.
Kitchen prep, packing meals, and other behind-the-scenes tasks can sometimes be used for service hours when arranged correctly.
Transportation roles may have extra screening
Central Ohio
🛠️ Eligible Other volunteer ideas (confirm first)
Columbus Recreation & Parks Department
Park beautification, events, and community centers sometimes use volunteers with properly approved court paperwork.
Park beautification, events, and community centers sometimes use volunteers with properly approved court paperwork.
Contact the volunteer office and ask about justice-involved volunteers
City of Columbus
Public libraries (Columbus & surrounding counties)
Basic shelving, program support, or book sales events. Some systems will sign off on service hours, others limit to traditional volunteers.
Basic shelving, program support, or book sales events. Some systems will sign off on service hours, others limit to traditional volunteers.
Ask the volunteer coordinator about their policy before you apply
County-wide
Food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens
Many neighborhood programs welcome help with meal prep, serving, and cleaning.
Many neighborhood programs welcome help with meal prep, serving, and cleaning.
Always confirm that they can document hours for court or probation
Across Central Ohio
Cincinnati & Southwest Ohio
Counties: Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clermont
✅ Verified Reentry-friendly & commonly used sites
Hamilton County Court / Probation Community Service
Courts and probation in Hamilton County coordinate placements with city, county, and nonprofit worksites.
Courts and probation in Hamilton County coordinate placements with city, county, and nonprofit worksites.
Get current placement options directly from your officer
Via probation / court
Freestore Foodbank
Regional food bank serving Greater Cincinnati. Warehouse and distribution shifts often use volunteers; some may work for court-ordered service when approved.
Regional food bank serving Greater Cincinnati. Warehouse and distribution shifts often use volunteers; some may work for court-ordered service when approved.
Ask about court-referred volunteers and any charge restrictions
Cincinnati, OH
St. Vincent de Paul – Cincinnati
Thrift stores, food pantries, and outreach programs may have opportunities for sorting, stocking, and light cleaning tasks.
Thrift stores, food pantries, and outreach programs may have opportunities for sorting, stocking, and light cleaning tasks.
Check whether your specific case is eligible
Multiple locations
La Soupe (food rescue kitchen)
Transforms rescued food into meals for partner agencies. Kitchen and prep shifts may be available for approved volunteers.
Transforms rescued food into meals for partner agencies. Kitchen and prep shifts may be available for approved volunteers.
Discuss supervision status before scheduling
Cincinnati, OH
🛠️ Eligible General volunteer ideas (confirm first)
Cincinnati Parks & county park districts
Trail and park clean-ups, event support, and garden projects may be able to count toward hours if arranged with your officer.
Trail and park clean-ups, event support, and garden projects may be able to count toward hours if arranged with your officer.
Make sure a staff supervisor can sign your timesheets
Across Southwest Ohio
SPCA & local animal shelters
Cleaning, laundry, and kennel work are often available; not every shelter accepts supervised volunteers, so ask first.
Cleaning, laundry, and kennel work are often available; not every shelter accepts supervised volunteers, so ask first.
Clarify any restrictions on offenses involving animals or violence
Multiple counties
Toledo & Northwest Ohio
Counties: Lucas, Wood, Hancock, Ottawa
✅ Verified Community service & structured placements
Lucas County Court / Probation Community Service
Probation departments typically maintain lists of approved worksites with local nonprofits and government offices.
Probation departments typically maintain lists of approved worksites with local nonprofits and government offices.
Request the current list from your officer or case manager
Via probation / court
Seagate Food Bank
Regional food bank with warehouse and distribution volunteer shifts that may fit some supervision plans.
Regional food bank with warehouse and distribution volunteer shifts that may fit some supervision plans.
Ask about documentation for court-ordered service
Toledo, OH
Habitat for Humanity (Northwest Ohio)
ReStores and build sites may offer supervised shifts suitable for service hours.
ReStores and build sites may offer supervised shifts suitable for service hours.
Each affiliate sets its own rules for justice-involved volunteers
Toledo & surrounding counties
🛠️ Eligible Other volunteer ideas (confirm first)
Metroparks Toledo & local park districts
Park beautification projects and event support can sometimes count toward hours.
Park beautification projects and event support can sometimes count toward hours.
Coordinate among the park, your officer, and the court before starting
Lucas & nearby counties
Dayton & Miami Valley
Counties: Montgomery, Greene, Clark, Miami
✅ Verified Commonly used for service hours
Montgomery County Community Service / Work Detail
County-run community service and litter crews may be available for certain cases.
County-run community service and litter crews may be available for certain cases.
Assignments typically come through probation or the court
Via court / probation
The Foodbank, Inc. – Dayton
Regional food bank with warehouse and pantry shifts.
Regional food bank with warehouse and pantry shifts.
Ask if they can host court-referred volunteers
Dayton, OH
🛠️ Eligible Other options to ask about
Local shelters, pantries, and community kitchens
Many programs will allow supervised volunteers for cleaning, sorting donations, or serving meals when it is safe to do so.
Many programs will allow supervised volunteers for cleaning, sorting donations, or serving meals when it is safe to do so.
Call ahead; bring your paperwork to the intake meeting
Across the Miami Valley
Southeast & Appalachian Ohio
Counties: Athens, Muskingum, Ross, Lawrence, Belmont, Scioto (and surrounding)
✅ Verified Community service connections
County probation & community service programs
Most county probation departments in Southeast Ohio coordinate placements with local governments and nonprofits, especially in smaller communities.
Most county probation departments in Southeast Ohio coordinate placements with local governments and nonprofits, especially in smaller communities.
Ask directly for their community service handbook or list
Via local probation
Regional food banks, Habitat, & community ministries
Food banks, Habitat affiliates, and larger church-run ministries may be able to host volunteers with court-ordered hours on a supervised basis.
Food banks, Habitat affiliates, and larger church-run ministries may be able to host volunteers with court-ordered hours on a supervised basis.
Confirm eligibility and safety requirements before accepting a placement
County-by-county
🛠️ Eligible Examples of local options
Local thrift stores, senior centers, and animal rescues
In rural counties, these smaller programs are often the most realistic options.
In rural counties, these smaller programs are often the most realistic options.
Ask if they have worked with the court or probation before
Small towns / rural areas
Verification & documentation: Sites marked with ✅ Verified are programs that are commonly used by courts, probation, or reentry programs, or are large regional nonprofits that may work with supervised volunteers. Policies change without notice. Always call ahead, disclose your supervision status honestly, and obtain approval from your officer, attorney, or judge before starting or reporting any hours.
Legal disclaimer: OACRA provides educational information only. We do not guarantee acceptance into any program, do not provide legal advice, and do not speak on behalf of any court, probation department, or department of corrections.
