General Volunteering Opportunities
Want to volunteer but don’t know where to start? Would you like to explore different options for volunteering?
Here are a few things that you can do to start:
- Visit the Office of Student Engagement and Multicultural Affairs in 325 Egbert Hall and talk to a Student Leadership Consultant or Assistant Director of Community Service, Don Austin. They can ask you about your passions, skills, and ideas and help you find an event or program that matches your interests.
- Join the Ithaca College Volunteers list serv to stay informed with community engagement opportunities. Send a message to ithacacollegevolunteers@lists.ithaca.edu with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line.
- United Way offers a clearinghouse of Volunteer Opportunities in Tompkins County here.
- Join a Student Organization! Visit the Student Organization Directory on IC Link and select "Community Service" from the "Browse by Category" bar to view the list of organizations that self-identify as service groups.
Upcoming Service Opportunities:
***IC Volunteers Can Help Rebuild Prattsville, NY, during Fall Break 2011***
The Town of Prattsville, NY, located in the Catskill Mountain region along Schoharie Creek, was almost destroyed by the flood waters caused by Hurricane Irene. More than 130 homes in this small town of 700 residents were damaged or destroyed by flooding, and the area has a great need of volunteers to come to Prattsville and help with recovery efforts. This amounts to approximately 40 - 50% of the homes in Prattsville.
The Huntersfield Christian Training Center (HCTC), located on high ground from the affected area, has been given the responsibility of managing a food program in Prattsville, and will be helping with residential recovery operations including home mud-out, stripping, and housing displaced families. Please watch the HCTC video about disaster recovery in the area.
HCTC has invited students from Ithaca College to come to Prattsville, NY, during their fall break. While HCTC receives a modest amount of volunteer support on the weekends, that number decreases significantly during the week days.
Due to HCTC’s need to manage their volunteer program, there is a very small fee associated with this trip. Students will need to contribute $60 to cover all costs associated with the trip - lodging, transportation, food, and work materials. All volunteers will receive three meals a day, lodging in HCTC’s retreat center, and all work materials necessary to complete projects. Students are responsible for supplying their own work clothes, boots, and bed linens/sleeping bag. The trip will run from Thursday, October 20, through Sunday morning, October 23.
There is limited space available for this trip. Space will be given to interested volunteers on a first come, first served basis.
To express interest in volunteering for the Fall 2011 Hurricane Irene Relief Trip to Prattsville, NY, please contact Don Austin in OSEMA at 607 274 3222 or email volunteer@ithaca.edu BY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, AT 5:00PM.
Ongoing Service Opportunities:
This list of opportunities are requests from local non-profits that need your help. These opportunities are not date-specifc. Please use the contact information listed with each opportunity to arrange your service directly with the agency
Tuesdays through October- Ithaca Children's Garden - 5pm-6:30pm - No Cost. No experience necessary. ICG provides tools and leads each project. Bring a waterbottle and wear clothes you are OK to getting dirty!
The nature center needs help with painting, cleaning, trail blazing and office work. You can help clear a trail or paint a mural – there’s a job for everyone.
Help construct a house in downtown Ithaca! CBW will teach you everything you need to know and give you the tools to get started. Contact Sheila at 319-0113 or ssquier@twcny.rr.com to get involved.
The Ithaca Free Health Clinic is an excellent place for students who want to volunteer with an organization that addresses issues in the medical field. Students interested in volunteering are strongly encouraged to volunteer regularly throughout the semester. Visit the Ithaca Free Health Clinic website for more information.
Loaves and fishes provides nutritious food, as well as hospitality to community residents who have determined themselves food insecure. Loaves and fishes provides food for everyone who desires to eat together in a community setting, bar none. You can help them prepare food and provide a warm setting for their weekly meals by going to their website to learn more. Go to their "Get Involved" section to lend a hand.
Books Thru Bars is a prisoner activist program for people who believe that education is as important for those behind bars as it is for those in mainstream "civil" society. Many inmates are incarcerated in places that do not have adequate libraries; yet reading is one of the few tools that prisoners have to keep their minds moving forward. Books Thru Bars raises money and accepts donated books to send to prisoners across the United States. Volunteers help raise funds, serve on the Board of Directors, and help prepare and package the ever growing number of requests for reading materials. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact volunteer@ithaca.edu
The West Haven Farm is an all organic vegetable farm located two miles from downtown Ithaca. It is a great opportunity to get experience in sustainable agriculture. West Haven Farm produce is sold at the Ithaca Farmers Market each weekend. Thus, they are a great example of local farmers, growing local food, FOR LOCAL PEOPLE! :-)
Tompkins County Public Library
For many people, libraries serve as the symbolic centre for community resources. The Tompkins County Public Library serves as one such example. Patrons of the library have access to books, music, movies, magazines, computers, academic lectures, community reads, childrens programs, and more. Ithaca College students can give back to the community's library in many different way. Check it out!
