In this Issue:
Community Service Opportunities
Tell Us About Yourself with Our Student Volunteer Interest Survey
Are you hoping to volunteer more in the coming year but don't know how to get started? Complete this quick survey to tell us what you're hoping to gain from your volunteer experience and what types of volunteer opportunities you're interested in pursuing. The CES Specialist will follow up with personalized suggestions to help you get started!
Apply for Emerging Leaders for Fall 2021
Applications for Student Life's Emerging Leaders program are open now! Applications are due by Friday, September 10. Emerging Leaders sessions are held Tuesdays at 3 p.m. and will begin on Tuesday, September 14. The Emerging Leaders Program is a great way to meet new people, get connected to activities on campus, and to grow personally while enhancing your leadership potential! At the end of the program, students will be recognized with a certificate (attendance is mandatory, one absence will be excused). Apply now!
Join the Ethics Bowl Team
Be part of an award-winning, nationally ranked intercollegiate academic team! Ethics Bowl is an intercollegiate competition, where teams meet to discuss & wrestle with current controversial ethical issues. Have fun engaging in collaborative moral reasoning with your peers. Ethics Bowl team members will:
- Develop skills in critical thinking, civil discourse, research, and team leadership
- Compete against top colleges and universities across the country
- Use your case research for conference presentations
- Qualify to apply for a SF Academic Team Scholarship
Contact Coach Dr. Ann Thebaut at ann.thebaut@sfcollege.edu.
Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership
The Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Partnership (ICDP) provides students opportunities to develop skills at facilitating difficult conversations across difference. ICDP Student Fellows engage with peers at SF’s partnering institutions (Harvard, Stanford, California State University Bakersfield, St. Philip’s College) at workshops and special events held fall and spring semesters. Applications for this program are open and close September 10th. Eight SF students will be selected for this program, and each will receive $1000 for their two-semester participation. Apply Here!
Volunteer with Our Santa Fe River
Our Santa Fe River (OSFR) is a grassroots non-profit organization of concerned citizens working to protect the waters and lands supporting the aquifer, springs and rivers within the watershed of the Santa Fe River. OSFR is seeking volunteers to provide outreach and collect petitions for the Right to Clean Water Amendment at local farmers markets and community events. Volunteers will receive training and support from OSFR board members. Check the OSFR calendar for available volunteer shifts. To sign up, contact OSFR President Kristin Rubin at rubinka2591@gmail.com.
The Education Foundation is Seeking a Marketing and Events Intern
The Education Foundation of Alachua County is a 501(c)3 organization located in Gainesville, FL whose mission is to invest in the future of Alachua County Public School students. The Marketing and Event Intern will work closely with The Foundation’s Director of Programs to help with the planning and execution of special events, community engagement efforts, social media management, graphic design work, mailings and donor relations. Apply now!
Volunteer with Children Beyond Our Borders
Children Beyond Our Borders is now accepting applications for their Volunteer Internship Program (VIP). VIP is a selective program that allows individuals to get involved in an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. While participating in VIP, directors, coordinators and interns apply their academic skills to a hands-on experience in the nonprofit field. The overall goal of VIP is to encourage and empower our directors, coordinators, and interns by providing professional skills that can prepare them for a successful future. They currently have open positions for Development Director, Co-Operations Director, Fundraising Intern, and Crossing Borders Through Conversations Coordinator. Visit chbob.org/volunteer-internship-program to learn more, and apply at chbob.org/apply. Positions are filled on a rolling basis, so apply ASAP!
Florida Trail Association Next Generation Coalition
Join the Florida Trail Association’s Next Generation Coalition, a group of young leaders dedicated to sustaining and promoting the Florida Trail. Would you like to empower the next generation to enjoy, share, and preserve the hiking and volunteering experience? Consider joining the FTA’s new Next Generation Coalition. The Next Generation Coalition will be dedicated to welcoming, training, and supporting the next generation of hikers and trail volunteers. Applicants should be passionate about the Florida Trail, outdoors advocacy, and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the outdoors. Applications close Sept. 1, 2021. To apply or for more details email chelseac@floridatrail.org.
Cinema Verde is Seeking Interns
Cinema Verde is Gainesville’s annual environmental film festival. In addition to hosting an annual film festival, Cinema Verde offers engaging content throughout the year. They offer internships for students interested in film students, journalism, marketing, event technology, and event management. Contact sarisha@cinemaverde.org to apply!
The Cade Museum is Seeking Interns
The Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention strives to provide a workplace that promotes creativity and invention at its core. They are looking for interns that have a passion for creating meaningful experiences for guests and students. Current available opportunities include STEAM education, events, marketing and outreach, administration and finance, and podcasting. If you have any questions, please email info@cademuseum.org.
Blossoming Butterfly is Seeking Interns
Blossoming Butterfly is a non-profit organization that provides spiritual, mental, physical, educational, and financial help to breast cancer patients through yoga, meditation, nutrition, self-care, and monetary assistance. They are seeking an office intern to join their volunteer team. Their vision is to be the hub of uplifting and offering support to breast cancer patients through affirming beauty, vibrancy, encouragement, education, preparation for the battle ahead, healthy living, and financial resources. To learn more, visit their website.
Rebuilding Together NCFL AmeriCorps Opportunity
Rebuilding Together is a housing nonprofit with affiliates in Gainesville, FL, and across the country that transforms the lives of low-income homeowners by improving the safety and health of their homes and revitalizing our communities. They are seeking individuals who want to get involved and ensure a safe and healthy home for every person in their community. During a 11-month AmeriCorps term, you'd earn a living stipend of $15,500 and an Education Award (amount TBD in May 2021 - was $6,195 in 2020) upon completion of the term. They have multiple terms starting in September 2021, January 2022 and June 2022. Apply now!
Volunteer with North Central Florida YMCA
North Central Florida YMCA is seeking volunteers while implementing numerous safety measures at their facility. They are seeking volunteers for the following roles:
- Facilities Volunteers: In person volunteer opportunity. Volunteers will assist facilities team with cleaning and sanitizing the facility. Landscaping, painting and indoor/outdoor repairs. Monday-Friday (minimum 10 hours week)
- Performing Arts Volunteers: In person volunteer opportunity. Volunteers will assist with various tasks including teaching dance, cheer or drumming to beginner level youth. Classroom management, curriculum building, running rehearsals, preparing for showcases/productions. Monday-Friday (minimum 10 hours week)
- Sports Volunteers: In person volunteer opportunity. Volunteers will coach or referee a variety of sports including basketball & soccer. Monday-Friday, some Saturdays (5-10 hours week)
- Gymnastics Coaches: In person volunteer opportunity. Volunteers will coach youth in beginner level gymnastics class. At least 2 years experience coaching recreational gymnastics required. Schedule TBD
- Office/Administrative: In person. Volunteers will assist with data entry, preparing reports, scheduling, making phone calls and performing other duties as assigned. Minimum 10 hours a week
- Accounting/Bookkeeping: In person. Volunteers will assist with reconciling invoices, preparing bank deposits, participating in audits and performing other duties as assigned. Minimum 10 hours a week.
- Human Resources: In person opportunity. Maintain employee files, assist with onboarding, organize training and development, gather and analyze data.
- Photographer and Videographer: In person opportunity. Volunteers needed for our annual Healthy Kids day Event on May 29, 2021 from 10am-1pm. Volunteers will take pictures, record video and create a highlight reel for our website and social media shortly after the event. Must have their own equipment.
Interested candidates can email Program Director Tatiana Bastian at tbastian@ncfymca.org or call (352) 374-9622.
Sierra Club's Inspiring Connections Outdoors Seeking Volunteers
Gainesville Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) is a program created by the Sierra Club in the 1970’s to promote outdoor experiences to youth from communities with limited access to connect and reconnect to the outdoors. Major cities in the USA have an ICO program. These ICO programs will help create the next generation of environmental justice leaders by increasing their exposure to outdoor recreation. This follows the Sierra Club motto or “Explore, Enjoy and Protect”. The Gainesville ICO was created in 2010 to promote outings with several groups of youth in East Gainesville. We have done hikes at Ring Park, and Prairie Creek Preserve, canoeing along the Santa Fe River, camping trips at Payne’s Prairie and O’Leno State Park. At this time, we are looking for volunteers who are interested in helping with these outings and possibly getting trained to be outings leaders. Please contact Maryvonne Devensky at maryvonne.deven@gmail.com or Roberta Gastmeyer at rgastmeyer2@gmail.com.
Volunteer with The Repurpose Project
We are hosting volunteers on an in-person scheduled basis in groups of 8 or fewer. Our facility has outdoor areas for safe working, and we are all wearing masks and require our shoppers and volunteers to as well. Our tasks include sorting donations, packaging materials, and sometimes cleaning/repair of donated items to be sold in our storefront. There will be specific volunteer events offered as well as scheduled regular volunteer shifts. Check out our co-founder Sarah Goff's TedxUF talk to learn more about our mission! To volunteer, e-mail Heather Eakin at repurposevolunteers@gmail.com.
Volunteer with Humane Society of North Central Florida
Humane Society of North Central Florida's mission is to eliminate the needless euthanasia of healthy and treatable pets in North Central Florida. At the moment we have very limited volunteers at the shelter in order to take care of the dogs and cats while also keeping volunteers and staff safe. We have started onboarding new volunteers at a limited capacity. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website to see how to get started.
Volunteer with Stirrups n' Strides Therapeutic Riding Center
Stirrups n Strides' mission is to provide therapeutic horseback riding & carriage driving to anyone with physical, mental or emotional challenges and to improve the quality of life for these individuals with the opportunity for emotional, educational & physical growth through horsemanship and competition. Volunteers are involved in a thorough training program before they are able to independently do any volunteer activities. Volunteers are assigned a mentor who works with them. Volunteers will work directly with horses- grooming, tacking, leading, untacking, and returning horse to paddock. Virtual opportunities include graphic design, creating a safety manual, and remote internships. All volunteers must wear masks and follow social distancing and will undergo a screening process and temperature check at the facility. Visit their volunteer page to get started!
Volunteer with Partnership for Strong Families
Partnership for Strong Families’ network of family resources provide great volunteer opportunities for anyone interested in having a positive impact on families in their community. Volunteers at our Resource Centers aid our staff in serving patrons seeking services. Our Resource Centers have different kinds of programming including afternoon homework help, a clothing closet and scheduled food distribution events. Volunteers can get experience working with local children and families, sorting through community donations and helping out Resource Center staff with day-to-day tasks. Current volunteer opportunities are limited due to restrictions related to COVID-19, but interested volunteers may reach out to check on availability. Contacts Jacob Clore at jacob.clore@pfsf.org to sign up!
Volunteer with Days for Girls
Days for Girls International creates reusable, sustainable menstrual hygiene kits for people in need around the world. We have several options for volunteer activities:
- Visit the sewing center on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday 1-5 pm to master a skill and then take home the supplies and tools to do it at home. This could be sewing, serging, or non-sewing jobs. Be sure to bring back the completed items within one week.
- Sign up for an evening shift on Monday 4:00-6:30 pm or Tuesday 6:30-8:30. We are limited to 8 volunteers at a time at the sewing workrooms.
- Request to-go kits for individuals or groups at least one week in advance of scheduled work. Days for Girls will prepare all of the supplies needed and the individual making the request is responsible for quality control and returning completed items by set date.
- We need volunteers to help us launder donated fabric. Volunteers can take home fabric and wash and prepare the fabric according to our instructions.
Volunteer with Operation Catnip
Operation Catnip's life-saving work improves the lives of cats and the communities in which they live by spaying, neutering, and vaccinating free-roaming cats, preventing the birth of kittens, mentoring other programs around the country, and training veterinarians to save America's community cats. Because of COVID-19, we have reduced the number of volunteer opportunities we have available However, there are still two safe, vital ways you can help!
- Laundry Heroes: Our clinics cannot run without the help of our laundry volunteers! This is a solo volunteer opportunity, though we do ask that these volunteers wear masks, as they have brief interactions with staff members (also wearing masks). Our current shifts are 12-2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. You can bring homework or something else to do in-between loads!
- Catio Caretakers: For various reasons, the cats in our Working Cat program cannot be returned to their original homes outside after sterilization and vaccination, so need a new place to go. These cats stay in our secure outdoor catio until we can adopt them out. We rely on a team of catio caretaker volunteers to provide daily care for these cats (changing water, scooping litter boxes, feeding). This is a completely solo volunteer opportunity after an one-on-one hour-long orientation (wearing masks). The position is very flexible and easy to work around your schedule.
Please contact Kate Boisseau at volunteer@ocgainesville.org to find out more or get started!
Volunteer with Elder Options
Elder Options’ mission is to ensure that communities have a trusted and unbiased place to turn for information, resources and assistance. They advocate for and cooperatively work with communities to strengthen support systems and create new and innovative service options that focus on personal choice and independence. Remote volunteer opportunities include teaching seniors how to use Zoom and participating in their Tele-talk program where you telephone seniors experiencing social isolation. Submit an application to volunteer!
Volunteer with Child Advocacy Center
Child Advocacy Center is a comprehensive, child-friendly facility where professionals from law enforcement, medical, child protection and therapeutic services effectively collaborate to meet the individual needs of child victims and break the cycle of abuse. Volunteers are assisting with organizing, sanitizing, and completing small projects. As there are still some clients coming in, volunteers are still sitting and playing with children while they wait for therapy appointments. Everyone is asked to go through our COVID-19 screening process, wear a mask, and interact from a distance. Submit an application to volunteer!
Meals on Wheels Needs Volunteers
Meals on Wheels through ElderCare of Alachua County delivers prepared meals to homebound seniors in our area between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday though Friday. They are seeking additional volunteers to assist with new services, including telephone reassurance and grocery shopping assistance. To volunteer, please contact ElderCare of Alachua County at 352-265-9040 or email Nhau0001@shands.ufl.edu.
Remote and Virtual Service Opportunities
There are plenty of ways to volunteer from home and numerous databases and online platforms to help you get started:
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