How to find a Volunteer Service Position

There is virtually no limit to the types of service positions available. Almost any service agency you can think of has opportunities for volunteers. Maybe you have a favorite charitable or non-profit organization where you would like to work. Maybe you are already working in a volunteer capacity and would like to get academic credit for the time you spend there. If the work you are doing or would like to do is volunteer (unpaid), is community service oriented, and the agency you serve is a non-profit organization, CS 101 credits should be available to you. If you are not sure about how you would like to fulfill your service requirement, or if you run into problems with your planned service position, we have several ways for you to access hundreds of different volunteer opportunities and we'd be happy to assist you.

We strongly encourage you to select a community service assignment that will provide you with the best experience possible. For example, you may want to choose an agency that offers you service work related to your major and/or your future career. Don't be afraid to "shop around" for the best service opportunities. However, you should be sure to arrange you service experience in the first few weeks of the semester. Agencies often have waiting lists for volunteers, lengthy screening requirements, or it simply takes many days or even weeks just to reach the correct person in an agency. Start contacting agencies you are interested in right away!

The SCS Office maintains a Community Service Opportunities Directory with information on a large variety of service opportunities with agencies throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Also, an Agency Data Book is maintained by SCS which contains information on many service agencies in the region. Both of these resources can be found in Joyal 256. There is also a service here at Fresno State called JobsLine which allows you 24 hour access to both volunteer and paid positions. For more information on the JobsLine call the Career Development and Employment Office at 278-2703. Also, students can contact the Volunteer Bureau of Fresno County at 237-3101 for opportunities that are not listed in the SCS directories or on the JobsLine. For personal guidance in selecting a volunteer position contact the SCS Office or a career counselor in Joyal 256.

Remember that there are literally hundreds of different volunteer service opportunities available to you. There are major related opportunities available in fields as diverse as Health Science, Social Work, Engineering, Education, and many more. From Anthropology to Zoology, we have service opportunities that meet your career interests. There are even a number of unique and rewarding opportunities for service right here on campus.

Please note that there are a few types of service activities that are not eligible for Community Service 101 credit. While we do not discourage students from being involved in these types of activities, you may not use these types of service work to earn course credit. These types of service include, but are not limited to:

• Paid work of any kind;
• Volunteer work for a private, for-profit company;
• Work for any private individual or family not directly associated with a nonprofit agency;
• Paid or volunteer work for a political candidate or campaign. (You may work for an elected official but can not work on any type of campaign or election effort.)

Also, you may not use hours that you have volunteered prior to signing up for the CS 101 course or are using for credit in another class unless you have made previous arrangements with the SCS coordinator and/or the instructor of the other course.

What campus resources are available to students interested in volunteer opportunities?

SCS coordinates many different university programs that promote volunteerismwith the following as a few examples:

Community Service Scholarship Program

This program, funded through private and corporate donations, provides scholarships of $500 or $1,000 to students in exchange for community service.

Southeast Asian Student Program

Fresno County has one of the largest Southeast Asian refugee populations in the world. This program promotes the involvement of Southeast Asian students and other university resources in volunteer projects directly affecting the local refugee community.

University HOPE (Housing OPportunities through Education)

Almost exclusively through volunteer work and donated materials, this student organization builds homes to provide low-cost housing to Fresno County residents who could not otherwise afford to own a home.

African American Student Alliance

This initiative was created in an effort to recruit and retain African American students at California State University, Fresno. It helps develop student leadership, citizenship, and personal development through campus and community service.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES LIST

There are literally hundreds of agencies and groups with which you can volunteer your time. You are encouraged to choose a community service experience which best suits your personal, educational, or career interests and needs. Remember, the Students for Community Service Office has listings of many volunteer opportunities which you can choose from, or you can develop your own placement at an organization of your choice.

In recent months a great deal of national, state and local attention has been focused on increasing the number of adults who work as volunteers with young people. President Bill Clinton, retired General Colin Powell, Governor Pete Wilson, Chancellor Barry Munitz of the California State University system, Fresno State President John Welty and many others have all called for a renewed commitment to the young people of our country. In response to this call, Students for Community Service is encouraging Fresno State students, staff and faculty to consider volunteer work with youth-serving agencies. Just a few examples of these types of agencies and opportunities can be found below.

An important fact to keep in mind is that you do not have to be an education major to gain professionally from working with youth. Youth service programs can include projects which concentrate on recreation, health, education, homelessness, computer and technology training, cultural programs, violence and gang prevention, self-esteem enhancement and much more.

School based tutoring, mentoring, and educational opportunities: Work as a tutor, teachers aide, recreation/sports assistant, mentor or other volunteer jobs in a local school or school based program. Call any school of your choice by getting the phone number from the phone book. HOSTS (Help One Student To Succeed) offers special mentoring/tutoring activities with elementary and junior high school students (Tioga Middle School: 226-8172; or Wawona Middle School: 441-3003).

UC Links/5th Dimension: A tutoring project located at Carver Academy in Fresno. Volunteers assist 3rd - 8th grade students with computer based educational enrichment activities. A great program if you are interested in working in education, with children and/or with computers! Call 228-2050.

Police Activities League: The Police Activities League (PAL) provides area youth with many recreation, self-esteem enhancement and educational programs. Call 498-2508

Share America/Stone Soup Partnership: This project works with children in the El Dorado Park Neighborhood just west of Bulldog Stadium. The program needs volunteers for educational, recreational, health, medical and other services. Call 224-7060.

Direction Sports: This campus based program offers combined recreation and tutoring programs at Wolters Elementary School only 1 mile from campus. Call 224-9051.

Boys and Girls Club of Fresno: With several locations around Fresno, and a myriad of recreation and educational programs, the Boys and Girls Clubs offer many different volunteer opportunities. Call 266-3117.

Hoover C.A.R.E. Mentor Project: Caring Adults Reinforcing Education is a mentoring program at Hoover High School, only 3 blocks from Fresno State. The program matches college students and other adults with high school students to provide the support and encouragement that is greatly needed by today's youth. Call 441-6980.

Golden Valley Girl Scouts: Troop leaders and assistants are needed throughout the Central Valley to work with young girls in the Girl Scouts. Call 297-1570.

Glory Bound Ministries: Help coordinate, assist and/or tutor young children in math, reading, spelling, and with assisting with recreational programs. Call 266-8812.

Youth for Christ: A Christian faith based service program that serves young people in Juvenile Hall, mentors at-risk youth and teen mothers. Call 237-4741. Non-Youth Related Service Opportunities

If working with young people is not for you there are many other choices! The following is a list of just a few of the organizations with whom students frequently volunteer their time. As with the list of youth service agencies, this is by no means a comprehensive list of all of the volunteer opportunities available! If you would like information on other organizations you can call SCS at(278-7079), the Career Development Office (278-2703), or the Fresno County Volunteer Bureau (237-3101).

Housing OPportunities through Education: HOPE This organization builds housing for low-income, working families. Volunteers are needed to help with home construction, public relations, volunteer recruitment, fundraising and much more. Call 224-9501 for more information.

Central Calif. Blood Center: Promoting on-campus and community blood drives, public relations, working with donors and more. Call Nancy @ 224-2900, ext 168.

Friendly Visitors Center: Provides visitation and living assistance to area senior citizens. Offices right here on-campus. Call 278-6131.

Children Services Network - Warm Line: Be a peer counselor or work with the Phone-A-Friend program. Call 456-1100

Volunteer Bureau of Fresno: 237-3101

Community Hospitals of Central California: 442-6490

Tree Fresno: 278-4378

Fresno City Police Department: 498-1519

Big Brothers-Big Sisters: 268-2447

Fresno Zoological Society/Chaffee Zoo: 264-5988

For more information, email Chris Fiorentino

Return to SCS Menu