Come Volunteer with Us!
COAR and the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) offer several opportunities to volunteer with local community organizations. For a broader list of volunteer opportunities this fall, visit our CCE volunteer website.
COVID-19 Update: In the fall of 2022, some of our programs will be on hold or exist in a different format. Check the details below for more information.
Our programs are student-led and depend on dedicated UMW volunteers for their success. Programs only run during the semester and when class is in session; programs do not operate over school breaks or exam weeks.
If you have questions about the programs, please contact the COAR Council Leader listed below each program, email us at coarumw@gmail.com, or join the program on MyUMW.
Accessibility
Questions about the accessibility of our events? Reach out to us with questions at sdewees@umw.edu.
Animals
Therapeutic Horseback Riding
Hazelwild Farm offers a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program every Tuesday night. They ride every Tuesday at 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm (weather dependent) and volunteers help with brushing and tacking the horses and leading the horses in the ring. More information can be found on their website. To apply, you need to download and fill out a volunteer form and email it to hazelwildfarm1897@gmail.com. You can also email hazelwildtrp@gmail.com with any questions and to learn more about volunteering. You must provide your own transportation to the farm (about 10 mins away).
Council Leaders: TBD
Weekly Meeting Times: Tuesdays
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week.
Childhood Involvement
Loisann’s Hope House (Mom’s Time)
Loisann’s Hope House serves families transitioning out of homelessness. Hope House has requested volunteers to spend time with youth during “mom’s time.” Volunteers work with children on homework (if needed), play games with youth indoors, and, weather permitting, spend some time playing outdoors. If interested, please sign up using this form.
Council Leaders: TBD
Weekly Meeting Times: TBD
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week.
Stafford Junction: Brain Builders
Stafford Junction is seeking volunteers to help with their Brain Builders program. Brain Builders is an after school program designed to aid in homework and with a focus on with fostering intellectual achievement by giving kids the tools they need to succeed in school. Stafford Junction offers virtual tutoring with elementary schools.
Council Leaders: Tamara Garrett and Meghan McLees
Weekly Meeting Times: TBD
Commitment Level Needed: A short training is required. If interested in volunteering with Stafford Junction, sign up here.
The Environment
Downtown Greens
If you love gardening and are interested in beautifying our community, this program is for you. Downtown Greens is an urban gardening program. Come volunteer with us and help make Fredericksburg beautiful!
Council Leaders: Eliana Nachman
Dates: Saturdays 9:00-noon.
Volunteer opportunities: COAR is sponsoring weekly walks down to the garden space on Saturday mornings during the semester.
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week on MyUMW.
Environmental Awareness and Action
Interested in helping the environment or educating the public on how to save the Earth? This program works on environmental projects including river cleanups and collaboration with the Ecology Club, and Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR). River Cleanup events involve walking to the river and picking up trash from the city pathways.
Council Leaders: TBD
Dates: TBD
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up for specific events on MyUMW.
Food Justice
Food Bank
Student volunteers help the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank by organizing food shelves and preparing care packages. This program is on hold fall 2022.
Council Leaders: TBD.
Weekly Meeting Times: TBD
Food Recovery Program
The volunteers in this program work with the Dining Services on campus, collecting food after hours and donating it to food security programs that help the hungry and homeless in the area. This program works with the national Food Recovery Network.
Council Leaders: TBD
Weekly Meeting Times: TBD
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week.
Literacy
Bookmobile
Volunteers at our newest weekly program will have the opportunity to work with Fredericksburg’s only free mobile library. Volunteers will be asked to collect and organize donations, promote the Bookmobile, clean, and much more!
Council Leaders: Kate McDaid
Weekly Meeting Times: TBD
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week.
Mentoring/Building Relationships
Bigs in Schools
Interested in mentoring youth in local schools? The Bigs in Schools program is part of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Fredericksburg. UMW students are paired with students from a local elementary or middle school to mentor them after school during the week. This training is useful for psychology, sociology, and education majors, as well as others interested in youth development.
Council Leaders: Kayla Bradner
Weekly Meeting Times: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 3:00-4:45.
Commitment Level Needed: Students can sign up for a training program that will prepare them for volunteer work in the future. Training occurs in the fall semester and volunteering continues through the spring semester. This training is useful for psychology, sociology, and education majors, as well as others interested in youth development.
Can’t find anything on this list, but still want to volunteer? Stop by the COAR Office on the third floor of the University Center in the Center for Community Engagement in Suite 320, or email us at coarumw@gmail.com. There are always plenty of events going on that we need volunteers for!
This information is provided as a service of the UMW Center for Community Engagement but we do not endorse specific opportunities. CCE assumes no responsibility for information posted on this website. In no event shall the Center for Community Engagement or the University of Mary Washington be liable for any damages related to listed opportunities.