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Community Outreach

The Community Outreach Program provides students with an opportunity to get involved in community service on a regular basis. The projects are student-led and are offered at a variety of non-profit agencies on an almost daily basis. Note: Transportation is provided for all projects.

Students can sign up as early as one week in advance or until the day of the project if there is space left. Just stop in our office or give us a call to reserve your space. Then all you need to do is show up 15 minutes before your project's departure time. It's as easy as that!

Fall 2009 Program Schedule (Adobe PDF format)

Exploratory Projects

Volunteers sign-up on a weekly basis, up to one week in advance. Click below for a description of a particular project:

Semester Projects

These agencies prefer a semester-long commitment from volunteers. 
Applications and training are required.  Check the binder at The Center for details. Click below for a description of a particular project:

Project Descriptions

America's Second Harvest Food Bank
Volunteers are needed to sort salvaged food items and organize them in boxes for distribution to numerous shelters, food pantries, and other agencies that address hunger issues.

Big Bend Homeless Coalition (BBHC) HOPE Community
BBHC facilitates the delivery of services to homeless families and individuals by providing education, advocacy and the coordination of community resources.  At the HOPE Community, men, women, and families experiencing homelessness can receive comprehensive services.  Volunteers assist with childcare.

Big Bend Hospice
The mission of Big Bend Hospice is to provide compassionate care to individuals with a life limiting illness, comfort to their families, and emotional support to anyone who has lost a loved one.  Volunteers visit patients in hospice care.  Due to the sensitive nature of volunteering with hospice patients, volunteers must attend eight-hours of training, complete a background check, and have two TB tests.  Volunteers are required to commit to the project for a semester..

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Big Bend (BGCBB)
Volunteers are needed to tutor and mentor children ages 6 through 18.  Activities at the clubs include homework help, sports, and crafts.  Volunteers are required to complete an application and attend orientation.  Applications are available at The Center in the front of the project binder.

Challenger SWIM
The Challenger Swim Team is a program for children with special needs.  Volunteers help teach swimming basics to children with disabilities and offer meaningful support and encouragement.  No experience is necessary.  In the winter, lessons are taught at an indoor pool.  Please wear your (one-piece) bathing suit and bring a towel.

Damayan Garden Project
Volunteers are needed to work with children and community residents to maintain the Frenchtown Community Center garden, including planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting.  This agency reaches out to the community and uses gardens to teach nutritional and environmental education.  Dress appropriately for gardening, including close-toed shoes.

Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) Bethany Apartments
ECHO partners with local congregations, civic associations, and businesses to provide food, clothing, job placement, counseling, and financial assistance to people in crisis or emergency situations.  Bethany Apartments is a 15 unit complex that provides temporary emergency housing to families with children.  Volunteers assist with childcare at Bethany Family Apartments.

Gadsden County Correctional Facility
Life skills workshops are being coordinated and taught by our volunteers, to the inmates of this women’s correctional facility.  Workshops topics may include resume building, time management, current events, leadership, social justice, citizenship and others.  Application, background check and drug test are required prior to volunteering.  Semester-long commitment is expected. 

Grace Mission
Grace Mission serves children from predominantly illiterate homes by providing homework help and encouragement to succeed in school.  Volunteers are paired with a student and are asked to commit for a semester. Training is required.

Oak Ridge Elementary School
Youth Programs and Outrech have joined forces to offer students an opportunity to tutor children at their school, on Wednesday from 11:30am until 2pm. Students need to bring a valid driver's license to this project. The school requires all volunteers to have their license swiped for a quick background check for the safety of the children. Volunteers must dress appropriately, according to the Leon County School dress code (no flip flops, skimpy attire, or inappropriate language/gestures/logos on clothing).

Literacy Volunteers for Leon County ESOL for Kids is a program for 2nd – 8th grade students to learn or practice English.  This is a great project for students interested in teaching English as a second language.  Volunteers assist the teacher and lead a small group in fun, educational activities.

Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC) Migrant Education Program PAEC classes teach English to non-native speakers.  Some volunteers assist the ESL teacher with one-on-one or small group instruction.  Other students may work with the children of the ESL students, providing educational and recreational support.  You do not need to speak Spanish to attend this project.

Pregnancy Help and Information Center The PHI Center offers free, confidential services to any woman who is pregnant.  Parenting classes provide emotional support and the Stork Room provides clients with clothing, food, and other supplies for babies and children. Volunteers sort donations and assist in the Stork Room. Volunteers need to wear closed-toe shoes and dress modestly.

Project LOVE (Loving Our Valued Elders)
Volunteers spend time with elderly residents at Westminster Oaks. Taking walks, making arts and crafts, and reading are just some of the options for interacting with the wonderful residents.

Refuge House Thrift Store
Proceeds from the Refuge House Thrift Store support the mission of Refuge House: to provide direct services to battered women, their children, and sexual assault survivors, as well as to eliminate conditions in society that allow such violence to continue.  Volunteers help the store run smoothly by sorting, tagging, and stocking items.

Sidewalk Sunday School
Sidewalk Sunday School is a program of Good News Outreach, the purpose of which is to present the gospel to children using songs, skits, puppets, games, Bible stories, and object lessons.  Volunteers facilitate games, serve food, distribute toys and assist with supervision.

Westminster Oaks Conversation Hour
Volunteers interested in creating relationships with the residents of Westminster Oaks are invited to serve by listening to resident’s stories and being inspired to write their own. A semester-long commitment is expected.

Become a Project Facilitator

The Community Outreach Program is a student-led program. Many of the projects were begun by students who had an interest in serving with their peers at a local agency. Facilitators are selected by the Outreach Coordinator and other Center staff to lead each project. The schedule of available projects varies each semester depending upon student interest and community need.

Facilitators greet project participants, maintain accurate attendance records, provide a pre-service explanation, transport students to and from the projects using the Center's vehicles, act as a liaison to the agency, and facilitate reflection with participants at the end of each project.

Facilitators are expected to attend two meetings each semester and stay in regular contact via email with the Community Outreach Program Coordinator.

• Click here to view/download the Facilitator Application

For any additional information, please contact the Community Outreach Program Coordinator at 850-644-3342.