Community Service Opportunities

Utah Valley Marathon Volunteers

4-H Mentoring

Jordan River Nature Center Trail Clean Up

Jordan River Nature Center Trail Clean Up

Location: 1125 W 3300 S, South Salt Lake, UT 84119

Dates: Tuesday-Saturday, by appointment (9 a.m.-8 p.m.)

Contact: https://www.jordanrivernaturecenter.org/volunteer. Fill out the Group Volunteer Application. 

Description: Join the Jordan River Nature Center to help clean up and maintain the Jordan River Trail. Join staff members in picking up trash, pulling puncture vine, and caring for our Native Plant plots. Tools for cleanup can be provided. This is a group volunteer project only (minimum of 4 applicants). There is a one-time 2-hour commitment, though volunteers can set up as many sessions as desired. 

If you are interested in individual volunteer projects, please fill out a separate application https://www.jordanrivernaturecenter.org/volunteer. 

Fresh Start Transition Community

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA)

Sexual Assault Victims Advocate with The Refuge Utah

BYU Family History Library - Foreign Language

Foreign language opportunity available!!

Did you know that out of all the records indexed so far, only 10% have been in languages other than English?? Students with FOREIGN LANGUAGE skills (beginning to advanced) are invited to help index non-English records on FamilySearch. This is a great way to share talents through service! Connect via their Indexing Page: fh.lib.byu.edu/indexing-classes.

The BYU Family History Library offers two ways to help learn indexing:

1) Join a virtual indexing class on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7pm via Zoom (get the link from their website here), and/or

2) Contact the BYU Family History Library missionaries to set up a one-on-one consultation or training by email (byufhlmissionaries@gmail.com) or by phone (801-422-3766). 

Community Action Services and Food Bank

Community Action services is looking for volunteers who can come on a regular basis every week to help in a variety of ways. Responsibilities include taking clients through the food bank and helping them get the correct amount of food for their family, stocking the shelves, organizing cans, and cleaning. They are looking for those who can commit to 3 months, but are willing to accept any help they can get. Walk-ins are welcome!

The shift times available are 8-10am, 10-12pm, 12-2pm, and 2-4:30pm (shifts on Friday will end by 3:30pm). 

Contact volunteer@communityactionuc.org or (801) 691-5220 to get involved!

Courage Reins

Courage Reins is an Equine-Assisted Therapy facility in Highland, Utah. Our mission: “Improving the lives of individuals with physical, mental, or emotional challenges through Equine-Assisted Therapy.” We serve children as young as two, to adults in their elderly years. We serve a very diverse population with a large variety of disabilities/diagnoses.

As a volunteer at Courage Reins, no horse experience is required! You can learn to work with our horses and can work together with our instructors during classes. We have a broad variety of volunteer opportunities and rely greatly on our volunteers to help us serve our clients through our four therapeutic programs: Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Natural Horsemanship, Therapeutic Riding, and Hippotherapy.

Most of our volunteer needs are during Therapeutic Riding classes, however there are always plenty of chores to do and poop to be scooped!

Fall Quarter Hours:

Monday:        9:00am – 6:00pm

Tuesday:       9:30am – 6:15pm

Wednesday: 12:15pm – 8:00pm

Thursday:      9:30am - 7:45pm

Friday:            8:45am – 5:30pm

Our high need times (when the most help in classes is needed) are:

Tuesday:       9:45am - 1:00pm & 3:00pm – 6:00pm

Wednesday: 12:45pm- 8:00pm

Thursday:     1:00pm - 7:30pm

Friday:            8:45am- 2:45pm

Please check us out online https://couragereins.org and schedule a tour to see if Courage Reins is a good fit for the volunteer experience you are looking for! If you are interested in applying, please fill out an application on our website (Individual Volunteer Application). Courage Reins also offers internship opportunities and we will work with you to build the internship that works best for you and your needs. 

If you have any questions, please contact deedee@couragereins.org.

Crisis Respite Nursery

ABOUT THE CRISIS-RESPITE NURSERY

Our Nursery provides a safe place for children ages newborn to 11 years old. Children come here for a variety of reasons.  Families use the nursery for crisis reasons such as abuse, neglect, domestic violence, medical emergency, death of a family member, or a mental health crisis. But not all children who use the nursery have been traumatized. The nursery is also used for respite reasons such as a parent or guardian attending a therapy appointment, support group, court hearing, doctor appointment or job interview. Parents can also use the nursery to just have some self-care time for up to 3 hrs a week.

VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES (Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older.)

Staff members called House Parents will supervise you and direct the activities in the nursery.  You will play with the children one-on-one, meet their needs and ensure their safety, pick up and maintain order in the nursery and assist house parents as requested.

WHEN CAN I VOLUNTEER?

Volunteers choose a shift with our Prevention Coordinator. These shifts can be scheduled any day/time when the nursery is open:

MON-THUR 9 am to 9 pm

FRI  9 am to 5 pm

SAT 4 pm to 8 pm (rarely)

After orientation, you can set up times to volunteer. These are usually 2 hour shifts, but we are flexible. 

You must commit to help a minimum of 40 hrs to be reimbursed for background check and fingerprints. Depending on your availability, this minimum requirement can be done within 3-4 months, but we would greatly appreciate volunteers who are able to help longer periods of time. 

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

Attend a 90 minute volunteer orientation where we will:

1.        Fill out a volunteer application. Bring your driver’s license and know your social security number.

2.        Apply for a background check if you are 18 years or older.  

3.        Pay a $42.25 processing fee for the background check. This fee can be reimbursed after you serve 20 hours with us.

Once you have attended an orientation, you will have fingerprints taken at another location which is an additional $10-$20 fee. You can also be reimbursed for up to $10 of this fee after serving 20 hours with us. Please provide a receipt if you are wanting to eventually be reimbursed.

COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS

1) Masks are required at ALL times. There are no exceptions for this rule, so if you are unable to wear a mask at this time, we ask that you do not volunteer with us. We have a limited number of masks at the agency so please bring your own personal mask!

2) If you or any member of your household (that includes roommates!) have any symptoms of any illness we ask that you do not come.

3) If you need to reschedule your orientation time due to symptoms of any illness, please let me know ASAP. That way we can plan accordingly.

4) If at any time you are tested for COVID-19, do not come into the agency until a test result comes back negative or you have followed the correct guidelines of quarantine. If while you are volunteering you receive a positive COVID-19 test, please call the agency immediately. This would likely result in the agency shutting down for two weeks so PLEASE DO NOT COME IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS OF ANY ILLNESS.

 

Our Volunteer Coordinator holds an orientation 2-4 times a month. However, please note that Saturday or Sunday orientations are not available. To schedule an orientation, contact our Volunteer Coordinator by e-mail at: volunteer@utahvalleyfamilysupport.org or call 801-229-1181. You can also visit our website for more information about all of our services: www.utahvalleyfamilysupport.org.

Crisis Team Volunteers

The Center for Women and Children in Crisis is looking for volunteers for our upcoming Rape Crisis Team - volunteer training!

We need volunteers on our Rape Crisis Team, specifically on the weekdays. By state mandate, all volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. We ask for a six-month commitment so that you can gain the most from your experience with us. We love our volunteers and appreciate the work that they do in their roles.

As a Rape Crisis Team Member, you will be working with sexual assault victims. Once a month, you will be on call with another volunteer with a cell-phone covering one shift which lasts for 24 hours. It can be done anytime (during the week or over the weekend) whichever works best for you though we are in great need of weekday volunteers. Your role will be to answer phone calls that come through our rape crisis hotline to speak with rape victims and to offer support by meeting victims in the hospital immediately following the attack during a forensic exam. This is an opportunity to help someone who is suffering such personal violation. You must own a car and live in Utah County for this opportunity. The state requires 40 hours of training to be a Rape Crisis Team Member. The training sessions are held three times per year. 

Background checks are also required for all volunteers working with our organization. The fee for the background check for the state of Utah is $38.25. This fee is a one-time payment and is due on the first night of training in cash or check written to The Center for Women & Children in Crisis. Training will be located at our Outreach Office: 1433 East 840 North, Orem, Utah.

Habitat for Humanity

Volunteers needed to help build, renovate, and repair homes with low-income families in Utah Valley. No construction experience necessary! Habitat for Humanity provides all tools, materials, and personal safety equipment. Volunteers (age 16+) may be framing, landscaping, hanging drywall or siding, painting, or doing finish work. Volunteer Crew Leader positions are also available. In addition, Habitat has service opportunities working at the Orem or Spanish Fork ReStores. Interested individuals or groups, please call LeAnn at (801)-344-8527 x105 or email leann@habitatuc.org. 

COVID-19 Update: Volunteers must provide their own work gloves and bring a face mask/covering. Groups are limited to 7 people per shift.

SCERA Service Projects

Service projects at SCERA Center for the Arts are available for families, scout groups, youth groups, church groups and civic organizations. We can design a project to fit your group - large or small. Large variety of projects available! Call Shawn Mortensen at (801) 225-ARTS ext. 1025 or shawn@scera.org or syt@scera.org to find out more.

Utah County Children's Justice Center

By way of introduction, the CJC is a homelike facility, which serves children and families who are experiencing the crisis and chaos that come with the disclosure of significant physical or sexual abuse of a child. The function of the CJC is to reduce the trauma of the child abuse investigation, and help the child feel safe to reveal the truth.

We have several volunteer opportunities are available: the Victim Assistance (mentor) program, the Onsite Victim Support program, the Children and Teen Groups program, and the Family Justice Center. All programs involve spending time with children. Please note that ALL volunteer positions require a BCI (Bureau of Criminal Identification) background check, which costs $26.25. the CJC has a procedure in place for having these done.

1. A Victim Assistance mentor’s role is to be a friend, a positive influence, and a reliable and consistent presence in the life of a child who has been through an abuse investigation. A Victim Assistance mentor is paired up with a child to work with, one-on-one, on a weekly basis, for six months. A Victim Assistance mentor is encouraged to participate in fun and healthy activities with the child. New Victim Assistance mentors are required by the state to attend 40 hours of volunteer training. Three mentor trainings are held per year, in February, May and September (on designated weeknights and Saturdays). IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, please email Annette Dyer at annetted@utahcounty.gov (801-851-8504), and we will send you information.

2. The Onsite Victim Support program involves spending time with many different children while they are visiting the CJC (Provo or American Fork locations). In both centers we are operating under COVID-19 safety protocols. The volunteer agrees to come in for one two-hour shift, once a week, on the same day and time each week. (Shifts run from Monday-Friday between 8 am and 6 pm). The volunteer plays with and talks to children who are here for interviews and medical exams. This position requires a four-month commitment and a one-hour orientation. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE PROVO LOCATION, please contact Gabriela Hall at (801) 851-8520 (gabrielah@utahcounty.gov). IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE AMERICAN FORK LOCATION, please contact Heather Allen at (801) 792-4676 (heather2@utahcounty.gov). Shifts are filled on a "first come, first served" basis. In the Provo CJC this volunteer position is  currently filled up, but if you would like to be placed on the "wait list" for future openings, please let Gabriela know. 

3. The Children and Teen Groups, led by licensed clinical therapists, are held Tuesdays, 3-8pm, and Thursdays, 5-8pm. The groups teach skills in a light-hearted atmosphere. Volunteers set up rooms, sign in families, and help with children during group sessions. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, please contact Kelli Stout at (801) 851-2433 (kellis@utahcounty.gov). This volunteer position is currently filled up, but if you would like to be placed on the "wait list" for future openings, please let Kelli know.

4. The Family Justice Center is a one-stop location that offers information and services to local families including legal help, victim advocates, emergency food and housing, and social workers. Volunteers working toward a bachelor’s degree in the behavioral sciences are needed every Tuesday from 4-8:30 pm. There is a special need for Spanish-speaking interpreters. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, please contact Amberly Bateman at (801) 851-8549 (amberlyb@utahcounty.gov). This volunteer position is currently filled up, but if you would like to be placed on the "wait list" for future openings, please let Amberly know.

If you have any questions, please email annetted@utahcounty.gov or call at (801) 851-8504. We are always interested in seeking great help!

Utah Division of Archives and Records

Have you ever wondered how records get indexed and pages get transcribed? The truth is, it is a big job--and we could use your help!

The Utah Division of Archives and Records Service is thrilled to announce that we have partnered with From The Page, an online program for transcribing documents and collaborating on transcriptions with others. You can transcribe anytime, anywhere! All you need is a computer with internet, the ability to read 19th and 20th century handwriting, and an interest in Utah history.

Follow this link to find a project to help out in!

Village Book Builders

(Invictus Institute merged with Village Book Builders)

We provide opportunities for college students to mentor kids in developing nations. No past mentoring experience is required. The mentoring takes place through Google Meets for an hour a week, with many available times throughout the week. If interested, a campus Village Chapter (club/committee) will need to be created. BYU does not have a current chapter. If you are interested in starting one please reach out to annamarie.atkinson@villagebookbuilders.org for more details.

The mission of Village Book Builders' Mentor Program is to bridge education gaps in developing nations by pairing students across the world with someone that can be an inspiration, support, and facilitator in helping these students love learning. Due to COVID-19, all schools in these nations have been shut down, and the mentor program is the only educational resource these kids have right now. We have some programs that have had to temporarily close, but will be opening within the coming months. There are available slots in our current programs, so sign up today!  

Center for Women and Children in Crisis

Collect and donate items for women and children. Items should not be heavily used, newer items are best. Contact (801) 374-9351 to schedule a time to drop off donations at their center in Orem.

cwcic.org

A Tall Order Foundation

A Tall Order is a non-profit foundation that helps the homeless become self-reliant through the use of transitional housing. They have multiple locations to help solve the tall order of homelessness. They are seeking individuals that can help carry out a donation drive during the holidays. 

Take this list below and do donation drives with your friends, family, and community to help gather supplies. Then, once supplies have been collected, a volunteer coordinator will be in contact with the volunteers to pick up and deliver the supplies to different locations. These supplies will then be given out at an annual Thanksgiving and Christmas party held for those served by the foundation.

Donation Drive Items:

-Food

· Canned food items

· Peanut butter

-Blankets (small lap-sized)

-Gloves

-Socks

-Coats

Contact: Jordan Willis

Love at Work Foundation: Help Refugees coming to Utah

Love at Work Foundation gathers a variety of kits for displaced families and refugees. Donations are needed for newborn kits, hygiene kits, and school kits. Some miscellaneous items are also in high demand. Click this link to see lists of items for each kit! Contact Neil Millman at (801) 372-1766 for details about where and how to donate. 

Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center

Produce items the Church distributes to needy people throughout the world. Donations are always welcome.

The Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center is also always in need of new quilts. Guidelines for quilts can be found here. Quilt kits & fabric can be checked out at the Humanitarian Center. If you have questions regarding quilt kit pickup contact the Humanitarian center by phone at 801-240-5954.

Volunteers welcome at any Deseret Industries location to help sort clothes, organize, place things on shelves, etc. Please see their website at https://www.deseretindustries.org/.

(Opportunities to serve at the Humanitarian Center putting together hygiene or school kits or making quilts in the center are currently not available due to COVID, but will resume again shortly.)

Other humanitarian opportunities available through Latter-day Saint Charities. https://www.latterdaysaintcharities.org/

Questions? Contact Humanitarian Services at 801-240-5954 or Latter-day Saint Charities at 801-240-1201 or by email at lds-charities@ldschurch.org.

Slate Canyon Youth Center

School bags, hygiene kits, blankets, move-in kits, birthday/treat bags, and baby items are needed. Donations for struggling families during the holidays are especially helpful!

Contact Penny Stubbs for more information & to schedule volunteer times at pstubbs@utah.gov. Or call the center at 801-342-7840.

(Other opportunities to open again in the future).

Welcome Baby

Welcome Baby has volunteers that typically go on home visits to new parents. Because of COVID-19, volunteers are visiting families virtually. For each first visit conducted, families receive a gift packet composed of donations from the community. We request that individuals or organizations gather or make items for the Newborn Kits.  We request NEW items, no used or gently used items will be accepted.  Supplies in the kits should include:

• Receiving blankets (any size, store purchased or hand-made)
• Onesies (size 3 to 18 months)
• Socks/booties (store purchased or hand-made)
• Burp cloths or bibs
• Board Book
• Any other baby items such as outfits (size 3 to 18 months), caps, lotions or cleaning products, books, rattles or sensory toys.

Your group may collect all the supplies and package them, or collect specific items and donate them separately.
For more information please call Emily Romney 801-691-5443 or email emilyr@unitedwayuc.org. Also see welcomebabyuc.org.

If you would like more information on becoming a volunteer that goes on home visits (6-month minimum commitment), you can call or email Emily Romney.