Volunteering in the Community
Be a Living Treasure in the Community
In Japan older people are officially designated Living Treasures. The Japanese recognize that with age come life experience and wisdom. Many organizations in Charlottesville specifically seek senior volunteers because of their knowledge, skills, and talents.
Many volunteer positions available in the community are listed here. If you are interested, please contact Coordinator of Volunteer Resources Kimberly Haynes at 434-974-7756 or via .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
C4K Academic Tutors
Computers4Kids is searching for academic tutors that are positive and caring volunteers to assist motivated middle and high school students in the areas of HS Science, Math and Writing. The includes brainstorming and editing writing assignments, and high school level math and science tutoring. Students need help with specific homework assignments.
These services are provided at the Computers4Kids labs at the Ix building, requiring the volunteer to be willing to drive. Tutoring is usually one (1) hour per week. Shifts available between 5:30 and 7:30 pm, Monday-Thursday. You work in a supervised setting with a dedicated lab manager. You will work with a variety of highly motivated students on an as-needed-basis.
Financial Counselors
Habitat for Humanity, Southwood Management is searching for financial counselors that are caring volunteers to assist families with money management and debt counseling tasks. This includes sorting and organizing bills, balancing checkbooks, creating a budget, calling creditors and maintaining income and expense records.
These services will start in August and earlier if all volunteers are recruited and in place earlier. The location for counseling can take place at a local community room or a chosen public location by both parties, which requires the volunteer be willing to drive. Counseling course/visits are usually one (1) hour per week and is flexible dependent upon the family’s schedule.
Administrative Position
AHIP, Albemarle Housing Improvement Program is searching for a volunteer administrative assistant to answer phones, greet visitors/clients/board members, process mail, produce files/file labels, make lunch arrangements, filing, assist with mailings, and dependent upon skill level, work within subcontractors databases; training provided.
Would appreciate prior office experience, requires volunteer to drive. Position is long-term commitment of 10 hours per week, but is flexible.
Customer Service Representative at Front Desk
Hospice of the Piedmont is searching for several volunteers to conduct Front desk duties to cover lunch hours during work-days and cover vacation times during the year. Duties include answering phones, taking messages, transferring calls, accepting payments, greeting customers and other administrative tasks. Hospice of the Piedmont is located in Pantops on Peter Jefferson Parkway. The schedule is flexible and will work with your availability.
Help Habitat in three different ways
Habitat for Humanity is searching for volunteers to help with three different opportunities: 1) Administrative volunteers for front office duties; 2) Kids Connect volunteers to supervise our Partner Family youth in learning about home ownership; and 3) Mid-week Crew (MWC) volunteers who work on the job site. For the crew, skills range from novice do-it-yourselfers to handy homeowners. (Habitat is hosting a day with the MWC Wednesday, June 12th, where they invite potential members to build with them in the morning and enjoy a catered lunch.)
Habitat hopes that you will enjoy your experience and want to make a commitment. Each position requires the volunteer to be willing to drive. If you’re looking to get involved in the community and not sure where to begin, here are three respected positions with Habitat.
Adopt-a-Grandparent
Do your grandchildren live hundreds of miles away? Do you miss being able to interact with them regularly? The Senior Center is searching for volunteers to be involved in “Adopt-a-Grandparent” program in the fall. The program focuses around the important relationship between the student and his/her grandparent, and strives to address both the needs of grandparents as well as the educational and personal growth objectives of the students.
Enrich and mentor youth at Baker-Butler
Provide youth enrichment by volunteering at Baker-Butler Elementary school and use your experience and skills by reading to students and assisting them with math problems. This opportunity provides elementary school children with access to caring, supportive seniors and engages older adults in inter-generational relationships that are meaningful activities in a school setting. The language arts & math classes are scheduled in the morning and there is one afternoon time period available. Baker-Butler school is located on Proffit Road, just past Hollymead.
American Red Cross Volunteer
The American Red Cross has an urgent need for a friendly and attentive volunteer who will meet, greet and converse with blood donors, and also serve refreshments in their canteen and schedule for the donor their next donation date. They have a regular time slot available every Friday from 8:00 am – 1:30 pm. Training is provided in how to greet the public.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is currently seeking weekly and “on-call” substitute drivers, along with meal packers for its food delivery program serving Charlottesville, Albemarle, Crozet and Scottsville. We deliver over 250 lunchtime meals each weekday to homebound neighbors who are unable to cook for themselves. Your commitment for driving or packing meals would be only 1-2 hours per week from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Training is minimal and can include delivering with another driver until one feels comfortable with the route. Please join their team and have fun serving the local community.
Piedmont CASA Volunteers
Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is looking for caring, motivated, and objective individuals who are committed to helping abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers conduct an independent investigation to understand the child’s circumstances, report to the court, and monitor the case to assure the child receives needed services and remains safe. No legal background or special experience required. Training is provided.
Charlottesville/Albemarle SPCA
The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA at 3355 Berkmar Drive is always looking for volunteers. We have opportunities to work directly with the animals or in our offices. You could also volunteer at our Rummage Store location, Purrin at Pantops or PetSmart. Thanks for thinking of the animals.
McIntire Department of Music, UVA
The McIntire Department of Music, University of Virginia, is searching for volunteers. They have countless opportunities throughout the year, including ushering at events, distributing event flyers, photography and digital archiving, plus more. These volunteer positions are both challenging and rewarding experiences that foster personal and intellectual growth.