Whether you are a student, a group, or a community member, the Y has event, one-time, and long-term volunteer opportunities that can easily fit into your busy schedule.

Volunteer Opportunites in January/February/March include:

• On-going programs (appropriate for individuals or groups)
• Projects (great for groups and individuals -- groups must schedule in advance)
• Family volunteer opportunities that qualify for Disney's Give A Day, Get A Day program:

Student Volunteer Opportunities (on-going)

• Tutoring, Classroom Aide and One on One
  
• After School Programs 
  
• Buddy Playgroup
  
• Senior Connections
• Applied Environmental Awareness
  
• Alternative Breaks & Weekends
  
• Project Home Repair

If you are interested in the above student volunteer programs, please visit us here.  You will need to fill out a volunteer application and attend a volunteer training session before joining your volunteer group.

Student & Community Volunteer Opportunities (projects)

• Hale-YMCA Gardens.  Building raised beds (February & March), helping prepare planting beds (March & April), construct small building & teaching area, create trails, and help with general maintenance.  Please let us know if you would like to be added to the list to be notified of works days, or if you would like to schedule a project for your group.
• Neighborhood Harvest.  If the trees and fields are yielding crops, we'll be there picking!  Late summer through fall, the Y picks fruit & veggies from backyard trees and gardens (as well as small farms) and distributes the goods to local food banks.  Please request to be on the notification list.  During peak seasons, groups may schedule picking days in advance.
• Community Helping Hands.  This project is on an as-needed basis that responds to elderly or at-need community members who need assistance painting, cleaning their yards, and other projects. 
• Special Events.  The YMCA has many special events throughout the year and relies on volunteers to make these fundraising projects a success!  Healthy Kids Day (April), International Street Fair (April), Ytoss? (May), Food & Wine Auction (June), Book Fair (October), and Y Crafts Fair (November) are some of the primary events.  GREAT for groups and individuals.

There are many more opportunities to volunteer with the Y and work in the community.  If you would like to arrange a special project for your group be put on our e-mail notification, please contact Gail at gail@vtymca.org.

Family Volunteer Opportunities

NEW for 2010, the Y is offering several days for family volunteer projects.  (If you are volunteering through Disney's "Give A Day, Get A Day" program, you must register through Disney's website.)

 February 13 -- 10am to noon -- Build a Bird Nest.  This activity is appropriate for families or individuals.  You will be constructing bird nexts out of "found" materials in the Y Thrift Shop.  Bird nests will be placed in the Hale-YMCA Gardens this spring for birds to take materials from or settle in.

February 28 -- 3pm to 5pm -- Build A Bird House.  This activity is appropriate for families or individuals.  you will be constructing bird houses or decorating pre-made bird houses. Bird houses can be taken home or left to place in the Hale-YMCA Gardens.

March 14 -- 3pm to 5pm -- Walker Carry Bags or No-Sew Quilts.  This activity is appropriate for families or individuals.  We will be making carry pouches for walkers (to distribute at Wheatland Retirement Center and Heritage Hall) and small no-sew blankets for at-need children.

April & May -- additional projects will be scheduled for April and May, including mural painting (with lots of little hands) and gardening projects. 

If you have ideas about other family volunteer projects that would benefit the community, please let us know!

Questions? Contact Gail at gail@vtymca.org.

 Thank you for volunteering with the YMCA at Virginia Tech!