Come Volunteer with Us!
COAR offers several opportunities to volunteer with local community organizations. To reserve your spot to volunteer, make sure to sign up on MyUMW so our student leaders know you are coming! Or reach out to COAR at COARUMW@gmail.com for more information.
Our programs are all 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 exams weeks.
Transportation is provided to all volunteer sites unless otherwise noted.
If you have questions about the programs, please contact the COAR Council Leader listed below each program, email 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
Like horses? Want to learn about therapeutic horseback riding? Therapeutic horseback riding is a recreational therapy where an individual is taught to actively control a horse while riding. It is used as exercise to improve sensory and motor skills for coordination, balance, and posture. Come volunteer at Hazelwild Farm to learn more about this type of therapy and work closely with horses.
Council Leaders: Madelyn Johnson and Maria Luteran
Weekly Meeting Times: Tuesdays from 4:45 pm to 8 pm.
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week on MyUMW.
Childhood Involvement
Bragg Hill
Volunteers provide tutoring for youth in grades 1-9. Once the children finish their homework, volunteers play with the kids in the gym, read, do puzzles, or play board games.
Council Leader: Paige Beidelman
Weekly Meeting Times: Mondays and Wednesdays 3:50 pm – 5:15 pm
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week on MyUMW.
Stafford Junction
Stafford Junction is a nonprofit organization that assists families from the local area. Volunteer duties will include tutoring and leading activities with children.
Council Leader: Cindy Ramirez
Weekly Meeting Times: Mondays and Wednesday 3:15-5:15 pm.
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week, but ongoing preferred. Visit the MyUMW page to learn more. Application and background check is required, but can be completed with a simple process.
Loisann’s Hope House (Mom’s Time)
Loisann’s Hope House serves families transitioning out of homelessness. Volunteers spend time tutoring children for an hour and then playing with the children during “Mom’s Time” at this facility in downtown Fredericksburg.
Council Leaders: Delaney Quigley, Purnaja Poduturri, and Elizabeth Lopez
Weekly Meeting Times: Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:45-6:15 pm
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week on MyUMW.
Thurman Brisben Center
Thurman Brisben Center provides critical services to homeless individuals and families in the Fredericksburg area. Volunteers play with the children while their parents do chores.
Council Leaders: Tamara Garrett and Meghan McLees
Weekly Meeting Times: Thursdays from 6:45- 8:30 pm.
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week on MyUMW.
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 Leader: TBD
Volunteer opportunities: After March 1, every Saturday from 9:00-11:00am.
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).
Council Leader: Winnie Cargill
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.
Council Leaders: Daniel Hur and Jennifer Snyder
Weekly Meeting Times: Wednesdays from 3:00-5:00pm
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week on MyUMW.
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: Abigail Slaughter and Hope Mills
Weekly Meeting Times: Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:45-9:45 pm in the UC basement.
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week on MyUMW.
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. (TRAINING INVOLVED PRIOR)
Council Leaders: Maia (Eli) Smith, Quinn Lipetz, and Kendall Resnick
Weekly Meeting Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:15-5:00pm
Commitment Level Needed: A longer-term commitment is needed for this program. Students should sign up for training and an orientation to the Bigs in Schools program. To sign up, email Sydney at sydneyswartz@bbbsfred.org.
Falls Run Nursing Home
Spend time with elderly community members in the nursing home playing bingo, making crafts and sharing music together!
Council Leader: Jordan Cooke and Audrey Flavin
Weekly Meeting Times: Thursdays 2:15-4:15pm
Commitment Level Needed: Volunteers will need a background check, drug test, and TB test. Screening is provided by the facility free of charge the first time you volunteer. Sign up week by week on MyUMW.
Refugee Services
Refugee Employment Services
Help adult refugees with completing job applications and composing resumes.
Council Leader: Nataly Montalvan
Weekly Meeting Times: TBD
Commitment Level Needed: A longer-term commitment is needed for this program. Students receiving training and an orientation to the program. To sign up, visit the form on MyUMW.
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 UMWCOAR@gmail.com. There are always plenty of events going on that we need volunteers for!