Volunteer Opportunities

These organizations are in need of volunteers for this weekend. If you think you can help out please call/email the respective contacts!

See also Fun Projects Around Davis

• Yolo County CASA needs volunteers for two events in April and May related to Child Abuse Prevention Month and Foster Care Awareness month. Please email volunteer@yolocasa.org or call (530) 661-4346 to help. Great opportuniity for groups and students.
  

• Celebrate Davis
  

• Freedom From Hunger
  

• Holiday Meal is a free holiday meal offered to the community annually, usually on December 24; volunteers are needed to help prepare, serve, deliver and clean up after the meal.
  

• Picnic Day To volunteer either before or the day of Picnic Day please email volunteerdir@picnicday.ucdavis.edu
  

• Spay Day is held annually in February and provides low cost or free spaying and neutering of dogs and cats
  

• UCD Ag & Environmental Science Field Day always needs more bodies to help keep track of all those high schoolers
  

• West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games - June 23^rd-July 1^st 2007
  

• Whole Earth Festival is held annually on Mother's Day weekend
  

• Davis Food Co-op Annual Meeting in mid-May (Wednesday, May 21, 2008). Volunteers receive the 5% member-worker discount on their shopping bill in exchange for helping to set up and put on the 3 hour event.
  

• ASUCD Pathfinder organizes elementary and high school volunteer opportunities website
  

• Davis Community Network provides a list of volunteer opportunities and contact information
  

• The Community Emergency Response Team deals with emergencies of all types. website
  

• Human Corps is a UC Davis resource for community service in the area, and is administered through the Internship and Career Center
  

• The MU Info Desk is also a great resource for learning about volunteer opportunities. According to their website,
  

"The community offers incredible volunteer opportunities. Our Center is proud to offer important information about what is available in Davis, Sacramento, the Bay Area and beyond. If you have an interest in community functions, organizations and events, come ask us a question. We are also a place to find out about Human Corps volunteer opportunities and can connect you with community groups in need of volunteers." website

Families & Children

• International Student Exchange needs volunteer families ASAP in Davis to host high school foreign exchange students for the 2009-2010 academic year! Our Area Representatives will guide you each step of the way to make this the experience of a lifetime! Please email Erin at walker.erin.e@gmail.com with interest, questions, or comments.

• 4-H Program- Youth development program that focuses on teaching youth leadership, citizenship and life skills through experiential learning methods. website
  

• The Acorn Project offers student volunteers the opportunity to work with elementary school age children in West Sacramento for 2 units optional academic credit on Tuesday afternoons from 3 to 6 pm. This is an after school program with games, homework help, snacks, etc. Contact Kirsten for more information.
  

• ArtWise - An after-school art program that focuses on teaching drawing to 1st-6th graders. Volunteers help the program by assisting with various office duties. Contact artwise@artwiseca.org
  

• Camp Kesem - Volunteer-run camp for children of current or former cancer patients. website
  

• Campfire USA National, co-ed program for youth up to age 21, similar to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. website
  

• Boy Scouts
  

• Girl Scouts
  

• Yolo County CASA- Be a court appointed special advocate and provide support for children in foster care.website
  

• The West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games grants young athletes of ages 8 to 18 a chance to compete and commune among peers from all around the west coast. Those interested in volunteering for the games may download a form at the Campus Events website. The UC Davis campus will be hosting the games.
  

• Explorit Science Center- Volunteers can help the local Science Center from building exhibits, maintaining the Explorit Store, to showing local youth the wonders of science. Visit explorit.org for more information.

Food & Shelter

• Davis Community Meals - Serves free meals to homeless and low-income individuals and operates a transitional housing program/shelter.
  

• Elderly Nutrition Program - Provides one hot mid-day meal to area seniors and their spouses regardless of income. website
  

• Food not Bombs - Recycle expired but still-good food from stores and restaurants to prepare vegetarian and healthy meals for everyone in Central Park. We meet Sundays at 10 am at the Agrarian Effort Co-Op on campus. For legal purposes we are just putting on a picnic with our friends, not having a formal food distribution program.
  

• Grace In Action - A faith-based outreach ministry serving the needs of Yolo County homeless by providing spiritual companionship, food, clothing, access to health related resources and church-sponsored respite. website
  

• Habitat for Humanity With local branches affiliated with Yolo County and UC Davis, this organization focuses on low-income housing development. International Website
  

• Holiday Meal - An annual event, this free holiday meal is offered to the community usually on December 24.
  

• Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter Collaboration between faith organizations, UC Davis organizations, community organizations and social services agencies, the shelter provides overnight accommodations to homeless individuals during winter months. website
  

• Short Term Emergency Aid Committee provides immediate short-term assistance with basic necessities to Yolo County families and individuals with incomes below the poverty level (website)

Health & Care-giving

see also Mental Health below


• Blood Source local blood donation agency website
  

• Citizens Who Care provides support services for older adults and their family caregivers website
  

• CommuniCare Health Center provides primary care medical services to low-income and uninsured communities through its seven area clinics; volunteer opportunities include working in medical records, the lab and language translation. (website)
  

• The Sutter Davis Birthing Center at Sutter Davis Hospital has a volunteer doula program, where you can learn doula skills and help soon-to-be parents through the birthing process.
  

• Friends Of Adult Day Health Care a non-profit organization that supports the services for frail adults and caregivers provided by Yolo Adult Day Health Center. Volunteer opportunities include event planning and all aspects of fundraising.
  

• UC Davis Cancer Center - website
  

• UC Davis Medical Center offers a myriad of volunteer opportunities within its medical facilities. (website)
  

• UC Davis Medical Center Hospice Program looks to volunteers who can help give comfort to terminal patients (website)
  

• Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization provides a support service to women facing breast cancer. (website)
  

• Yolo County Red Cross always has a need for volunteer instructors and emergency workers. (website)
  

• Yolo Hospice provides in-home care for terminal patients; volunteer positions include patient care, bereavement services, office staff, board volunteers, committee members and thrift store workers (website)
  

• Yolo Adult Day Health Center provides medical, cognitive, social and therapy support services to frail adults at risk of nursing home placement.

Human Rights

• ACLU - The local Yolo County Chapter of the National American Civil Liberties Union.
  

• Davis Campus ACLU - The Campus Chapter of the National American Civil Liberties Union.
  

• Amnesty International - The Davis Community Chapter of Amnesty International (website)
  

• Davis Religious Community for Sanctuary
  

• Free Battered Women defends the civil rights of those incarcerated for domestic violence-related crimes, particularly in the area of self defense
  

• Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Center works to eradicate domestic violence and sexual assault through prevention, intervention, and treatment (website)
  

• Yolo County Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers are appointed by a judge to advocate for children in the dependency system and at-risk children in the juvenile court system
  

• GSAFE is a community-based organization working to achieve full equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) people.

Mental Health

• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
  

• Progress Ranch provides residential treatment services for emotionally disturbed boys between 6 and 10 years old website
  

• R & R Thrift helps fund mental health agencies and is complementary to All Things Right And Relevant consignment shop
  

• Suicide Prevention of Yolo County provides education and crisis services to Yolo County residents website

Other Social Services

• Davis Lodge - Run by the Odd Fellows, started in 1870
  

• The Edge or The Summit at UCC - Work with junior high (Edge) or high school (Summit) students at University Covenant Church.
  

• Kiwanis Club of Davis and Kiwanis Club of Greater Davis - The two Kiwanis International clubs in town
  

• Davis Sunrise Rotary Club - Community Service Organization (website)
  

• Rotary Club of Davis - Part of Rotary International (website)
  

• Sutter Time Exchange Program - STEP is a community service sponsored by Sutter Davis Hospital, Sutter West Medical Group and the City of Davis.
  

• Community Mediation Services - helping members of our community resolve conflicts since 1990. website

A young aspen grows along Putah Creek in the Arboretum. Volunteer with either TREE Davis or the Arboretum to help beautify our environment.

• The Arboretum has volunteer positions for docents as well as greenhouse helpers (website)
  

• City of Davis commissions encourage public participation in a variety of city-oriented issues
  

• Davis Park and Ride utilizes a volunteer work force to help promote carpooling
  

• Pence Gallery is a non-profit art gallery which has art classes, lectures, and exhibits, and depends upon volunteers to greet the public, work at events, or to give tours to children. Contact them at 758-3370, or penceassistant@sbcglobal.net (website)
  

• TREE Davis is an organization which, in partnership with the City of Davis, educates the community in issues surrounding urban forestry, holds periodic workshops for industry professionals and interested community members, and has many planting and pruning events throughout the year. We especially need volunteers for our NeighborWoods planting events this fall. website
  

• Yolo County Central Landfill relies heavily upon volunteer help during household hazardous waste drop-off days
  

• Central Park Gardens is a completely volunteer run non-profit organization dedicated to renovating the gardens in Davis' Central Park. We need your help! website

Animal Care

• California Raptor Center - Learn to take care of hawks, owls and other beautiful birds (website)
  

• Feral Feline Organization - Helps feral cats through TNR (trap/neuter/release), kitten adoptions, and by raising awareness of the feral cat population in Davis website
  

• NorCal Boxer Rescue - Provides sanctuary for boxers in need throughout Northern California and the Central Coast
  

• Oiled Wildlife Care Network
  

• Spay Day - Help prevent abandoned domestic animals by helping to spay dogs and cats. Held in February.
  

• Wildlife Care Association (WCA) rehabilitates orphaned, injured, and sick wild animals and releases them back into the wild, giving them a second chance at life.
  

• Yolo County SPCA is a foster-based system that promotes animal welfare through adoptions, education, and health care; volunteer opportunities are varied (website)

Environmental Issues

• Cache Creek Wild looks to volunteers to help protect our local rivers and wild lands
  

• Campus Center for the Environment helps build environmental campaigns, runs a resource center and hosts community events
  

• Putah Creek Council helps protect Putah Creek through restoration projects, tree planting, biomonitoring, workshops, and other events. The Putah Creek Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of Putah Creek and its tributaries through advocacy, education and community-based stewardship.
  

• Yolo Hiker offers the community an education in our backyard wilderness.
  

• See TREE Davis under the Civic heading above.
  

• Sierra Club
  

• The Apartment Move-Out Waste Reduction Program is run by the City of Davis Recycling Program at the end of August every year to reduce waste generated during the yearly August turnover at apartments. Volunteers are needed to keep donation stations tidy. Volunteers are encouraged to keep any items they want that have been donated.

Agriculture/Sustainable Ag

• Community Alliance with Family Farmers works with local farmers to protect our environment and could use your help. Great for ag students.

Recreation

• American Youth Soccer Organization is a volunteer-driven youth soccer organization for children from 4½-19 years of age
  

• The Bike Collective is always looking to ordain new volunteer reverends
  

• Little League
  

• Davis Youth Softball League
  

• Horseplay Therapeutic Riding Center in Dixon provides riding sessions to people with physical and developmental disabilities and needs volunteers to lead horses and walk alongside riders ("sidewalking"). 45-minute riding sessions are held on Wednesday evening and Saturday morning.
  

• The Davis Bike Club regularly asks for volunteers to assist in supporting the various rides they sponsor throughout the year.
  

• Friends of West Pond

• KDVS News - radio news broadcast entirely by volunteers
  

• Davis Radio Theater - welcomes volunteer actors and script-writers
  

• KDVS - volunteer music DJs

Technological Issues

• Davis Community Network
  

• Davis Wiki by editing pages
  

• LUGOD - "The Linux Users' Group of Davis is a 501(c)(7) non-profit computer club serving Davis, California and the Sacramento area. We are a collection of over 400 people dedicated to GNU/Linux TM (a powerful, free, Unix-like operating system), Free Software, Open Source, and other related topics." - from their website

• AGTV
  

• Arboretum - website
  

• ASUCD
  

• Botanical Conservatory
  

• CalPIRG - Work on issues ranging from fighting global warming to reducing poverty to making textbooks and college tuition cheaper! Their blog is here.
  

• Campus Violence Prevention Program - website
  

• CCC - Cross-Cultural Center
  

• Craft Center - Art, can get discounted art classes, use of facilities, volunteering quarters in succession = free classes.
  

• Davis Outreach
  

• The House - Student-Run Counseling Center
  

• KDVS - Campus Radio Station
  

• LGBTRC - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center
  

• Mondavi Center - Volunteer as an usher, see shows for free!
  

• Picnic Day - website
  

• R4 Recycling - Promote Recycling on campus.
  

• Student Farm - Learn farming skills, grow produce, and eat produce.
  

• Student Recruitment and Retention Center is a group of six campus organizations promoting higher education to various ethnic groups
  

• UCD Auditory Neuroscience and Speech Recognition Lab - Research Participants Needed for Adult Hearing Loss Study (Ages 18-65) (website)
  

• UCD Developmental Research Center - Research Participants Needed for Children's Study (Ages 3-15)
  

• Whole Earth Festival - We always need people to help out there. Join the Karma Patrol - meetings start mid winter quarter and are on Wednesdays in the Mee Room at seven.

• Alpha Phi Omega - Co-ed service fraternity with open membership and a heavy service emphasis.
  

• Campus Rotaract Club of Davis - A service & professional development organization geared towards UC Davis students. See (website). Also see the parent organization, (Rotary International).
  

• Circle K International - Service organization with open membership to college students (website)
  

• Collegiate 4-H - website
  

• Graduate Student Community Service Committee - Community service opportunities targeted on graduate students.
  

• Help and Education Leading to Prevention - Student-run community service organization that focuses on tutoring and mentoring young children at local group homes, preparing and serving meals to homeless and under-served people, and spreading awareness about hunger and poverty. For more information, see HELP's Facebook group, MySpace site, or e-mail President Tu Tran at hhucdavis@yahoo.com.
  

• Lambda Omicron Xi - Community Service Sorority with an emphasis on service
  

• STAND - Official campus club raising awareness and offering direct help to victims of the recent war in Sudan. We are nonpolitical and nonsectarian.
  

• Tzu Chi Collegiate Association - Dedicated to helping others, putting Buddhist teachings into community action

• Food Bank of Yolo County solicits, receives, inventories and distributes donated foods and grocery products to local charitable feeding organizations
  

• Mercer Veterinary Clinic for the Homeless, operated out of Loaves & Fishes in Sacramento, offers veterinary care to animal companions of the homeless; UC Davis vet med students and veterinarians provide volunteer services
  

• Peace Corps - Help various countries by immersing yourself in a community through language, culture and interpersonal connection.
  

• Teach for America
  

• UC Davis Med Center PHUR Program - Stands for "Pets Helping Us Recover". Spend a few hours per month accompanying your well-behaved dog on hospital visits to patients who need some good dog lovin'. Dogs and their owners must have updated inoculations, pass a behavioral aptitude test, and bathe before visits. Nothing compares to the smiles your dog can bring to somebody stuck in the hospital watching Jerry Springer all day!
  

• Intern or volunteer abroad with help from the EAC website

Community Food and Fund Drive

September 22nd-29th

All the service clubs in Davis are sponsoring a single community service
event. This is the sixth joint service club event and also the fourth
annual Community Food Drive

The beneficiaries are all the needy groups in Davis including children,
men, women and families. Our food and cash/check donations are
distributed to charitable organizations in Davis which includes STEAC,
YCCC, Davis Community Meals, Pine Tree Gardens, Yolo Crisis Nursery,
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Shelter, and Progress Ranch.

The event is sponsored in conjunction with Davis interfaith
organizations, UC Davis, DJUSD, the Chamber of Commerce, Davis Family
Week Committee and businesses in the community.
These are the times we need to volunteers to sort, count & pack food
donations.
SEP. 30 (Sunday) 9 - 12 noon & 1-4 PM at Little Friends Montessori
School,
1101 F Street, Davis (This is the major sorting day).
Contact Gamani for more information about volunteering at
gamanij@gmail.com

Hands On Sacramento Day 2007

On Saturday, September 29, Hands On Sacramento and the Sacramento's
Corporate Volunteer Council will be hosting Hands On Sacramento Day.
Thirteen local companies will be building gardens, painting murals, and
participating in school and non-profit agency renovation projects. We
are still in need of people to volunteer at various schools in small
teams. We are also looking for volunteers who will be available to
assist during the celebration event. The event will run from 8:00am -
12:00pm. If you have a small team of 6 people who would like to
volunteer for Hands On Sacramento Day please email:
projects@handsonsacto.org or call 916- 447-7063 x 304.

Celebrate UC Davis

On Sunday, October 12, 2008, the Davis Chamber of Commerce will proudly host Celebrate UC Davis. This is the premier community event in a week-long celebration of the University’s 100th birthday! Many of the region’s public and private organizations have been collaborating to make this event more than just a birthday party and street fair. The celebration will showcase the many contributions that the university has made to the world, will reveal many of the amazing research projects that are under way, and will honor the successful partnerships that the university has developed over the years.

We need your help to ensure that Celebrate UC Davis is a success. The Davis Chamber of Commerce is looking for 200 volunteers to help this party happen. Examples of volunteer opportunities include: set up and breakdown of the event; managing and maintaining zero-waste trash areas; parking lot management; GEM car drivers; bike valet; maintain water stations for staff and vendors; vendor check-in/relations; VIP check-in/relations; back-up stage managers. This is a great opportunity for students and others to make great contacts get active in community.

How do I volunteer?

1. Decide what shift you would like to work.
a. Set-up 6am-10am
b. 1st Event Shift 10am-2pm
c. 2nd Event Shift 2pm-6pm
d. Breakdown 3pm-7pm

2. Indicate your top 3 volunteer opportunity choices.

3. Contact Kimberly Peterson at the Davis Chamber of Commerce with your name, organization affiliation, email or phone number and age (if under 18).
a. Email: events@davischamber.com
b. Phone: (530) 756-5160
c. Stop by: Davis Chamber of Commerce, 130 G Street, suite B