Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering is a great way to benefit your community, meet cool people, have a cool experience, and maybe learn something new.

Volunteering differs from interning in that:

• Internships are typically of longer duration; volunteering can last for a long time too, but typically does not entail an expectation that the volunteer will continue volunteering
  

• Volunteering is never paid, while internships sometimes are
  

• Volunteering may or may not offer education, while interning is supposed to offer education

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

• AJD Angels of Hope http://ajdangelsofhope.org On-going volunteer opportunities.
  

• 4th Annual Davis Bicycles! Film Festival, a fundraiser for Davis Bicycles!, is seeking volunteers to submit films and help with organization for the upcoming film festival on October 14th. Contact smcc@ucdavis.edu to help out or submit a film.
  

• Yolo County CASA always needs volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in Yolo County. Also, for shorter commitments, there are two regular events in April and May related to Child Abuse Prevention Month and Foster Care Awareness month that need volunteer help. Please email volunteer@yolocasa.org or call (530) 661-4200 to help. Great opportunity for groups, students, and retirees.
  

• 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.
  

• Mormon Helping Hands - Annual service day in Spring, fixing up sites in Davis, Woodland, Dixon, and Winters.
  

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

• Spay Day is held annually in late February or early March and provides low cost spaying and neutering of dogs and cats. Volunteer for Spay Day at UC Davis or through the Sacramento Area Animal Coalition.
  

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

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

• 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
  

• Hands On Sacramento centralized place to search for volunteer opportunities throughout the Sacramento Region
  

• 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


• UC Davis Community Service Resource is a UC Davis resource for community service in the area, and is administered through the Internship and Career Center. The website contains an online database of various organizations as well as ongoing volunteer opportunities.
  

• Davis Volunteer Network lists all on-campus volunteer based groups as well as organizations centered around volunteering in the Davis community. In addition, each week the website updates upcoming events for volunteer opportunities.

Families & Children

• People Link needs host families in Davis for Chinese High School Students for 2 weeks: July 15-July 31, 2011. Please call 541-292-1553 for more information.

• 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
  

• 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. New volunteers are encouraged to come to the park and see what we do before getting involved. This is not a formal food distribution program. We share food just like you would at a picnic with friends.
  

• 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
  

• Meals on Wheels
  

• 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)
  

• Village Harvest organizes volunteer harvests of unwanted fruit from backyard trees. The fruit goes to local food agencies to feed the hungry in Yolo County (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 Bike Collective always needs volunteers to help keep this do-it-yourself bike repair space running. No bike repair experience necessary to volunteer! Everyone is welcome!
  

• 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

• BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag/Bottle/Beverage container) helps encourage local businesses and patrons to use reusable bags and beverage containers to reduce waste. Find out how to volunteer by e-mailing byobcalifornia@gmail.com web site: http://www.byobcalifornia.net/
  

• 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
  

• Yolo Basin Foundation
  

• 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.
  

• Davis Dollars is launching a "Gardenscaping" project to create gardens in the yards of willing Davis residents for FREE. We are looking for anyone who will volunteer to create a garden, or donate materials or plants. For more information email us at thedavisdollars@gmail.com
  

• See Village Harvest under the Food & Shelter heading above. (website)

Recreation

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

• The Davis Bike Collective, a DIY bike repair education shop run entirely by volunteers of all skill levels
  

• 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 has a LGBTRC Volunteer Program.
  

• 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 - Otherwise known as H.E.L.P., is a 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 website, Facebook, or send an email to davishelp@gmail.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

• Yolo Land Trust Needs an office volunteer for 2-3 hours a week for the next few months. Office located in Woodland, CA Please call 530.662.1110
  

• Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS) is an international, non-profit organization that empowers high school and college students to develop leadership skills and increase multi-cultural understanding through training and community service in Latin America. Join the Sacramento-Davis Chapter to participate in this life-changing opportunity!