Volunteer/Internship Opportunities
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Community Service Log Sheet (Google Sheet)
Community Service Log Sheet (PDF)
Internship and Other Opportunities
23 ways to give back in Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto
Community Service Opportunities
By volunteering in the community, you not only boost your resume, but prove to future colleges/recruiters/employers that you care about serving others and making the city you live in a better place. It is a chance to prove that you can look past your own well-being and self-interest and give your time and energy to others, without getting paid (although the benefits are beyond monetary gain).
If you know what you want to do for a career, I highly recommend calling a local branch of the company and ask if you can begin volunteering there. This will help you to realize if you actually like the profession, what it’s like on day-to-day basis, and how you can prepare. Suggestions include:
Local fire departments, police departments, cosmetology schools, hospitals, doctor offices, corporations, libraries, law offices, firms, museums, etc.
If you don’t know where to start, click on the links and explore, then call and ask for more information if you can’t find it on the website. Here are some opportunities based upon various interests. If you don’t find anything you like, check out this website and explore some more options in your area:
Civilian - related (helping others):
A 501 non-profit organization whose goal is to help all children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with volunteer mentors. You choose how often you can meet with your “little brother/sister,” and have lots of freedom in how you spend time with them, from tutoring to playing sports to even lifelong friendship, which can have a lasting effect on the child and help them succeed.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Food Bank and bring their mission to life. Volunteers ensure only the safest food leaves our warehouse, keep mobile food pantry lines running smoothly and share the Food Bank mission at community events throughout the year. In light of Hurricane Harvey, volunteers are needed to sort donations and assemble disaster relief boxes as well as to support our local community. You can work in the warehouse, mobile food pantry, or kitchen as goods are given to locals in need.
Front Steps welcome all volunteers who are passionate about helping restore hope to the homeless in Austin by dedicating their time, energy, and skills. If you feel a call to help those less fortunate and want to raise awareness about homelessness and poverty, then Front Steps may be the right place for you. Volunteer opportunities include working at the resource desk, the computer lab, in the kitchen, obtaining donations and helping at various cold weather shelters around town.
With only four staff members, the daily operations of Trinity Center are done mostly by volunteers. Some volunteers work in the Center answering phones and questions, others work in the kitchen preparing breakfast and making coffee, provide administrative assistance and mail service, assist with the women’s clothes “shopping” and shower programs, or monitor the use of computers. There is a place for any and every one!
Volunteers are the backbone of Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ food truck ministry. Not only do they prepare and deliver meals to men and women who are living on the streets, they also provide our homeless friends with the dignity that comes with handshake, a hug or a friendly smile. People of varied interests and abilities can volunteer, whether you want to be hands-on serving food during truck runs, prepare meals behind the scenes, or provide other needed assistance.
Primarily serves newly arrived refugees with their initial resettlement into the local community. Unique to the Austin office, the STEP program provides services to domestic and foreign survivors of trafficking.
Volunteers enhance the lives of the older adults and caregivers that the nursing home serves, help operations to run at their best, and sustain the culture of service and goodwill. Volunteers can engage with clients one-on-one and in small groups, help clients complete activities/games/puzzles, lead a discussion group or sing-along, present a story or skit, and assist program staff in conducting activities such as art, exercise, games, etc.
There are several more nursing homes, refugee centers, and homeless shelters around the city that you can volunteer with. Search for some in your area or close to where you live and see what options are available to you.
Baseball league for kids between the ages of 4 and 19 that do not fit into “regular” recreational leagues. Players will be paired with a “Buddy” to assist them on the field as well as at bat. These Buddies may or may not be the same each week. Buddies will protect the players at all times and give only the amount of assistance needed so that the player can be as independent on the field as possible. Parents of players are encouraged to communicate the needs and any special instructions for their child to the Miracle League staff and the Buddies. The Miracle League is free to players and parents. Donations are encouraged to help with the cost of providing the opportunities of our program.
For the Animal Lovers:
The PAC Volunteer program can greatly enhance the level of care given to the animals during their stay, but more importantly, it affects the way many animals leave the shelter into loving, permanent homes. Typical jobs include dog walking, cat and dog helpers, adoption and shelter volunteers, grooming and fundraising.
Becoming a Pflugerville Pets Alive! volunteer qualifies you to participate in events and handle animals in the program. These activities do not require the city shelter training (and are not reported to the city). Looking for compassionate, hard-working, creative people.
Austin Rodeo
Looking for volunteers to serve the mission of Promoting Youth Education - Preserving Western Heritage. There are numerous opportunities in a variety of different areas for volunteers to get involved with alongside diverse and family-oriented people from all across Texas. If interested, email Vanessa Richmond.
Religious Ministry:
A ministry where students go to a club led by college and adult leaders, meet during the week for bible studies, and even attend resort-style camps around the country (fundraising available!) Weiss is hoping to get a chapter here in the next year or two, but you could attend club at another school in the district.
Local Church Groups
o Ask about how you can serve in your own personal church family if you have one – host a trunk-or-treat Halloween event, help run a canned food donation, volunteer with the children’s program every week, etc.
o Churches like Austin Stone Community Church welcome door greeters, people to help set up and tear down equipment, and serve in the children’s department.
For the Art/Theatre Art Lovers:
The Contemporary Austin Art Museum
Volunteering at The Contemporary Austin is a fun way to get involved and meet other people in Austin’s vibrant art scene. On a day-to-day basis, volunteers assist the museum in achieving its goals in a number of key capacities. Special events volunteers assist museum staff with exhibition openings, public programs, Museum Day, and other special events hosted by The Contemporary. For more information, click here to sen an email.
The Thinkery Children’s Museum
The youth career readiness and volunteering program offers opportunities for teenagers to engage in fun and meaningful work at Thinkery while preparing them for future endeavors. While volunteering, “VolunTeens” facilitate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) activities in Thinkery’s galleries and refine the skills necessary to find meaningful employment in their future. By earning volunteer hours and certifications, volunteers move up through a rung-system that provides greater opportunities as they progress. Involves an orientation and mandatory training hours.
The Ghost Light Society is a special group of volunteers who represent the Paramount at area events, assist with our youth outreach program and help get the word out about all of the exciting programs of the Theatre. Members represent the Theatre at community festivals and business events such as Austin Family Music Festival, Zilker Kite Festival, 1st Night, Keep Austin Weird Festival and Dell Days. Plus, members who are interested can help with additional volunteer opportunities such as arts and crafts activities before Paramount children’s shows.
The Junior Counselors Program is a volunteer opportunity for high school students, ages 14 to 19, interested in helping to create amazing theatre experiences with pre-school and elementary age children. Participants will learn the ins and outs of a professional theatre training program while aiding students’ creation of original stories, characters, and design elements. All junior counselors will be assigned to a group of campers and will assist the classroom teacher with rehearsals and production for the week. Other volunteers serve as ushers, ticket scanners, Gift Shop clerks, greeters, lobby information and reception, administrative help, special projects and ambassadors of goodwill to the community.
Volunteers assist with Educational Outreach to schools and libraries (i.e. dropping off bookmarks and/or talking with school and library staff about ZTP), securing Raffle items for the annual Zilker Summer Musical Raffle, serving as a Front of House volunteer and concessions volunteer. Perks include concession stand discounts, free parking, and internship opportunities.
Volunteers can sign up for four different areas: building sets and painting, working concessions, helping with marketing, or assisting backstage.
For the Music Lovers:
Examples of volunteer opportunities include soliciting donations, selling advertising, selling tickets and merchandise during concerts, conducting telephone surveys, and preparing for receptions. To volunteer, complete the form on the website and specify where you would like to help:
Offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available for civic-minded individuals looking to lend a hand, share expertise, or gain practical skills in ticket sales, ushering at concerts, and reception assistance.
A season-long commitment where you join over 100 other volunteers to assist in readying the concert hall for as many as 3,000 concertgoers