Sustainability Service Opportunities

Service is one of the best ways to contribute toward the sustainability of your community. The following opportunities are sustainability-related volunteer options available to those in and around the NC State area. If you would like a nonprofit added to the list below, contact us.

 

On NC State’s Campus

 

Water Quality and Management

• Construction of stormwater control devices to improve water management and quality (Contact: Rick Hilburn of NC State Grounds Management)
• Removal of invasive plants in along Rocky Branch and Lake Raleigh to assist in local ecology and promote native plant health (Contact: Terry Price of NC State Grounds Management)

Wildlife

• Turtle Rescue Team  offers opportunities for turtle lovers to foster a recovering turtle before it’s released back into the wild.

Gardening

• The SOUL Garden (“Students for Organic, United Living”) is a student-led garden that produces food for committed volunteers and the Inter-faith Food Shuttle.
• NC State’s Agroecology Education Farm is an educational farm with regular volunteer hours.
• JC Raulston Arboretum has gardening opportunities as well as volunteer opportunities for special events, fundraising, business and outreach.

Campus Beautification and Waste Diversion

• Great STATE Clean Up is a specific Service Raleigh project organized by the NC State Department of Waste Reduction and Recycling. Expect to ride a bike to a campus location and pick up litter.
• NC State’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Office offers numerous opportunities, including WE Recycle during home football game tailgates and Carter-Finley Composts during home football games.

Affordable Housing

• NC State Habitat for Humanity offers opportunities to aid in construction, destruction or tutoring. Habitat also offers opportunities to volunteer at its ReStores, which can accommodate individual volunteers or groups of 8 – 12 volunteers for morning or afternoon shifts.

Hunger

• NC State Food Pantry offers opportunities to assist with the management of an on-campus food pantry.

Earth Month at NC State

• Earth Month (April) at NC State provides many opportunities for volunteers to help spread sustainability throughout campus. Opportunities vary from year to year, depending on events.

Other

• Service Raleigh is an annual event that organizes many different service opportunities in the Raleigh area.
• Alternative Service Break provides local and international service opportunities for students.

 

In the Raleigh Area

 

Gardening

• The Wedge Community Garden offers opportunities for volunteers to learn about gardening while helping with a variety of gardening tasks
• Inter-Faith Food Shuttle* offers volunteer opportunities from gardening tasks to sorting food.
• Raleigh City Farm* has gardening and construction opportunities as well as volunteer opportunities for fundraising, business and outreach

*Opportunities other than gardening available.

Hunger

• 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.

Litter-Pickup

• N.C. Department of Transportation: Adopt a Highway offers groups the opportunity to keep a section of your local highway clean and litter-free.
• N.C. Department of Transportation: Biannual Litter Sweep occurs at the end of April and September.

City of Raleigh Opportunities

• Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Volunteer Program offers opportunities help improve a park or work on a special event with the Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.
• Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program allows you to help monitor your local stream’s water quality. This opportunity requires a one year commitment.

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.
• North Carolina Museum of Art offer opportunities to maintain trails, control invasive species, and much more.  Special backgrounds (e.g. horticulture) are appreciated for certain projects.

Equity and Wellness

• Alexander Family YMCA offers opportunities to positively impact the lives of youth in our community as mentors, tutors, and youth sports coaches.

Other

• The Green Chair Project offers opportunities match gently used furniture with those who have recently come out of homelessness.