Best Ways to Serve within the Community

As the new semester begins, it’s the perfect time to start fresh and start volunteering in the community. At ASU, there are plenty of service opportunities across all four campuses. Whether you’re interested in helping animals, mentoring kids or working with your hands, here are some awesome volunteering opportunities for students:

Work in an animal shelter

Are you an animal lover?  Then volunteering in a shelter may be a great fit for you. Organizations like Arizona Humane Society and Arizona Animal Welfare League, accept applications for volunteers to care for animals, clean the shelters and advocate for their causes at community events. This is a great way for someone to combine a love of animals with a passion for service.

Create a positive impact on local youth

Did you know that ASU also partners with America Reads, a national program aimed to mentor and tutor young students? Those interested in getting involved must either qualify for federal work-study or enroll in a service-learning course, and submit an application through myASU. Big Brothers, Big Sisters accepts applications for college students to become “bigs” or mentors for at-risk youth. These opportunities allow you to make a personal connection with children that will inspire them to succeed in their education and beyond.

Feed, build, paint and serve

For those students who just like to get their hands dirty, Changemaker Central at ASU organizes many service projects throughout the year. Thousands participate in events like Devils in Disguise and Make a Difference Day which focus on various community improvement and restoration projects around the valley. Another unique service opportunity is packing meal bags with Feed My Starving Children. If you want to do community service with your group of friends, this high-paced, energetic environment will work perfectly.

Consider committing to new service opportunities at the start of this new year. Giving back to the community not only helps improve your local area, but is also a great way to connect with others who are passionate about service.

— By Allie Barton, Journalism and Mass Communication, BS ‘19