If you're passionate about serving your community and looking for ways to get involved, Bryan/College Station is overflowing with opportunities to make a difference. We spoke with community service leaders who shared advice on how you can actively contribute locally. Here are a few organizations in the Brazos Valley who are in need of service:
Sexual Assault Resource Center
The Sexual Assault Resource Center, or SARC, has been around for over 40 years. Members of this organization, comprised of over 1,000 dedicated volunteers since 1981, have been trained and educated on ways to assist victims after a sexual assault occurs. The organization serves all of the Brazos Valley including Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington Counties. Elizabeth Landin, the bilingual outreach coordinator says that there is a huge need for volunteers across counties.
What is one of the most important parts of volunteering with SARC?
“Whether it is going on accompaniments or working on the hotline, being trauma-informed and centering the victim is the most important part of volunteering,” Elizabeth says. “Patience is a necessary virtue for volunteers looking to partner with SARC. Being survivor-minded is how SARC has been a non-profit for decades.”
How do volunteers help other than 9-5 hours?
While the office is open during business hours, after-hours accompaniments, hotline and callouts are predominantly done by the volunteers in the area, Elizabeth says. Every few months, SARC hosts introductory training to teach individuals how to handle
interactions with survivors for all volunteers.
If volunteers do not live in Bryan, how can they help?
While SARC’s hosting location is in Bryan, the nonprofit is more than happy to receive applications from surrounding counties as some clients may need individuals located in counties further away.
Can SARC benefit from bilingual volunteers?
Bilingual volunteers are extremely important to SARC! Whether it is being on the hotline or attending accompaniments, finding individuals who can break language barriers is beyond helpful.
Did you know? On April 6, SARC will be hosting Shatter: A Survivor Fashion Show! The show is focused on visualizing the question: ‘what were you wearing?’ The show will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at The Shirley & Joe Swinbank '74 AgriLife Center.
Brazos Valley Food Bank
The Brazos Valley Food Bank is a staple when it comes to community service in the area. People can volunteer in varying sectors such as food sorting, warehouse assistance, food donation pick-up, food assembly for children’s backpacks or senior bags, food box assembly, the mobile food pantry or as part of the Together We Grow - Garden and Project GotEm programs as a Spanish translator. Volunteers are necessary to the organization and without them, the food bank could not do what they do, Ebony Knight, the Operations Director for the Brazos Valley Food Bank says.
How important are volunteers to the Brazos Valley Food Bank?
“The volunteers are invaluable as a lean-staff organization, and the mission of the Brazos Valley Food Bank would not be successful without volunteers,” Ebony says. “With springtime arriving, the garden at the food bank is in need of volunteers to help.”
What are the volunteering opportunities?
Whether it is work in the warehouse or in the garden, people are what make the organization run. About 90% of volunteer opportunities revolve around sorting products and building boxes and bags for programs that go out to the community, Ebony says.
What if people cannot donate time?
If people do not have time to volunteer, monetary support and food donations are welcomed. Check out bvfb.org for more information. Whether you work in social media, administration or other sectors you can reach out to the food bank to connect. Whatever your passion is, the Brazos Valley Food Bank is willing to work with you.
Who does the food bank work with?
While the Brazos Valley Food Bank warehouse is housed in Bryan, the food bank works with dozens of pantries across multiple counties to help food-insecure communities. Food pantries make up about 75% of what the Brazos Valley Food Bank specializes in for sourcing, storage and procurement, which is then sent out to pantries. The food bank works as the hub and sends out resources to the rest of the Brazos Valley.
Did you know? All ages and skill levels are more than welcome to come to the food bank and help in all sectors. It is preferred that in-warehouse volunteers are over the age of 18.
Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity
Located at 119 Lake Street in Bryan, B/CS Habitat for Humanity is one of the biggest nonprofit organizations in the Brazos Valley focused on building homes, communities and hope. Individuals from all walks of life come to volunteer their time to help build their community. B/CS HFH is a special organization that makes it a priority to provide safe and affordable housing, says Carl Orozco, the Director of Development who has been with the organization for the past 11 years. B/CS HFH is not just an organization that builds homes; when it comes to the community, Carl says they are always ready to volunteer at a Habitat construction site, their home-improvement storefront, ReStore, or around the B/CS HFH main office.
How are the houses paid for?
“Habitat for Humanity Houses are affordable because individuals who qualify and complete a rigorous screening process for our “Home Ownership Program” receive a 0% interest mortgage that they must pay back to the organization,” Carl says. “It’s important to note that these homes are not free.”
What volunteering opportunities are there?
“While always looking for volunteers in construction, there is still a need for volunteers for ReStore, the retail store outlet for B/CS Habitat for Humanity that focuses on receiving donations from the local community, and in turn selling products for very discounted prices," Carl says. “The money generated from ReStore helps B/CS HFH purchase all the materials needed to build the homes for Habitat families here in the local community.”
Are there leadership opportunities with Habitat for Humanity?
Another way to volunteer for B/CS HFH is by serving on committees such as the Family Selection Committee. This committee reviews home ownership applications, makes home visits and interviews the Habitat family. Based on the information they obtain during this process, the committee then makes recommendations to the B/CS HFH Board of Directors to approve the family to be entered into the “Home Ownership Program.”
For individuals who cannot donate their time, monetary contributions can be made online at habitatbcs.org/donate.
Did you know? On April 20, Habitat for Humanity will be hosting a 5k run/2k walk called ‘Run for the House’ at Lakewalk Pavillion. To find out more about the Run for the House, go to habitatbcs.org and click on the events tab.
Boys & Girls Club of Caldwell
insitebrazosvalley.com 41 The Boys and Girls Club is an organization that thrives on community involvement. Whether it is from college students or local residents, the Boys & Girls Club of Caldwell would love to hear from you. In Caldwell, the club serves youth ages 6 to 13 and supports all of their members diligently, says Abbey Fowle, the Director of the Caldwell Campus.
How long has the organization been in the Brazos Valley?
While the Caldwell campus opened in 2020 and is one of the newer Boys & Girls Clubs, the Bryan location has been in the community since 1959! Collectively, between the Bryan campus and Caldwell campus, over 1,500 young students are served yearly.
How can volunteers help?
“Volunteers play a tremendous role in supporting the mission to strive for academic success, develop leaders, healthy lifestyles and athletics,” Abbey says. “The organization is open daily including after school and weekends to provide and promote the development of future adults.”
Can bigger groups volunteer?
“The Texas A&M University Sorority Pi Beta Phi has been a wonderful organization that has consistently supported our Caldwell Boys and Girls Club,” Abbey says. “These ladies come for eight weeks each semester and have a large group of volunteers that visit between 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. every day. Their support has been essential for the success of our Power Hour program through allowing 1-on-1 attention for homework help and tutoring support. We, of course, also enjoy the energy this group brings into the club and the positive interactions they create with our members”.
Are there specific areas or programs where the need for volunteers is particularly high?
“Specifically, we could utilize more volunteer support in two areas,” Abbey says. “The first area is our Power Hour, during this time we offer homework assistance and tutoring. For those without homework, we provide additional practice in core academic areas (Math, Reading, Writing, Spelling) to help our youth be successful at school and for state testing. Another area we are seeking volunteers is to be guest facilitators for a variety of clubs and activities, for example, we would love support for our Garden Club to have experienced gardeners come weekly to help guide us on growing the club garden.”
Volunteers can apply at any point in time and must submit a $20 payment for a background check.
Did you know? More volunteering opportunities will come as they plan for their full-day summer programs in June & July as well as the after-school program for the Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 school year.
