AUSTIN, Texas — Giving Season is upon us! This time of year, many of us search for ways we can give back to our communities.
Thankfully, there is no shortage of volunteering opportunities at dozens of organizations throughout Central Texas.
- With six programs addressing the needs of older adults and family caregivers, Age of Central Texas says it has plenty of opportunities for volunteering
- Offers individual and group opportunities
- The Arc of the Capital Area offers individual virtual volunteering, virtual workshops, virtual team building workshops, a virtual mentorship program, group volunteering, collection drives and opportunities to serve on the Board of Directors and committees – all in service of making a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities
- Austin Animal Center's volunteering opportunities include dog adoption ambassadors; dog and cat enrichment and adoption volunteers, greeters, cat and kitten medical assistants and outreach volunteers
- Austin Habitat for Humanity says it builds and repairs homes almost exclusively with volunteer labor. The organization offers individual, group and youth opportunities
- Austin Human Society's volunteering opportunities include assisting with direct animal care, helping the organization end homelessness for pets and serving Central Texas communities through outreach projects
- Austin Pets Alive!'s volunteering opportunities include dog walking, cat care, adoption and foster support, shelter operations and help at APA! Thrift stores
Austin Parks Foundation says that volunteerism has "been at the core" of its work enhancing and supporting Austin's nearly 300 parks
Big Brothers Big Sister of Central Texas says volunteering "empowers you to positively transform a child’s life forever."
- Bobcat Build says it was started in 2003 as a way to say "'thank you' to the San Marcos community"
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area says, "Whether you help with homework, teach an art project, provide career guidance, coach a game, cook a healthy meal, read a book, or simply listen to our members share their day, your presence will have a profound and meaningful impact."
- The Caring Place says it was "voted the Best Place to Volunteer/Give in Georgetown for 11 years." It's volunteering opportunities include individual and group opportunities, working in its pantry, through its programs and services and at its store
One of Caritas of Austin's biggest volunteering opportunities of the season is the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot. You can volunteer as an individual, family or business as part of the effort to end homelessness in Austin
- Volunteering opportunities include preparing food donations for distribution and distributing food at mobile food pantries. The Central Texas Food Bank offers weekday and weekend opportunities, garden volunteer opportunities and individual and group opportunities
- The Circle of Hope Community Center's volunteering opportunities include drive-thru food distributions, traffic control, filling boxes with food, placing boxes into cars and sorting donations
- Dress for Success Austin's volunteering opportunities include career coaching, sorting inventory, professional clothing styling and client service administrators
- Goodwill of Central Texas offers corporate partnerships and the opportunity to host donation drives
- Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County offers individual, group and youth opportunities and opportunities include serving as a construction volunteer or a ReStore volunteer
Heart to Heart Hospice says it offers "Topportunities to interact directly with patients and families or to serve our local hospice programs by assisting staff members in an office setting"
- By volunteering with Keep Austin Beautiful, you can help beautify green spaces, clean waterways and reduce waste
Keep Austin Fed says its "food rescue runners" pick up excess food from grocery stores, hotels, caterers, schools, restaurants and more and deliver it recipient partner organizations, which feed those in need
- Lake Travis Crisis Ministries aims to help thousands of families living in the Lake Travis area with food and financial needs. It is an all-volunteer organization
- Manos de Cristo offers volunteering opportunities through its Dental Center, Education program and Basic Needs program
- Meals on Wheels Central Texas says it distributes over 3,000 meals every business day to seniors and people with disabilities. The organization offers individual and group volunteering opportunities
- Mobile Loaves & Fishes offers volunteering opportunities through its Community First! Village and its Truck Ministry
- Volunteers with Reveal Resource Center can serve through the food pantry, clothes closet or diaper ministry
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas offers individual and group volunteering opportunities, including cleaning, cooking and comforting families
- Volunteering opportunities include serving as social work interviewers, a client receptionist, a phone receptionist, cashiers, clothing sorters, truck drivers, food volunteers or serving through computer refurbishing, merchandise pricing or donation receiving
- Volunteers with the Salvation Army can serve as Red Kettle Bell ringers, Angel Tree volunteers or shelter volunteers
- San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance volunteers can serve by "building, maintaining, and monitoring hiking trails and the greenbelts; removing invasive species; planting wildflowers and other native species; building and installing trial markers, benches, and other amenities in the greenbelts"
- Senior Access volunteering opportunities include serving as a volunteer driver, a Senior Buddy or a van driver
- Volunteering opportunities include food pantry operations, food ordering, distribution, volunteer scheduling and thrift shop operations