PRINTVolunteering around Columbia
Take some time and volunteer with these opportunities in Columbia
Photo by Nick Agro
Melissa Stormont and Brent Lewis volunteered at the Loaves & Fishes soup kitchen in February. The group will celebrate its 30th year in June.
May 3, 2012 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Spend time this summer with one of these organizations that welcome the help of volunteers without any required training. From saving the community’s trees to promoting local theater programs, there is always work to be done.
IF YOU'RE OUTGOING:
Related ArticlesLoaves & Fishes
Call: 268-8095
Address: 702 Wilkes Blvd.
Loaves & Fishes provides meals seven nights per week from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Spend an evening distributing dinners by contacting Ruth O’Neill to set up a day and time. Helpers either make the food or clean up before and after mealtime.
Adapted Community Recreation
Call: 874-7473
Online: gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec
Address: 1201 Paquin St.
Play games and give back at the same time. Paquin Tower provides housing for elderly people and people with disabilities. The program through the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department offers activities such as bingo, ceramics and art classes, Nintendo Wii night and trips to local and out-of-town attractions. Trips include the Royals game in Kansas City on May 17 and a Missouri River fishing trip on May 26.
Woodhaven
Call: 876-7326
Online: woodhaventeam.org
Address: 1405 Hathman Place
Woodhaven, an organization that helps adults with developmental disabilities live in the comfort of their own homes, always needs clerical help. Helpers can assist in the administrative office with tasks such as accounting and data entry or with gardening, cleaning and painting around the facility. If volunteers would like to work one-on-one with individuals supported by Woodhaven, they must complete a background check.
IF YOU LIKE THE OUTDOORS
Community Garden Coalition
Online:comogardens.org
Address: Bethel Church Garden, 201 E. Old Plank Road
Grab your gloves and shovel. Gardening can be fun, relaxing and helpful to the community. This organization provides support and supplies to low-income gardeners around the city to help provide fresh produce for individuals on a budget or hungry for some carrots. Stop to smell the vegetables, and transform a vacant lot into a beautiful garden.
IF YOU'RE AN ARTIST:
Columbia Entertainment Company
Call: 474-3699
Online: cectheatre.org
Address: 1800 Nelwood Drive
Put on a show with CEC by helping build sets, sell concessions during performances and design costumes. Opportunities also include working as a lighting operator, landscaping and doing other maintenance tasks. Whether behind the scenes or on the stage, theater productions always require a lot of work.
Columbia Civic Orchestra
Contact: Bruce Gordon, ccorchestra@fastmail.net
Online: cco.missouri.org
CCO works to inspire the love of music. Volunteers can play many roles at CCO, which include being an usher or running the ticket table. Musically inclined volunteers are encouraged to participate in the orchestra.
IF YOU ADORE ANIMALS:
Columbia Second Chance
Call: 445-5598
Online: columbia2ndchance.org
Address: 205 East Ash St.
CSC looks for volunteers with pro-puppy attitudes who enjoy Googling pictures of cats and are willing to care for the pets that come into the shelter. If you want to take the puppy love to the next level, consider its foster care system. Foster-pet parents can take home a cat or dog, and CSC provides supplies and services for the pet’s food and veterinary care.
IF YOU LOVE KIDS:
Performing Arts in Children’s Education Youth Theater
Call: 443-0541
Online: kidsintheact.org
Address: 900 Danforth Drive
PACE teaches theater performance and management to children ages 4 to 18 years old. Volunteers don’t need any sort of formal theater training. They are welcome to help out with building, painting, constructing props and costumes or marketing for the shows.
LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERING:
TreeKeepers
Call: 573-874-7499
Online: gocolumbiamo.com
TreeKeepers take tree hugging to a whole new level. Volunteers are trained in the proper care of trees through classes specializing in biodiversity, insects and disease and city ordinances. The helpers then spend Saturday mornings putting that knowledge to good use in several projects around Columbia, including tree preservation and landscaping. Get ready to prune, plant, and protect Columbia’s trees.
Walking School Bus
Call: 573-239-9902
Online: pednet.org
Enjoy some fresh air and a morning walk to help children get to school. The Walking School Bus provides a safe way to walk to school and encourages daily exercise. After a one-hour training session and agreeing to a criminal background check, volunteers can lead groups of children to 11 different participating elementary schools from 8 to 9 a.m. at least two days per week.
South Paw Acres
Call: 573-446-2733
Online: southpawacres.com
Volunteer and play with puppies at the same time. When owners need to go out of town or remodel their homes or just need some alone time, South Paw Acres is a place for dogs to play safely. Babysit these pups, and play a game of fetch. Or give them a treat, and these dogs will fall in puppy love with you.
