THINGS TO DO
Get involved
Volunteer, participate in civic life, serve the community, work at elections, join town boards or learn how to run for local office.
← Things to doVOLUNTEER
Help in the community
Concrete local ways to give time and skills.
Volunteer in Norwood
Upcoming & one-day opportunities
Volunteer calls tied to a particular date — such as cleanups, trail work days, food drives and community events — are also included in the community calendar → when announced.
Ongoing opportunities
Norwood Food Pantry
Youth opportunitiesService hoursDrivers, stocking and sorting, Saturday assistance, cleanup and translation. Youth applications and school/community-service documentation are available.
Volunteer with the Food Pantry ↗Morrill Memorial Library
Ages 12–18Youth volunteering in the Children's Department, Friends of the Library projects, homebound delivery and adult-literacy tutoring.
Library volunteer opportunities ↗Norwood Historical Society
Students welcomeTour guides, event greeters, exhibits, walking tours, public programs and historic-preservation projects.
Historical Society volunteering ↗Norwood Trails Advisory Committee
Community trail work and stewardship opportunities. For volunteer information, contact Trails@NorwoodMA.gov.
Neponset River Watershed Association
Watershed cleanups, trail work, invasive-plant removal, water-quality sampling and other environmental projects, including work in Norwood.
NepRWA volunteer opportunities ↗Norwood Senior Center / Council on Aging
Volunteer roles have included reception, programs, café help, rides, meal delivery and activities. Contact the Senior Center for current needs.
Norwood Senior Center ↗HESSCO / Meals on Wheels
Volunteer meal-delivery drivers and other elder-service roles serving Norwood and nearby communities.
HESSCO volunteer opportunities ↗Neponset Valley Humane Society
Volunteer-run, foster-based cat rescue with opportunities including fostering, transport, events and other support.
NVHS volunteering ↗Bay State Animal Cooperative
Some student opportunitiesFostering, adoption support, animal transport, fundraising, events, administration and other animal-rescue work.
Bay State Animal Cooperative ↗Old Parish Preservation Volunteers
Hands-on preservation and work days at Norwood's historic Old Parish Cemetery.
Impact Norwood Prevention Coalition
Youth involvementCommunity prevention work with multiple levels of involvement, including opportunities for students and residents.
Impact Norwood volunteering ↗Norwood Youth Soccer
Volunteer-run youth sports organization with event, snack shack, equipment-swap and organizational needs.
Youth Soccer volunteer opportunities ↗Norwood Parents Music Association
Help with concerts, competitions, fundraising and other student-music activities. Some school-based roles require CORI clearance.
PMA volunteering ↗Riverside Community Care
Adult roleHuman Rights Committee volunteers help safeguard the rights of people receiving Riverside services; the commitment is generally a few hours per month.
Riverside volunteer opportunity ↗Above the Clouds
Norwood Memorial Airport-based youth aviation nonprofit with volunteer roles supporting Dream Flight days, including specialized volunteer-pilot roles.
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THROUGH SERVICE
Senior & Veteran Property Tax Work-Off Programs
Eligible Norwood homeowners may reduce property taxes through approved municipal work. Ask the Town about current applications, assignments and credit limits.
Learn more & applyEligibility, substitute volunteers and official resources
Seniors: Norwood's FY2026 senior application describes a tax credit of up to $1,500. Check the current year's requirements and deadline before applying.
Veterans: Norwood's 2023 Annual Town Report describes a veterans program established in 2021, originally providing a $1,000 credit. The report says veterans unable to work outside their homes could submit a doctor's note and arrange a substitute volunteer. Confirm whether these provisions remain in effect.
Next step: Contact Norwood Human Resources for current eligibility, available assignments, application deadlines, credit amounts and any substitute-worker rules.
Senior application (FY2026) ↗ · Town report: veteran program ↗ · Veterans Services ↗
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Join a local service organization
Community groups are another way to volunteer, meet neighbors and support local causes.
Town government, boards & committeesExplore civic participation, elections and 25 town boards and committees
ELECTIONS & CIVIC LIFE
Participate in town government
Election work, public meetings, boards and local office.
Contact the Town Clerk for current election-worker openings, requirements and scheduling.
Town ClerkThe Town’s Talent Bank is the mechanism for residents interested in volunteer service on appointed boards, committees and commissions.
Choose a group to jump to its responsibilities, selection method, term information and steps for getting involved.Find town-meeting and public-meeting calendar resources.
Norwood.ma calendarsThe Town Clerk is the authoritative source for nomination papers, deadlines and election procedures.
Requirements change by electionTOWN BOARD GUIDE
Board of Selectmen
Town’s chief elected policy board; appoints/approves many boards and acts on licenses, policy and major town matters.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Town Moderator
Presides over Town Meeting and performs duties assigned by Town bylaws and Massachusetts law.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Board of Health
Sets and enforces local public-health regulations and oversees public-health policy.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
School Committee
Sets school policy, approves the school budget and evaluates/appoints the superintendent under applicable law.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Finance Commission
Reviews town finances and proposed Town Meeting appropriations and issues recommendations.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Planning Board
Reviews subdivisions, site plans and certain special permits; proposes zoning changes and works on long-range planning.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Library Board of Trustees
Oversees the Morrill Memorial Library, its policies and stewardship.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Norwood Housing Authority
Oversees the local housing authority and its public/affordable housing responsibilities.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Blue Hills Regional Vocational School District Commission
Represents Norwood in governance of Blue Hills Regional Technical School.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Board of Assessors
Administers property valuation, exemptions, abatements and tax commitments under state law.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Airport Commission
Provides policy oversight for Norwood Memorial Airport.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Cable Communications Commission
Advises on cable communications matters and local cable-related policy.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Capital Outlay Committee
Reviews major capital needs and helps coordinate long-range capital planning.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Community Preservation Committee
Evaluates Community Preservation Act needs and projects involving open space, historic resources, recreation and community housing, and recommends funding to Town Meeting.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Council on Aging
Identifies needs of older residents and supports programs, services and advocacy for Norwood seniors.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Conservation Commission
Administers wetlands and conservation laws, reviews projects affecting protected resource areas and supports conservation stewardship.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Commission on Disability
Advises on accessibility and disability issues and promotes equal access for residents with disabilities.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Economic Development Committee
Advises on economic development, business vitality and related town initiatives.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Historical Commission
Identifies and protects historically significant buildings, places, documents and other local historic resources.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Personnel Board
Carries out responsibilities assigned under the Town’s personnel system and bylaws.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Board of Registrars
Oversees voter-registration matters and other election duties assigned by Massachusetts law.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Zoning Board of Appeals
Hears zoning appeals and applications for variances and certain special permits.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Cultural Council
Distributes local cultural grants and supports arts, humanities and interpretive-science activities.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Trails Advisory Committee
Advises on trails, walking connections, stewardship and related recreational access.
TOWN BOARD GUIDE
Sustainability Commission
Advises on sustainability, energy, climate and environmental initiatives.