Volunteering

A great way to connect with the community and professional networks is through volunteering. In the past, TRIO has helped assemble care packages and cleaned a community garden in South Carolina. We at TRIO feel it is important to facilitate service learning opportunities, and we are always looking for more. While volunteering can be financial difficult, the benefits can outweigh the cost. Service learning is an investment in yourself, and professional recruiters can find that very appealing in a resume. This webpage is dedicated to offering more volunteering options for TRIO students. 

Community Schools

Here are some of the schools of west Michigan to Volunteer at. Each of the schools listed has a volunteer form that can be filled out. Search for the public school in your web browser and located the volunteer form. 

Grand Rapids Public Schools 

Northview Public Schools 

West Ottawa Public Schools

Muskegon Public Schools

Grandville Public Schools

Zeeland Public Schools 

Allegan Public Schools 

Holland Public Schools 

Volunteer Research

Two areas that are great resume builders are research and volunteering. Why not do these together? The two websites below have many opportunities for you to do voluntary research on your own time. You can select the field or topic then select the project you want to work on. 

Zooniverse at https://www.zooniverse.org/

Catchafire at https://www.catchafire.org/

Community Service Learning

Did you know there is a database to search for service learning opportunities?

Did you know there is a Service Tracker that will keep a list of all your volunteer activities indefinitely? No more lost hours or wondering where you put them. 

Both of these can be accessed at the Community Service Learning Center  https://www.gvsu.edu/service/ website. They are now referring you to Laker Links - more directions will follow. 

Resources at Home

Use Volunteer Websites

• Check out use idealist.org or volunteermatch.org to seek other local options
• Look into the volunteer National Medical Reserves Corps  https://mrc.hhs.gov/volunteerfldr/AboutVolunteering branch near you
• Paper-airplanes.org invites volunteers to provide online tutoring to “bridge gaps in language, higher education, and professional skills training for conflict-affected individuals”
• Dosomething.org’s nine places to volunteer online and make a real impact

If you’ve received crisis hotline training, check to see if your community’s crisis hotline could use additional phone or chat volunteers. (Requires 30 hours of training)

Virtual Volunteer Opportunities

Translators without Borders: For those fluent in more than one language, check out this nonprofit that combines language skills with humanitarian aid. Volunteers provide translations (10 million words a year!) to international organizations that focus on crisis relief, health and education. Volunteer as a translator for Translators without Borders

Save the Children: Virtual letter writing:  Volunteers can to come together for a meaningful team-building opportunity to virtually write letters for children in need of encouragement and support around the globe. Save the Children will provide assets, including a virtual letter writing toolkit, letter writing templates and other assets. Letter Writing | Save the Children