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-lead and depend on dedicated UMW volunteers for their success.
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 Leader: Elly Olson and Madelyn Johnson
Weekly Meeting Times: Thursday’s 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: Monday 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.
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 Leader: Grace Winfield and Delaney Quigley
Weekly Meeting Times: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:45-6:15 pm
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week.
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: Elisabeth DellaRova and Cailey Epperson
Weekly Meeting Times: Thursdays from 6:45- 8:30 pm.
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week.
The Environment
Downtown Greens
If you love gardening and are interested in beautifying our community, this program is for you. Downtown Greens is a urban gardening program. Come volunteer with us and help make Fredericksburg beautiful!
Council Leader: Mackenzie Marbain
Weekly Meeting Times: Every Saturday from 9:00-11:00am.
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week.
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.
Council Leader: Winnie Cargill
Dates:
- September 21: help with FOR river fest
- October 4th clean up
- October 18th clean up
- November 22nd clean up
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up for specific events.
Food Justice
Food Bank
Student volunteers help the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank by organizing food shelves and preparing care packages.
Council Leader: Daniel Hur, Jennifer Snyder
Weekly Meeting Times: Mondays from 3:00-5:00pm
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week.
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 Leader: Abigail Slaughter
Weekly Meeting Times: Mondays at 8:45-9:45 pm in the UC basement.
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. (TRAINING INVOLVED PRIOR)
Council Leader: 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 receiving training and an orientation to the Bigs in Schools program.
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
Weekly Meeting Times: Tuesdays 2:15-4:15pm
Commitment Level Needed: Sign up week by week.
Refugee Services
Refugee Employment Services
Help adult refugees with completing job applications and composing resumes.
Council Leader: Eleni Riris
Weekly Meeting Times: Thursdays at 12:35-2:20pm
Commitment Level Needed: A longer-term commitment is needed for this program. Students receiving training and an orientation to the program.
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!