Psych Volunteering

Volunteer Opportunities for Psychology Students

Spring 2021

In-Person

1. In-Person Tutoring with Fredericksburg City Public Schools: Several Fredericksburg public schools are seeking in-person tutors to work with students on select days during the week for a two-hour period. Available locations and times are the following:
   • • Hugh Mercer Elementary School:  10:00-12:00
     • Lafayette Upper Elementary School: 10:00-12:00
     • Walker Grant Middle School: 8:30-10:30
     • James Monroe High School: 11:30-1:30
   • Volunteers work under the direction of staff from Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) and assist youth while they complete homework or coursework on computers. You will be required to be masked and stay 6 feet distance away from the student. You must provide your own transportation to the volunteer site. They are asking students to commit to going every week at a designated day and time, and working for a two-hour shift. They also request that you commit to volunteering for the whole semester. Fill out this form to apply to this program. Before you volunteer, you will also need to fill out an application form.
2. Tutoring with Better Tomorrows: Better Tomorrows is an after school program serving the Garrison Woods low-income housing complex in Stafford County. The Better Tomorrows after school program is geared towards elementary students. They are looking for virtual and in-person tutors who will help with reading, writing, and math. They also have a STEM program and work with youth and “experiment boxes.” An application (with two references) and a background check (free of charge) is required. For in-person, you would have to drive yourself to the volunteer site, and remain masked and socially distant while volunteering.  Remote tutoring opportunities (over Zoom) are available. Fill out this form to apply. Your volunteer time will be set based on the elementary students’ availability. Stafford County Schools is operating with a hybrid model so volunteer times could be morning or afternoon, and could be any day of the week.
3. Eagles Care Ambassadors: UMW is recruiting students to serve as Eagles Care Ambassadors. Work with your fellow students to encourage MMDC and wearing a mask, creating a campus culture of caring through peer to peer support and education in order to help mitigate the spread of the virus. Fill out this form to apply.
4. Food Bank: The Fredericksburg Food Bank is providing socially-distanced in-person volunteering opportunities. Visit their webpage to explore your options and sign up. You must provide your own transportation to the volunteer site.
5. Help with Vaccination Efforts: The State of Virginia is recruiting individuals for the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). You do not need a medical background to volunteer in the Medical Reserve Corps. Volunteers in the Medical Reserve Corps are helpful in many ways – they can assist at vaccination sites or may be asked perform clerical support tasks. There is a need for volunteers as the vaccination process ramps up. To start the registration process, please fill out this form. We will be in touch with more information.

Virtual

• Mentoring Germanna Community College Students. Germanna is offering two mentoring programs:
  • Great Expectations: Be a mentor for individuals who are current or former foster youth (currently or formerly in foster care) who are also Germanna students.  Mentors meet with their mentee over Zoom (“face time”) and also communicate over email and text. Weekly meetings and conversations with mentees are encouraged. Volunteer mentors receive training, a free background check, and an ACES training. An application is required. After completing the application and a brief interview, mentors may be asked to provide information (Word doc) for a free background check. More information about the Great Expectations program is on their website. 
  •  Gladys P. Todd Academy: Be a mentor for high school students who are getting their Associate’s Degree at Germanna Community College. Mentors meet with their mentee over Zoom (“face time”) and also communicate over email and text. Weekly meetings and conversations with mentees are encouraged. Volunteer mentors receive training, a free background check, and an ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) training.  An application is required. After completing the application and a brief interview, mentors may be asked to provide information (Word doc) for a free background check. More information about the Gladys P. Todd program is on their website. 

 

• RCASA: Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault (RCASA) is looking for volunteers to help with several projects:
  • Social Media/Marketing: create social media content including writing posts, translating information into Spanish, helping write Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and similar tasks. Volunteers should fill out a volunteer application form, and may have to complete a training program and a free background check. For more information, email volunteer@rcasa.org.
  • Direct Client Services: Direct client services involve an online chat support, which involves an additional training to be able to participate in. This is an anonymous chat feature that clients can log onto and each weekly session has a specific topic of conversation. Volunteers and staff serve as support and moderation on this. Volunteers should fill out a volunteer application form, and may have to complete a training program and a free background check. For more information, email volunteer@rcasa.org.

 

• The Knowledge Exchange, Inc.: The Knowledge Exchange, Inc., a nonprofit organization serving Fredericksburg, is looking for volunteers to help them provide tutoring services and work with area youth. Visit their webpage to learn more.

 

• ENGin: ENGin is looking for volunteers to serve as speaking buddies for international students. This is a flexible and unique opportunity to make a difference without leaving your room. Here’s how it works: they pair you up with a Ukrainian student to video chat each week at times that are convenient for you. They match students and volunteers based on age, gender preference, and schedules. All of the students have some knowledge of English and you will be provided with training and suggested session activities. Your speaking sessions can be 30-60 minutes long. To apply, please fill out this short form. They will reach out to you to schedule a 15-minute video call to provide more details about volunteering with ENGin and answer any questions. You can learn more about ENGin at www.enginprogram.org.

 

• Senior Visitors Program: Mental Health America Fredericksburg (MHAF) is looking for students to provide social connection for seniors by connecting over phone or computer, sending notes/cards, or dropping off items to their senior on the doorstep. To become a volunteer, students can fill out an application which is available on the MHAF website. Students do need to complete a volunteer training (they hope to have the next volunteer training in March). MHAF prefers volunteers to make a 6-month commitment to the program. Students can take a break between semesters or over the summer and then return to volunteering, or can stay in touch over the summer with phone calls and notes. For more information about volunteering for the Senior Visitors Program, please contact the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2704 or email mhafsv@mhafred.org.

 

• The Trevor Project: In order to provide life-saving support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) youth, The Trevor Project recruits passionate volunteers to staff crisis intervention services. Volunteers are vital to Trevor’s work, and are instrumental in providing a safe and secure connection for LGBTQ youth to reach out.