Sustainability Service Opportunities
Volunteering is a great way to advance sustainability at NC State University and in the community. The following opportunities are sustainability-related volunteer options available for those looking to serve on campus and/or in the Raleigh area.
For a full list of volunteer opportunities, please visit the Student Leadership and Engagement Service Site. NC State students can also magnify their service impact by joining a student organization at Get Involved.
Campus Beautification and Waste Diversion
- Contact NC State Grounds Services for campus landscape projects, including gardening, mulching and invasive species removal projects.
- Contact NC State Waste Reduction and Recycling for campus litter pick-ups and other waste diversion projects.
COMPOSTING
- Contact NC State Waste Reduction and Recycling to volunteer at the NC State Compost Facility and Research Cooperative and/or on gameday at each home football game with the Zero Waste Wolfpack.
Food security
- Volunteer at Feed the Pack Food Pantry located in Honors and Scholars Commons.
Gardening
- Connect with The SOL Garden (“Students for Organic Living”), a student-led garden located at Parents Park near Lee Residence Hall.
- Connect with the Learning Gardens at Rocky Branch Trails, an edible garden embedded into the landscape behind Carmichael tennis and basketball courts.
- Sign up for a Farm Volunteer Day at the NC State Agroecology Education Farm.
- Join the community of volunteers at JC Raulston Arboretum, which provides opportunities in the garden and more.
- Join a volunteer workday at the Talley Research & Pollinator Rooftop Garden on the third Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Water Quality and Management
- Contact Rick Hilburn of NC State Grounds Services to assist with stormwater control devices to improve water management and quality
Wildlife
- Contact the Turtle Rescue Team to foster a recovering turtle before it’s released back into the wild.
Other
- Alternative Service Break provides local and international service opportunities for students.
- Earth Month (April) at NC State provides a range of opportunities for volunteers to celebrate sustainability on campus, including supporting NC State's signature sustainability event, NC State Earth Fair.
- Service Raleigh is an annual event that organizes many different service opportunities on campus and in the Raleigh area each April.
City beautification and waste diversion
- N.C. Department of Transportation: Adopt a Highway offers groups the opportunity to keep a section of your local highway clean and litter-free or participate in the annual Spring Litter Sweep each April.
City of Raleigh Opportunities
- Volunteer Raleigh connects people to volunteer opportunities within city departments, city-funded agencies and organizations. Areas of focus include community, crisis support, economic opportunity, education and youth, food security, health services, homelessness and housing and seniors.
- Downtown Raleigh provides multiple opportunities to serve in the heart of Raleigh.
Equity and Wellness
- The YMCA of the Triangle offers opportunities to positively impact the lives of youth in our community as mentors, tutors and youth sports coaches.
FOOD SECURITY
- Farmer Foodshare helps farmers donate surplus produce to those in need.
- Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina offers opportunities to sort food at the distribution center, organize a food drive, or offer administrative support.
- Meals on Wheels provides opportunities to distribute nutritious meals to homebound seniors. Requires a driver’s license and a vehicle.
Gardening
- The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle* offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups, including gardening, food recovery and education.
- Connect with Raleigh City Farm* to support the planting, mulching, harvesting and distribution of produce grown to the community.
*Opportunities other than gardening are available.
Housing
- Habitat for Humanity at NC State offers opportunities to build affordable homes in Wake County. Habitat Wake also offers opportunities in construction, advocacy, its ReStores and through AmeriCorps.
- The Green Chair Project offers opportunities to match gently used furniture with those who have recently come out of homelessness.
Museums
- North Carolina Natural Science Museum volunteers help with special events like Bugfest, as well as educating children on natural history topics and aiding research efforts. The ideal volunteer can commit to volunteering on a weekly basis for at least one year.
- The North Carolina Museum of Art offers opportunities to maintain trails, control invasive species, and much more. Special backgrounds (e.g. horticulture) are appreciated for certain projects.
Other
- Service Raleigh is an annual event that organizes many different service opportunities on campus and in the Raleigh area each April.
- VolunteerMatch and Activate Good provide multiple opportunities for individuals and groups, both in-person and online.
If you would like a nonprofit added to the above list, please contact us.