A guide of service opportunities found locally on the Kinni and
beyond. There are many great reasons to help your community through a
commitment to service. Service work helps to rebuild communities and
solve serious social problems. It provides much-needed social
services that oftentimes would not be possible without caring
citizens willing to devote their time. Service is a great way to help
you community, but the personal benefits of service are impressive
too. Did you know that service is great for your health?
- Service can improve self-esteem, reduce heart rates and blood
pressure, increase endorphin production, enhance immune systems
buffer
the impact of stress, and combat social isolations.
- Service also improves the well being of individual volunteers
because
it enhances social support networks. People with strong
social support
networks have lower premature death rates, less heart
disease, and
fewer health risk factors.
|
Beyond the benefits to your health and your community, service
has a
tremendous impact on your personal and interpersonal
development.
- A reduction of negative stereotypes
- An increase in appreciation for diversity
- Greater self-knowledge
- Greater spiritual growth
- Increased desire to include service to others in one's career
plans
- Increased ability to work with others
- Increased leadership skills
- Increased feeling of being connected to a community
- Increased connection to one's college experience through closer
ties
to faculty and fellow students.
|
Please consider volunteering your time in River Falls or the
surrounding
area. If you are interested and would like to talk more
about
volunteer programs, please stop by the Involvement Center (1st
floor
of the University Center) and ask to speak with Ali
Funk,
Falcon Programs Community Service Coordinator or email Amy
Lloyd,
Falcon Programs Supervisor.
"
Only a life lived for others is a life
worth while
"
—Albert Einstein
"
Be the change you wish to see in the
world
"
—Ghandi
"
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before
starting
to improve the world.
"
—Anne Frank
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
Start by considering the time you have in your week. Remember
everyone has
168 hours in each week, if you subtract time for classes,
studying,
sleeping, working, exercising, and socializing, you'll find
there are
several hours a week left for service in your life.
Also,
don't forget about what type of an organization you would
be
interested in serving. Think about social, political, or
environmental
issues that you are passionate about and would like to
investigate
further.
Please stop by Falcon Programs located in the Involvement
Center
or email
Ali Funk, Community Service Coordinator at
fpcommunityservice@uwrf.edu 
to set-up an appointment to discuss the
possibilities in the area.
Have a Heart Organization
Description:
Have a Heart offers an adult day program, a group home, a
homecare
program, and a weekend respite program for children, young
adults, and
adults with disabilities and their families.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Provide assistance with the children in the weekend
respite
program by
planning outdoor activities, arts and crafts and
more.
Group projects
can be arranged as well, such as painting or
gardening. Periodic
office work is also available. Background check
required to work with
children.
Healthy Communities and Recovery Network
Organization Description:
Healthy Communities is a non-profit
organization that has
worked since
1993
to protect youth from tobacco,
alcohol and drugs.
Volunteers
worked,
marched, spoke, and tried to
involve parents,
teachers, and all
citizens in their efforts to improve
public health.
Recovery Network
was a resource center for families
affected by
alcoholism or drug
abuse. Now, Healthy Communities and
Recovery
Network have merged to
offer all kinds of support groups. This
will
be a safe place to make
new friends, hear a great speaker, and
share
your life with people who
care.
Kinnic Long Term Care
Organization Description:
Kinnic's mission is to be the recognized
leader for providing
high
quality,
affordable healthcare for residents
and their families.
Volunteer Opportunities:
As a volunteer, you will
play a significant role in enriching
residents'
lives through various
activities, programs, and service
throughout the
day. Some examples
include: Visiting one-on-one with
residents,
shopping for residents,
leading resident activities,
decorating for
holidays, distributing
activity calendars, editing and
publishing
newsletters, playing the
piano, helping with BINGO,
assisting during
mealtime, distributing
resident mail, writing
letters
with residents,
reading with residents,
baking, and much more!
Kinnickinnic River Land Trust
Organization Description:
Kinnickinnic River Land Trust was founded in 1993 to
protect
and
preserve the
natural resources and scenic beauty of the
96,000-acre
watershed and
nearby trout stream.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Assemble and/or distribute brochures to various businesses in
River
Falls,
road and river cleanup, and office help as needed.
The Lutheran Home
Organization Description:
The mission of The Lutheran Home Association
is to provide for
the
spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional needs
of people
entrusted
to our care.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Immediate
openings exist for individuals and groups. Programs
are
geared to fit
your personal interests—sing or play, dance,
perform a
skit. Come in
and play games or make crafts like blankets
or
woodcrafts, help
decorate during holidays, watch movies, etc.
Anyone
can volunteer who
has the desire to spend a little time making
an
elderly person or a
child feel needed and wanted, who has the
ability
to listen and
communicate a feeling of concern, and has the
willingness to fulfill
certain duties and responsibilities.
Contact:
- Sherry A. Soehlig
- (715)425-5353
- www.tlha.org
|
Positive Alternatives, Alpha House Program
Organization Description:
A group foster home for
at-risk youth ages 12-17. Youth are
offered
structure, supervision,
counseling and recreational
opportunities in
order to build
developmental resources.
Volunteer Opportunities:
UWRF group service
projects can collaborate with Alpha House
youth.
Or,
sponsor a drive to
benefit the organization (i.e. winter
clothing,
hygiene products).
Additional opportunities exist for
individuals
willing to commit 200
hours to the agency–training
provided.
Pregnancy Helpline
Organization Description:
We provide support and resources to girls and women facing
unplanned
pregnancies. Services include free pregnancy tests, doctor
visits, and
ultrasound. As well as education, housing (during
pregnancy), baby
items, support throughout pregnancy and follow up
services.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers are welcome to volunteer
on a one-time basis or on
going.
Furthermore, volunteers are asked to
volunteer anywhere from 5
to 10
hours a month. We are flexible with
schedules. Volunteers must
have a
compassionate ear and understanding
of girls and women in
unplanned
pregnancies.
Restorative Justice Center
Organization Description:
Restorative Justice
is a framework for engaging the community
to
respond to the
needs of
victims and accountability of offenders.
Mission: To build
and sustain
a culture of peace and belonging
utilizing restorative
justice
principles and programs in our
community.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers play an active role in programs; helpful for those
interested in the
criminal justice system or community issues.
Opportunities include
helping people register for a class or
participating in a 'talking
circle'. A variety of programs helps
address crime and conflict.
Programs address drinking and driving,
underage drinking and a variety
of other crimes, including vandalism
or
disorderly conduct. SCVRJP is
also involved with the area schools
and
helps with community projects.
Restorative Justice seeks to bring
victims and offenders together to
repair harm. Storytelling is a key
component to the process.
Volunteer orientations are held the first
Wednesday of each month. A
wide range of opportunities are available
from 2-20 hours a month.
Training is provided for all volunteers.
Contact:
- Kris Miner (Kris is an UWRF Adjunct Professor teaching Intro
and Advanced Restorative Justice)
- (715)425-1100
- scvrjp@gmail.com
- Online volunteer applications can be found at:
www.scvrjp.org or call and one can be mailed to you.
|
RFC-TV
Organization Description:
RFC-TV is the City
of River Falls Community Television on
Channel 16.
It is
a public and
government access center.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Help in the
production of community programming. No experience
is
necessary and
RFC-TV provides a great environment for learning the
basics of video
production.
River Falls Area Hospital
Organization Description:
River Falls Area Hospital in
Western Wisconsin provides easy
access to
hospital services, primary
care and specialty clinics, a
long-term
care facility and a wellness
and fitness center. Our
hospital offers
cardiovascular care, emergency
and surgical services,
birth center,
home care and hospice services.
Volunteer Opportunities:
They are currently looking for volunteers in
the Wellness/Rehab
Center
to
work at the front desk, greet patients,
and do tasks on the
computer
dealing with Microsoft Excel and Word. The
Radiology
department is
also looking for a volunteer to work their
front desk
to greet
patients in the late afternoon to early evening for
a few
hours. The
Administration department is also looking for
volunteers
to do
clerical work such as filing, copying, faxing etc.
Volunteers
must
commit to a minimum of 100 hours per year. This is
because
managers
are looking for more long-term volunteers because it
takes a
while to
train and the hospital must pay for various expenses
for
each
volunteer.
River Falls Community Arts Base
Organization Description:
The River Falls Community Art Base is a
membership organization
committed
to sustaining the arts and ensuring
their availability,
accessibility,
and affordability for the greater
River Falls
community.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteer needs include
providing extra hands during different
arts
events,
participating on
any of the numerous committees, helping
with
mailings, and helping in
the office.
River Falls Community Food Pantry
Organization Description:
A service offered through Ezekiel Lutheran Church to those
who
live
within the River Falls community.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Help
unload and stock Second Harvest delivery items for this
local
food
pantry. Second Thursday of each month at 8:45am,
located at
Ezekiel
Lutheran Church, 202 South Second Street.
River Falls Hospital Auxiliary Program
Organization Description:
The River Falls
Hospital Auxiliary is a service organization
dedicated
to
supporting
the River Falls Area Hospital through
fundraising and
service related
activities.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Knitting baby caps for OB
department, working in the Hospital
gift
shop.
Contact:
- River Falls
- Hospital
- (715)425-6155
|
River Falls Public Library
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers help with shelving videos and DVDs, monitoring the
gallery
(2 hour
shifts on the weekends), and washing children's
books.
River Falls School District
Volunteer Opportunities:
One time events (i.e. Carnival, track and field day),
tutoring, and
recess assistance.
Contacts:
- Greenwood—Michelle Swenson
- (715)425-1810
- Rocky Branch—Monique Squire
- (715)425-1819
- Westside—Julie Larson (715)425-1815 x240
- Montessori—Heather Spiczak (715)425-7653
- Meyer Middle School—Michelle Swenson (715)425-1820
- Renaissance Academy
- (715)425-7687
- River Falls High
- School (715)425-1830
|
Second and Fourth Tuesday Banquet
Organization Description:
A free community dinner
sponsored by five of the churches of
River
Falls.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteers serve a free meal from 5-6:30
p.m. on the
second and
fourth
Tuesdays
of every month at the First
Congregational
Church of
Christ at
110
North 3rd Street. They have now
added, on the
third
Tuesday, a soup
and bread dinner. Clean up
completed by 6:30pm
Individual
volunteers
can just show up between
4:30 or 4:45.
If you are
a group that would
like to help with cooking,
please contact
the
organization in advance.
Contact:
(715)425-1870
St. Croix Valley Sexual Assault Response Team
Organization Description:
Provide free forensic
health care, education, protection, and
advocacy
for
sexual assault
victims, 24 hours.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Office help: Light administrative duties, make victim
folders,
website development, and special projects. Internships
are
available.
- Client Support Volunteer: Rotating 24-hour call, assist SANE
in
caring for victims at the SART Center.
- SART Committee Members: Fundraising Committee: assist with
fundraising ideas, and event planning.
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Treasures from the Heart
Organization Description:
Treasures from the Heart sells great used goods at
penny-wise
prices,
raising
funds for ADORAY Home Health and Hospice
(www.adoray.org). The
not-for-profit ADORAY provides hospice and
home
health care to
patients in Pierce, St. Croix, Western Dunn and
Polk
Counties.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Treasures relies heavily on
volunteers to operate the store.
Volunteers provide
customer service
and assist staff in sorting and
preparing donated
inventory for the
sales floor.
Volunteer and Store
Hours:
Monday: Volunteers help ready
the store, closed to public
Tuesday thru Thursday: 9am-7pm
Friday and
Saturday: 9am-5pm
Sunday:
Closed
Contact:
Jenny Hennemann - (715)425-9771
Turningpoint
Organization Description:
Turningpoint is a shelter and
program serving victims of
domestic and
sexual
violence; this includes
women, men, and children.
Volunteers are
needed in two areas. One is at
the shelter where the
volunteer might
work with administrative staff or
directly with
consumers (adults and
children) or in other areas of need
for the
shelter. The other is in
the retail store called Second
Chances,
which is an all
volunteer-operated store selling donated
furniture
and household
goods.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Thrift Store shifts:
- Tuesdays: 10am-5pm
- Wednesday: 10am-7pm
- Thursday: 10am-5pm
- Friday: 10am-5pm
- Saturday: 10am-5pm
|
- Volunteers also needed occasionally for window decorations,
bookkeeping, and sorting donations.
- Thursdays are a children's support group. Typically, 5-14
children
attend. There is a trained group facilitator present as
well. 1-2
volunteers are needed to help set up the group, be with
the
children
and provide extra support. If there are younger
children
present,
you
could be called upon to keep a watch out for
them as
well.
- Volunteers are always welcome to come and spend time with
the
women
and children at the shelter – to provide companionship
and
friendship.
- Volunteers needed to help with Christmas sponsor-a-Family by
helping
to coordinate and wrap gifts, etc.
- Volunteers needed to answer the 24-hour crisis phone line
(training
provided and shifts flexible).
- Special projects. They are in need of volunteers in many
other
capacities, i.e. computers, artists, cleaning, event
planning,
anything really!
|
Walk ON
Organization Description:
Walk On
Therapeutic Riding Programs, Inc. provides
individualized
horseback
riding related therapeutic activities to
children and adults
with
physical, developmental, social, and
emotional disabilities in a
place
where, through the bonding of
horse, rider, and volunteers, the
individual will enhance their
mind, body, and spirit.
Volunteer
Opportunities:
Volunteers are needed
Saturday mornings at 9, 10 and
11,
Tuesday and Thursday
evenings at 5,
6 and 7. No horse riding or
experience required.
YMCA: River Falls, WI
Organization Description:
The YMCA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
social services organization
dedicated
to building strong kids, strong
families and strong
communities.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Child Care: drop in child care volunteers (ages 9 weeks to
10
years
old)
- Youth Sport Programs: ages 3-9 years old, and middle school
age
- Other: working on fitness floor, marketing projects and
custodial
work (painting mostly)
|
HUDSON: Big Brothers/Big Sisters Hudson Office
Organization Description:
Big Brothers
Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most
effective
youth
mentoring
organization in the United States. They have
been the
leader
in
one-to-one youth service for more than a century,
developing
positive
relationships that have a direct and lasting
impact on the
lives of
young people.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Seeking students to mentor and
become a friend to a child.
Volunteers
usually
commit to about one
hour, once a week in the school
lunch
program, or
two hours twice a
month with a child on campus with
the
Friends of
BBBS student
organization. In the community, program
matches
can meet
after school,
evenings, or weekends. The focus of
these
matches is to
offer a child
friendship, support and guidance,
and to
encourage
positive school
performance. Volunteers must commit
to being
a part of
the child's life
for 12 months after they are
introduced to
the child.
BRIDGE for Youth with Disabilities
Organization Description:
BRIDGE, Inc. is a
non-profit organization that collaborates
with youth
serving agencies
and provides opportunities for youth and
young adults
with
disabilities.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Many opportunities are available.
These include assisting with
events
(Prom, Halloween Party, Valentines
Dance, etc.), making phone
calls,
office work, errands, serving on a
committee.
Christian Community Homes and Services
Organization Description:
Christian Community Home is an 81
bed, skilled care nursing
facility
located on
four acres of beautiful
landscaped property. The
facility is
located
in Hudson, Wisconsin, and
is approximately one
mile from
downtown
Hudson.
Volunteer Opportunities:
A variety of volunteer opportunities are available from
one-on-one
visits to assisting with activities to leading
activities. Times are
throughout the day as well as evenings and
weekends.
Hudson Hospital
Organization Description:
The mission of the Hudson
Hospital is Caring for the health of
our
community for over 55 years as
an independent, community health
care
organization.
Volunteer
Opportunities:
Come learn about a variety
of
volunteer opportunities at
Hudson Hospital
during an informational
meeting. Each meeting will
feature a brief
presentation on what to
expect as a volunteer, how your
work will help
support exceptional
health care in our community and
describe various
volunteer positions
to help find the best fit.
Attendees also have the
opportunity to
receive an optional hospital
tour. Currently, the
hospital has
various
positions open, including
gift shop sales,
rehabilitation
care,
business office and more.
Volunteers must make a
three-month
commitment.
The Phipps Theater
Organization Description:
The
Phipps Center for the Arts, located in Hudson, has
celebrated the
creative spirit for over 20 years by offering
exciting
performances,
outstanding exhibitions, and inspiring
instruction for everyone.
Volunteer Opportunities:
There are a number of volunteer opportunities
available at The
Phipps.
These include:
Ticket office (day shifts)
Ticket office
(performance
times)
House management/usher/ticket taker
Set
construction/painting
Theater properties
Lighting (set
lights/operate
light board)
Sound
design
Sound (operate sound board)
Costume
design/coordination
Costume
sewing
Orchestra pit
Art fair
Gift shop
sales (performance shifts)
Office
help
Tour guide
Healing arts (working
with Hudson Hospital art exhibits)
YMCA: Hudson, WI
Organization Description:
The YMCA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) social
services organization
dedicated
to building strong kids, strong
families and strong
communities.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteer
after-school in the YMCA Teen Center from 3-6 p.m. or
at Y!
Teen
Night, select Fridays from 8-10 p.m. Lead demonstrations
(i.e.
hip-hop
dance, music, art, etc.) or simply provide a positive
role
model.
Contact:
- Jennifer
- (715)531-1837
- (715)386-1616
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WESTERN WISCONSIN: Family Means
Organization Description:
Family Means is a place where families,
children, couples, and
individuals
can come to identify their options
and use their skills
during a
challenging time in their life. Services
include family
counseling and
mental health services, Consumer Credit
Counseling
Service, caregiver
support services, family/youth enrichment
programs,
and an employee
assistance program.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Caregiver support (provide a break for families who are caring
for a
child or
adult with a disability or chronic illness), youth
volunteers,
office
support, events volunteers and more. Opportunities
and
applications
are available online. For some positions six-month
commitment
requested.
Girl Scouts
Organization Description:
In partnership with nearly 16,000 adult volunteers, the
Girl
Scouts of
Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys helps more than
45,000 girls
each year—in all or portions of 49 counties in southern
Minnesota and
western Wisconsin—to discover new abilities, connect
with
new friends,
and take action to improve their communities. River
Valleys Girl
Scouts have access to hundreds of program and camp
opportunities. Girl
Scouts is the world's preeminent leadership
development organization
for girls, building girls of courage,
confidence, and character, who
make the world a better place.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Work with the organization to mentor and inspire girls
of all
ages.
Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center
Organization Description:
Located in
Prescott, at the northern gateway of Wisconsin's
scenic
Great
River
Road, Freedom Park provides scenic overlooks high
above the
Mississippi River.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Volunteer in the Visitor and
Learning Center at Freedom Park.
Habitat for Humanity
Organization Description:
Building affordable homes for and with
families in need in
Pierce and
St.
Croix counties in Western Wisconsin.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Varied, contact the director for present
needs.
Northern Waters Literacy
Organization Description:
Share that gift of reading with other adults needing help
with
basic
skills
and/or communicating in American English.
Volunteer
Opportunities:
Volunteer tutors are needed for adult literacy
efforts.
Training provided and
hours are flexible.
St. Croix Animal Friends
Organization Description:
Currently there is no animal
shelter in St. Croix County. St.
Croix
Animal
Friends is a non-profit
organization that plans to build
and
staff an
animal shelter in St.
Croix County.
Volunteer Opportunities:
They are looking for volunteers
to help with bake sales,
selling
raffle
tickets, work at brat stands,
sell candy bars or other
items,
help
plan fundraisers, collect pledges
for the animal walk,
assist with
assembling newsletters, work at
various fundraising
events, head a
committee or donate any other
special talents (such as
drawing or
sewing, etc.) that you may have
that could help the
organization.
St. Croix County Land & Water Conservation Department
Organization Description:
Promotes sustainable
land use management for long-term
conservation of
land,
water and other
natural resources.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Various environmental
education events with St. Croix County
school
districts, and St. Croix
County Earth Day, Sunday, April 19
2009.
St. Croix Sierra Club
Organization Description:
The St. Croix Valley Interstate Group (SCVIG)
is comprised of
over
1,200
friends and neighbors from the Minnesota and
Wisconsin side
of
the
lower St. Croix Valley. The SCVIG encompasses
Chisago, Pine and
eastern Washington counties, plus the city of
Hastings, Minnesota
and
Burnett, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties in
Wisconsin.
The
focal
point of the SCVIG is preserving and protecting
the St. Croix
River and
its surrounding area for generations to come
while at the
same time
encouraging the responsible enjoyment of this
national
treasure. Local
Sierra Club members also work on a diverse set
of
local, statewide and
national issues including agriculture,
forestry,
urban sprawl, water
and air pollution, global population ,
global
warming, mining,
renewable energy and solid waste.
Volunteer
Opportunities:
The
effectiveness of the North Star Chapter comes from
its volunteer
base.
The Chapter encourages you to dive into a
conservation area that
interests you and get involved. Whether you
want
to dive into the
depths of policy or write letters to the editor
there
is a need and a
place for your efforts at the North Star
Chapter. Come
to a new
activist orientation to learn about all the
ways you can help!
Stepping Stones Bowling League
Organization Description:
United Cerebral Palsy is an
organization serving adults with
Cerebral
Palsy.
Volunteer
Opportunities:
2-4 volunteers are needed
every other
Tuesday from 3-5
p.m. at Gibby's
Lanes in New Richmond.
Volunteers are
asked to assist
with bowling
details (i.e.
electronically entering
people's names,
etc.), socialize
with the
people of Stepping Stones and
bowl. In
exchange for your
time, two
games per meeting are paid for as
well as a
beverage. They
are looking
for volunteers who can make a
one-semester
commitment or
even the
entire year; however, no volunteers
will be
turned away!
West CAP, Inc.
Organization Description:
The mission of West CAP is to take
action against poverty by
developing
the social and economic assets of
low-income families and
their
communities, and by working to create a
more just and
sustainable
society.
Volunteer Opportunities:
West CAP's
Food Pantry: Implement food drives, stock shelving,
cleaning, pick up
food, etc.
West CAP's Homebuyer Program: Organize facility needs, schedule
participants, and prepare materials
West CAP's Planning Department: Research and data collection,
compilation of research, preparing information packets, clerical
work, etc
West CAP's Asset Management Department: Grounds keeping and
spring clean up of properties
Western Wisconsin Autism Advocacy & Consulting Center, Inc.
(WWAACC)
Organization Description:
The Western
Wisconsin Autism Advocacy and Consulting Center,
Inc. is a
501 (c)(3)
non-profit organization developed by parents and
family
members of
children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. WWAACC's
goal is
to empower,
educate and support families, caregivers,
educators, and
service
providers of children with ASD and to provide
resources and
information in order for parents to make informed
decisions regarding
the needs of their child.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Activities may
include helping with things such as supplying
refreshments for
events,
performing various administrative duties,
distributing fliers,
fundraising, volunteering at an event, or
sharing
other special skills
with us when an opportunity arises.
SERVICE CLUBS/ORGANIZATIONS and PROGRAMS
Conquer Cancer Club
Organization Description:
The Conquer Cancer Club was established to
support both
students who
have
had cancer and students who have had
family or a
friend battle
cancer.
They offer support and fundraise to
do just what
the club title
says:
Conquer Cancer.
Friends of Big Brothers Big Sisters
Organization Description:
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest,
largest and most
effective
youth
mentoring organization in the United
States. They have
been the
leader
in one-to-one youth service for more
than a century,
developing
positive relationships that have a direct
and lasting
impact on the
lives of young people.
Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter
Organization Description:
See Habitat for Humanity Description listed
above.
On-Campus Girl Scouts
Organization Description:
Girl Scouts is the world's preeminent leadership
development
organization
for girls, building girls of courage,
confidence, and
character, who
make the world a better place.
Destination Program National Service Opportunity)
Description:
This is a weeklong service
opportunity for UWRF students each
spring
break. The genesis of the
Destination Program was UWRF's
response to
Hurricane Katrina. Since
2006, UWRF has sent at least
four groups each
year across the country
to serve communities in the
areas of
education, homelessness,
environment, etc. The trip costs
approximately $300-$350 and covers
transportation, housing, food,
program costs, etc. Applications are
available in October.
Service on the Kinni
Description:
This is an ongoing effort to provide UWRF
students with the
opportunity to
interact and build relationships with
the River Falls
community. Get
connected to the community you are
living in
throughout
the academic
year. Visit the Leadership and
Service Café
(in the
Involvement
Center), which will offer various
service related
resources.
Additionally, there will be many service
opportunities
available
throughout the year, such as monthly service
projects and a
Volunteer
Café to meet representatives from local
non-profits and
volunteer
agencies.
The Aliveness Project
Organization Description:
The
Aliveness Project is a non-profit community center that
provides a
variety of direct services each day to people living with
HIV/AIDS.
These services are possible only because of a strong and
caring base
of volunteers. Many volunteer opportunities are
available, see
website
for a full listing.
Amicus Twin Cities Area
Organization Description:
Amicus is a Minnesota not-for-profit
organization with over 41
years
of
experience in improving public
safely by helping inmates and
ex-offenders through positive
relationship-building, restorative
justice practices and individualized
transition services. Through
innovative programming, Amicus helps
inmates and ex0offenders
reshape
their lives, reach their goals, and
make successful
transitions from
prison into the community. All of the
Amicus
programs are
relationship-based, community-driven, culturally
specific and
outcome-oriented.
Animal Humane Society
Organization Description:
The Animal Humane Society is
dedicated to creating a more
humane world
for animals by promoting the
responsible treatment of
animals and by
enriching the relationship
between animals and people
that enhances
human lives immeasurably.
Contact:
www.animalhumanesociety.org
- St. Paul:
- (651)645-7387 x362 for information session dates
- (651)645-7387 x124 for information about the volunteer
program
- Woodbury: (651)730-6008 x17 for information on session
dates and volunteer program
|
Athletes Committed to Educating Students (A.C.E.S)
Organization Description:
A.C.E.S.
operates a two-day-a-week tutoring/mentoring program
that
utilizes a
sports-themed curriculum and structured activities to
promote
education and healthy life choices.
AVID Program St. Paul School District
Organization Description:
AVID is a national program whose
mission is to assist students
who are
in
the "academic middle" to
prepare them for an admission to
four-year
colleges and universities.
AVID needs tutors for 8-11th
grade
students, training is provided with
possible reimbursement.
Camp Odayin
Organization Description:
Camp Odayin provides camping
experiences for young people with
heart
disease, where campers discover
outdoor, athletic, and creative
activities in a safe and medically
supervised environment. As
volunteers staff all programs, most work
with the children on a
regular basis. A minimum age of 20 is required
for all volunteers.
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center
Organization Description:
The mission of the Carpenter St. Croix Valley
Nature Center is
to
foster
appreciation and inspire stewardship of the
natural world
through
quality environmental education, conservation
practices, and
outdoor
experiences for visitors of all ages and
capabilities. There
are
various ways to volunteer your time, including
naturalist
assistant,
animal care, gardening and special events.
Children's Home Society and Family Services
Organization Description:
Founded in 1889,
Children's Home Society & Family Services
is a
non-sectarian 501
(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that meets
the
needs of children,
individuals and families in our community and
around the world through
our vital programs and services. Each year
we
touch the lives of nearly
35,000 children and families through our
programs and services.
Clare Housing
Minneapolis, MN
Organization Description:
Clare Housing provides
shelter, services and compassionate care
to
persons
living with HIV and
AIDS in the Twin Cities. Clare Housing
relies on
the generous gifts of
time, energy and spirit given by its
volunteer
workforce of over 150
people. Multiple opportunities exist.
Community Action Council
Twin Cities Area
Organization Description:
Community Action Council provides
support to people and
communities to
try to
prevent violence, ensure
school success, and
promote long-term
self-sufficiency.
Courage Center St. Croix
Minneapolis, MN
Organization Description:
The mission of the Courage Center is to
empower people with
physical
disabilities to reach their full potential
in every aspect
of life. We
are guided by the vision that one day, all
people will
live, work,
learn and play in a community based on
abilities, not
disabilities.
Various volunteer opportunities exist;
please see
website for full
listing.
Feed My Starving Children
Twin Cities Area
Organization Description:
Founded in 1987, Feed My Starving
Children is a non-profit
Christian
organization with a mission of
"Feeding God's starving
children hungry
in body and spirit." The
approach is simple:
volunteers of all ages
pack highly nutritious meals
for severely
malnourished children. The
meals are distributed to
starving children
in over 45 countries around
the world.
Free Arts Minnesota
Organization Description:
Free Arts Minnesota is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to
bringing
the
healing powers of artistic
expression into the lives of
abused,
neglected and at-risk children and
their families.
Friends of the Mississippi River
St. Paul, MN
Organization Description:
Friends of the
Mississippi River (FMR) advocate a new vision
for the
Mississippi,
especially the river and its watershed in the
Twin Cities
metropolitan
area. Through active leadership and
education, we seek to
preserve and
restore the river's fish and
wildlife, its vital
floodplains and scenic
bluffs, its natural and
cultural treasures, its
beauty and its romance.
We envision a river
where small boats are safe
and welcome, we have
clear and easy access
and we can safely swim and
fish.
Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
Organization Description:
Hearing and Service Dogs of
Minnesota is dedicated to enhancing
the
quality
of life for people who
are deaf, hard of hearing or
disabled by
creating mutually beneficial
partnerships with specially
trained dogs.
Hope House
Stillwater, MN
Organization Description:
Hope House provides assisted
care for people living with
HIV/AIDS who
are
no longer able to live
independently. Licensed under
Minnesota
rules
as Adult Foster Care,
Hope House is one of the five
co-housing
facilities in the state and
the only one outside the urban
twin
cities. Hope House of St. Croix
Valley provides a non-judgmental
home
with compassionate care,
respecting the dignity of people living
with
HIV/AIDS. Volunteers fill
many important roles in the work and
mission
of Hope House; please see
website for full listing.
International Institute of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN
Organization Description:
An inter-racial, non-political, non-sectarian social
service
agency
that
serves both foreign and native-born. It is
affiliated with
the
U.S.
Committee for Refugees, Immigrants (USCRI),
and the United
Way.
Volunteer opportunities range from tutoring to
office work.
Lutheran Social Service
Twin Cities Area
Organization Description:
Lutheran Social Service shares a
vision that all people have
the
opportunity
to live and work in a
community with dignity, safety,
and
hope. They
are in need of community
partners and volunteers to
help
this vision
become a reality. Various
volunteering opportunities
are
available.
Minnesota AIDS Project
Minneapolis, MN
Organization Description:
Since 1983, the Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP)
has been a leader
in the
fight
against HIV and AIDS. Founded by a small
group of
dedicated
volunteers, MAP has grown to a staff of more than 55
and a
volunteer
base of more than 1,400 to meet the challenges of this
epidemic. MAP
has combated ignorance and fear through education,
forcefully
advocated for the rights of those affected by HIV, and
provided
compassionate care for those living with HIV and AIDS.
Minnesota Children's Museum
St. Paul, MN
Organization Description:
Minnesota Children's Museum is at the heart of where fun meets
learning. It's
where kids can touch, climb, splash, crawl, push,
pull,
and press it
all. Children ages 6 months through 10 years and
their
adult guests
can explore seven galleries packed with
extraordinary
hands-on
adventures. There are a variety of ways to get
involved and
volunteer
at Minnesota Children's Museum. Whether you
would prefer to
lead art
activities in the classroom, play in the
galleries, or assist
behind
the scenes in the office, there is a
great opportunity for you
to give
your time at Minnesota Children's
Museum.
Minnesota Literacy Council
St. Paul, MN
Organization Description:
The Minnesota Literacy
Council (MLC) is a nonprofit, statewide
organization that provides
literacy services to adults, children,
volunteers and community
programs around Minnesota.
Neighborhood House
St. Paul, MN
Organization Description:
The mission of the
Neighborhood House is to build doorways of
opportunity
for vibrant,
diverse communities by meeting essential
human
needs,
facilitating
active participation in community life, and
providing
access to
additional community resources and programs.
Volunteer
opportunities
range from serving on the board to working
with
staff in
the food
shelf, to English language learner classes, and
many
more.
Planned Parenthood
Twin Cities Area
Organization Description:
Planned Parenthood
has provided the community with education
and
confidential
reproductive health care at an affordable cost for
more
than 70 years.
Help as a Clinic Administrative Assistant,
Education
Program
Evaluator, Sexuality Educator, or Information
Technology
Intern.
Sharing and Caring Hands
Minneapolis, MN
Organization Description:
Sharing and Caring Hands was
founded in 1985 as a safety net
organization to
help those who could
not obtain help from the welfare
system. It
exists as a vehicle for
volunteers to commit their time
and
resources
to making a difference in
the lives of the people of the
community.
Volunteers of America
Minnesota
Organization Description:
Volunteers of
America Minnesota is one of the oldest, largest,
and
most
comprehensive social service organizations in the state.
Their
programs and services provide a wide variety of services to
children
and their families, homeless women and their children,
school
students, adults with special needs, adult and youth
ex-offenders,
and
senior citizens.
Organization Description:
The YWCA is a
women's membership movement nourished by its
roots in
Christian faith
and sustained by the richness of many
beliefs and
values. Strengthened
by diversity, the YWCA draws
together members who
strive to create
opportunities for a women's
growth, leadership, and
power in order to
attain a common vision:
peace, justice, freedom, and
dignity for all
people. Many volunteer
opportunities are available
please see website
for more information.
Friends for Life
Description:
Friends for Life
supports the lives of youth living with
leukemia and
related
cancers.
Operation Smile
Description:
Operation
Smile is a private, non-profit, organization
dedicated to
performing
surgery to children in third world countries
whose facial
deformities
prevent them from smiling.
Project Pillow
Description:
Students buy materials and create pillows for patients in
hospitals.
When
finished with the project, students can deliver
pillows
to
patients
about to enter surgery at their local hospitals.
Ronald McDonald Charities
Description:
Ronald McDonald is dedicated to
providing health care for
children;
the
National Hospital is located in
Illinois, but volunteers
can help
raise money anywhere in the U.S.
Ronald McDonald also
provides mobile
care for patients around the
United States.
Shriner's Hospitals for Children
DescriptionContact:
Shriner's is an international fraternity dedicated to
providing care
for burns,
orthopedic problems, and spinal cord
injuries
to children up
to their
18th birthday.http://shriners.com
Volunteer Centers
Volunteer Match—Anywhere www.volunteermatch.org
Community
Volunteer
Services—Stillwater, MN (651)439-7134 x207
Volunteer
Resource
Center—Anywhere www.1800volunteer.org
Hands on Twin
Cities!—Twin Cities
www.handsontwincities.org
The Idealist—Anywhere
www.idealist.org
Volunteer Resources
The Peace Corps
Volunteers make over
a two-year
commitment to work
with
teachers and communities
in
developing
countries to help them take
charge of their won futures.
www.peacecorp.gov
AmeriCorps
A network of national service programs that
engage more
than
50,000
Americans each year in intensive service to
meet critical
needs
in
education, public safety, health, and the
environment.
www.americorps.org or www.cityyear.org
Global Volunteers
A
private non-profit, non-sectarian development
organization
founded
with the goal of helping to establish a
foundation for peace
through
mutual international understanding.
www.globalvolunteers.org
Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Offers men and women an opportunity to work
full-time
for justice
and
peace.
www.jesuitvolunteers.org
Volunteers in Service to America
VISTA is now part of the federal
government's Corporation for
National
Service. Participants live and
work in communities where they
develop
grassroots initiatives to assist
the people who live there.
www.friendsofvista.org
Volunteer Services Overseas
An organization that
places over 800
volunteers around the world
each
year.
www.vsocanada.org
The International Volunteer Program
Promotes
volunteering in
Europe and the United States. The
website
offers
program descriptions,
resource links, form participants'
feedback, and
general program
information.
www.ivpsf.com
The United Nations Volunteers
Offers resource links, news coverage
of global volunteering
efforts,
and
lists of activities and
partnerships around the globe.
www.unv.org
Volunteer Adventures
Travel the world to change the world
www.volunteeradventures.com
Teaching Resources
Teach for America
Commit
two years to teach
low-income rural and
urban
communities
www.teachforamerica.org
NYC Teaching Fellows
For people who would like
to change their
lives and teach in the
schools
that need teachers most.
www.nycteachingfellows.org
The Teaching Opportunity Program
Represents a
collaborative
initiative between the City University
of
New York
and
the New York
City Department of Education. The program
provides
stipends, education
awards and special training to highly
qualified
college graduates
seeking to pursue a career in teaching
www.top.cuny.edu
The DC Teaching Fellows
Currently mobilizing talented,
motivated
individuals to become
teachers
in DC
Public Schools. Use your
skills
and knowledge to impact
the lives
of
children in the city.
www.dcteachingfellows.org
Chicago Teaching Fellows
Provides a pathway for
outstanding
individuals to become teachers
in
Chicago
Public Schools
and to
significantly influence the academic
achievement
of Chicago's
children.
www.chicagoteachingfellows.org
Philadelphia Teaching Fellows
Looking for individuals from
diverse backgrounds and experiences
interested
in joining the movement
to bring teaching excellence and
student
achievement to new heights.
www.philadelphiateachingfellows.org
The Learning Project Elementary Internship Program
Provides six
individuals with a rich opportunity to work
directly with
experienced
Head Teachers to learn firsthand about
teaching at the
elementary
level.
http://www.learningproject.org/internship.html
World Teach
As a World Teach
volunteer, you will witness firsthand
the
challenges
and rewards of
education in a developing country.
www.worldteach.org
National Association of International Educators (NAFSA)
A member
organization
promoting international education and
providing
professional
development opportunities to the field.
www.nafsa.org
Dave's ESL Café
If
you are thinking about teaching abroad, check
out:
www.eslcafe.com
Institute for International Education
Resources that can assist
you
with valuable information about
education
abroad.
www.iiepassport.org
So now WHAT?
Reflection:
Reflection is an important aspect of service,
it
allows volunteers to look back
on, think critically about, and learn
from their service experience.
Reflection may include acknowledging
and/or sharing of reactions,
feelings, observations, and ideas about
anything regarding the
activity. Reflection can happen through
writing,
speaking, listening,
reading, drawing, acting, and any other
way you
can imagine.
Reflection can add many benefits to your service
experience.
These include:
- Give meaning to the experience
- Provides an opportunity to establish expectations
- Can help volunteers understand the limitations and
opportunities of
the service site or community organization
- Relieves tension and provides re-energizing and renewal
- Can create a sense of accomplishment that is crucial,
especially
where there are limited external rewards
- Can create a habit of appreciating others
- Can created a sense of closure, especially important after a
long
service period, project or emotional experience
- Why do you do service? For self interest or altruism?
- Describe the people you met at the service site.
- Name three things that stuck in your mind about the service
experience.
- Describe the atmosphere of the service site.
- Describe some of you interactions.
- How does this experience compare to others you've had?
- What have you learned about yourself?
|
This information and more can be found in the Falcon Programs
Resource
Library located in the Involvement Center in the University
Center.
"
A
mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its
old dimensions
"
—Oliver Wendell Holmes
1 "Service Reflection Toolkit"
Northwest Service Academy, Metro
Center,
Portland, OR
2 "Facilitating
Reflection" written and compiled by Julie Reed
&
Christopher Koliba
