Events:

FGCU New Student Programs: Would enjoy student volunteers on campus at the induction ceremony for honor society Phi Eta Sigma on March 24. Contact Patti Kirk at pkirk@fgcu.edu or 239-590-7695.

Collier County Parks and Recreation: Enjoy the Treasure Hunt with the Captain and his Crew at the Freedom Park in Naples. Need 10 volunteers on March 24 from 3–6 p.m. Email Meryl Rorer at 239-252-4033.

The Ladybug Project: Help run concession stands at the Minnesota Twins spring training game on March 28 at 11:30 a.m. Email Kim Reuter at kereuter@theladybugproject.com.

Sierra Club: Help with tabling opportunities at Edison College Greenfest Week on March 26. Contact Katie at katie.parrish@sierraclub.org or 239-313-7202.         Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida: Help their event, I am the Q, here on FGCU campus on March 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Assist as banquet server, silent auction assistance, greeter, usher, or cleaning crew. Dress code is all black. Contact Angela Pena at apena@qlcswfl.org or 239-334-2797.

ICAN: Seeking volunteers to help Island Coast Aids Network to solicit sponsorships and raise funds for the SW Florida AIDS Walk/Run/Ride on March 31 at Cambier Park in Naples. Contact Mitch Haley at mhaley@icanswfl.org or 239-337-2391 x211.

Cystic Fibrosis: Help with registration and cleaning on March 31 at Lakes Regional Park for the Cystic Fibrosis event Great Strides between 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Need 5-10 volunteers. Contact Heather or Kathy at 239-415-0252 or send an email to hmcnertney@yahoo.com.

Three Oaks Middle School: Help at the 18th Annual Family Fun Fest with face painting, game attendants, food court, dunk tank, popcorn attendant, bake sale, raffle table, or water delivery. Time slots available 9–11 a.m., 11–1 p.m., and 1-3 p.m. on March 31. Complete the application at www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4BA9AB2FAB9-family or call Lori Reichart at 239-267-8020.

FGCU-KARNIGRAS: Help out with the first annual Karnigras at Gulf Coast Town Center on April 7. The “cause” is funding future study-abroad programs for all students. Pass out flyers on campus, make posters, face-paint, teach or judge the salsa dancing. Contact Carol Fulton at cfulton@fgcu.edu or Joyce Laorden at jlaorden@fgcu.edu.

Promising Pathways Conference: Need volunteers to help provide respite for families that want to attend the Promising Pathways Conference at FGCU on April 14 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Temple Grandin, well known self-advocate for people with autism, will be presenting. See information on the FGCU website at http://www.fgcu.edu/events/promisingpathways/. Contact Lynn James at 239-699-0985 or Jamie Melendez or Shay Thomas at 239-267-2181.

Keep Collier Beautiful: Join the big cleanup event on April 14 from 8–11 a.m. For more information visit www.keepcollierbeautiful.com. Contact litternot@earthlink.net or 239-580-8319.

American Heart Association: Over 500 guests, will be at a fabulous event on April 14 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Estero. Help set up table favors, menu cards and other light materials in the morning. There will be a silent auction and live auction where assistance is needed in the evening. Contact Nancy Holland at nancy.holland@heart.org or call 239-495-4905.

 

 

Colloquium:

Estero Bay Preserve State Park: Enjoy the outdoors? Ever feel like we have a huge impact on the environment? Are you ready to make a difference and need service hours? Well then come volunteer at the Estero Bay Preserve State Park! Close to FGCU, off of Corkscrew Road and 41. For more information, contact Scott Stimpson at scott.stimpson@dep.state.fl.us.

Lakes Regional Park: Help with a program for children’s tours of the gardens from 3:30–5 p.m. on a weekday or Saturday at 9 a.m. Concepts that may be included are: importance of plants to the earth, plants and insect interdependence, kinds of propagation, composting and nutrients, ability of plants to filter water. Contact Susan Moore at botanicgarden.moore9@gmail.com or 239-481-7845.

FGCU Recyclemania: Track the amount of trash and recyclables using measuring sticks provided by Physical Plant. Last year FGCU finished 76 out of 288 colleges and universities in the Grand Champion category and 59 out of 363 teams in the Per Capita category. Keishla Negron-Acevedo, director of Sustainability for Student Government, would like to do better. Event continues until March 31. Interested students can comment on Facebook at Recyclemania: FGCU.

FGCU Food Forest: This student run botanical garden highlights tropical/subtropical edible species that grow well in South Florida and is right here on campus! They need students to help on Friday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Any messages can be sent to http://fgcufoodforest.weebly.com/send-us-a-message.html.

ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization): Help out with agricultural development. Fill out a volunteer application at www.echonet.org. For questions, contact Ruth at rmay@echonet.org.

Koreshan State Park Historic Site: Students welcome every Wednesday at 8 a.m. Simply show up on time at 3800 Corkscrew Road, the gate opens automatically at 8 a.m. Long pants and closed toed shoes are required; they suggest water and gloves.

Pinewoods Elementary School: This school is unique in its passion for sustainability and environmental education. Help facilitate, plan, and organize the club meetings, as well as plan educational presentations and activities for the students. Contact Laura Layton at lelayton@eagle.fgcu.edu.

Heartland Gardens: Did you know that FGCU alums started this nonprofit? They have a 1,700 square-foot raised labyrinth and they’re landscaping the entire acre with edible plants. Help with your financial expertise, business background, economic background, bookkeeping and data entry skills, public relations or communications background, or assist with newsletters, e-blasts, or grant writing. Contact Andrea at andrea@heartlandgardens.org or call 239-689-4249.

Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium: Numerous opportunities! Contact info@calusanature.org or call 275-3435.

Naples Botanical Garden: Horticulture gardening starts at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and includes weeding, potting, moving plants, digging, raking, sweeping, clearing debris, etc. Wear closed toe shoes. No shorts or tank tops. Bring water. Wear sunscreen. Bring work gloves if you have them. Looking especially for groups of students on Fridays. No last minute requests. Give 4-5 day lead time. If you commit, then can’t make it, give notice. Be on time. Email Sally Richardson at srichardson@naplesgarden.org.

Rookery Bay: Help give out literature, talk to visitors about the Learning Center, or assist with children’s crafts. Contact Susan Maunz at susan.maunz@dep.state.fl.us or call 239-417-6310 x412.

Sustainable Living and Interconnected Education (SLIE): So much of what needs to be done will be decently challenging labor, digging, building raised garden beds, constructing water capturing vessels and their gutters. Contact Hunter Preston at slieinc@yahoo.com or 239-245-3250.

 

 

Ongoing:

Lee County Sheriff’s Youth Activities League: Help now through summer! Thursday at 3 p.m. at the board meeting, or flyer creation on Thursday from 3–5 p.m., or telecommute phone via Skype. Contact Katie at 239-898-6090 or Katie@katieromano.com.

Bonita Springs Assistance Office: Help this primary social service agency and serve the community in assisting needs of clients, enhancing public speaking presentations, or writing informational materials. Contact Maribel Slabaugh at Maribel@bonitaassistance.org or 239-992-3034.

Education for Collier: Would love strong, committed volunteers! Workshops in the Take Stock Program needs students to help in the ACT testing areas of Math, English, Reading, Writing and Science to help every week. Sessions held at Grace Place in Naples. Choose Monday or Tuesday evening from 6–7 p.m. Contact Linda Morton at lindamorton@educationforcollier.org.

Uncommon Friends Foundation: Are you a history buff? Become a tour guide in a Georgian Revival-style home located on the bank of the Caloosahatchee River in Downtown Fort Myers. Contact Christine Forbes at Christine@BurroughtsHome.com or 239-337-0706.

Grace Community Center: A multitude of opportunities! Help with an afterschool program for at-risk high school students, tutor to GED seekers, thrift store assistance, or serve food to neighbors in need. Contact Cheryl Wilcox at cwilcox@egracechurch.com or 239-656-1320.

FGCU Athletics: Numerous opportunities with game day operations. Serve as ushers for basketball, baseball, softball, and timers for swimming and diving. Contact Will Pitt at wpitt@fgcu.edu or 239-590-7055.

FGCU Center for Academic Achievement: Need tutors in Math, Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Statistics, and Intro. to Psychology. Applicants have earned a B+ or higher in the course they desire to tutor and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Paid students are not eligible to earn service-learning hours. Contact Frank Graceffo at 239-590-7992 or by email at fgraceff@fgcu.edu. 

Abuse Counseling & Treatment (ACT): Second Act Thrift store needs help. The benefit of volunteering is a 50 percent discount. Also, need someone to help this nonprofit agency with a marketing plan for two to three months available. Contact Honara Jacobus at hjacobus@actabuse.com or 239-939-2553.

YMCA: Help coach basketball, soccer, flag football or assist with events. Contact Lisa at lisaw@leecountyymca.org.

Take Stock in Children: Become a mentor! Few bonds in life are more influential than those between a young person and an adult. Take Stock in Children needs mentors for Caloosa Middle School, Dunbar High School, East Lee County High School, Fort Myers High School, Ida Baker High School, Lehigh Senior High School. Call 239-337-0433.

 

 

 

Information is provided by the Service Learning department. All opportunities are pre-approved. You can find more opportunities on Facebook at “FGCU Service Learning.”