When you’re not working on research or schoolwork, why not spend your free time volunteering?
Who needs to eat, right? Not only does it look great on resumes, but also volunteering can be life changing for the ones you work with—and even you! It may sound corny, but it’s true. Take a look at these science-related volunteer opportunities around Gainesville and start serving the community!
Note: I composed this list without endorsement by any of these organizations.
Health Science
Al’z Place: This program was designed to help people with Alzheimer’s disease or memory impairment. Volunteers help with therapeutic activities to stimulate memory.
http://eldercare.ufandshands.org/services/alz-place/
Camp Kesem or Camp Boggy Creek: These are summer camps for children with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. Enthusiastic volunteers provide a fun and safe trip for these children.
http://www.boggycreek.org/volunteers/get-involved/
http://campkesem.org/uf/contact-us
UF Health: Learn about patient services by working within Shands. There are different opportunities, from dental volunteering to being an ambassador for the hospital. https://ufhealth.org/volunteering
WellFlorida Council HIP: Volunteers for HIV prevention education are needed for this organization. Volunteers can help with screening, outreach, and distribution of condoms and safe sex kits.
http://wellflorida.org/blog/high-impact-prevention-hip/
Animal Sciences
Alachua County Humane Society: A popular volunteer site, the humane society facilitates placing animals in need of adoption.
http://www.alachuahumane.org/volunteer
Horse Protection Association of Florida: Help care for previously neglected horses and give them a new chance at life.
http://hpaf.org/how-to-help/volunteer
Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary: Be a caretaker for over 200 monkeys at this sanctuary. While humans do not directly interact with the primates, volunteers will do tasks such as preparing food and building habitats.
http://www.junglefriends.org/how-you-can-help/volunteering/
Operation Catnip: Help control feral cat populations of Gainesville with this free spay/neuter program.
http://vetmed.ufl.edu/extension-outreach/operation-catnip/
St. Francis Pet Clinic: Volunteer as a vet tech (experience needed) or a meds distributor at this free pet clinic that caters to animals of low-income pet owners.
http://www.stfrancishousepetcare.org/about.htm
Two Tails Ranch: Work with elephants without ever leaving Gainesville.
http://www.allaboutelephants.com/help-out/volunteer
Horticulture
Edible Plant Project: Work in a nursery taking care of plants or creating your own. Every two hours you volunteer, you can take home a tree or plant of your choice.
http://edibleplantproject.org/volunteer/
Friends of Dudley Farm: Plant and maintain the vegetable and flower gardens at this historic restored pioneer farm.
http://friendsofdudleyfarm.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities
Ecology
Alachua Conservation Trust: Become a land management volunteer and plant longleaf pines or remove invasive plant species.
http://unitedwayncfl.galaxydigital.com/volunteer/agency/need/?need_id=47447
Alternative Breaks: Florida Alternative Breaks are great ways to spend your free time volunteering. Work in U.S. cities or around the world. The Marine Life Conservation trip to Nicaragua and the Agroecology trip to Costa Rica are still available to sign up.
http://www.leadershipandservice.ufl.edu/programs/florida_alternative_breaks/participants/#SB
Florida Trail Work Series: The Florida Trail Association hosts work parties in different areas around Florida. Volunteers can choose to work one or all days maintaining hiking trails.
https://www.floridatrail.org/volunteer/volunteeropportunities/
Florida Wildlife Care, Inc.: There are many opportunities when volunteering with Florida Wildlife Care, such as animal care, fostering, and rescue and transport.
http://www.floridawildlifecare.org/volunteer.htm
If you want to find other volunteer opportunities that aren’t science related, visit gainesvillevolunteer.com, volunteerselect.org, or UF’s Center for Leadership and Service website at www.leadershipandservice.ufl.edu
