UB Students - Volunteer Today!

 

Enhance your student résumé, learn something new, do good things for others, explore careers that interest you, give back to your community and have fun! VOLUNTEER!

Here are some agencies and organizations in the UW-L Upward Bound target area (La Crosse and Monroe counties) that are seeking volunteers (hat tip to Viterbo University and UW-L Involvement Center). Follow the links below for more info (and remember to track your volunteer time on your student résumé!)

Note - some volunteer opportunities are one time or short term (helping with a special event or project) and some may be long term commitments. Be sure to talk with the volunteer coordinator to make sure the opportunity matches your interest and availability.

If you don't see what you are looking for, make your own volunteer activity! List your interests and find a local agency or organization that matches, then contact them and offer to volunteer. Most places are eager for free help! Keep in mind that your age and experience may limit what you are eligible to do, but don't give up.

If none of these specific ideas works for you, try Volunteer Match!

American Cancer Society - Here's the Wisconsin volunteer page with application and handbook. Volunteer opportunities may include driving patients to and from treatment, data entry, phone calling to update databases, volunteering in the office or at events, acting as legislative/advocacy volunteers.

American Red Cross - Scenic Bluffs Chapter - Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. To volunteer, call 608 788-1000 or 1-800-837-6313 to schedule an appointment. A Red Cross staff person will talk with you to find out about your interests, skills and schedule. Learn more at the volunteer info page.

Area Community Theater (907 Kilbourn Ave, Tomah) - If you are interested in helping ACT in any capacity please let us know. We now have a home base for all volunteers. Your name will not be lost...it WILL be used! Everyone is important and there are many opportunities including set construction, theater clean up, house crew (ushers and refreshments), acting, ticket sales, marketing and more. Please call 608 374-7469 (SHOW)! and leave your name, number & area to help.

Bethany Homes (La Crosse) - Volunteers may assist with recreational activities, read aloud to residents, help with writing, assist with special events, help with weekly outings, manicures, one on one visits, sing-alongs, gardening, mail delivery, crafts, playing games, helping with computers, doing errands or shopping, helping with walks or oudoor time, teaching a special talent, and more. Download a volunteer form or call 608 775-4741.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Coulee Region (1707 Main Street, #438) - Volunteers enroll through Big Brothers Big Sisters and following an interview, references and a background check, are oriented and introduced to a little brother or little sister by BBBS staff. Regular support is available to assure that the relationship builds over time, and any logistical problems are resolved. For more info, please email Abby Abernathy or call Beth Twiton, 608 782-2227.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse  - Here's a link to the volunteer application

Boys and Girls Club of Sparta - here's info about volunteer opportunities including a volunteer application

Boys and Girls Club of the Tomah Area - here's the contact page.

Chasing Daylight Animal Shelter (Tomah) - The mission of CDAS is to protect animals from suffering and cruelty. Our primary emphasis is to provide care for domestic cats and dogs until 'forever homes' are found. To volunteer, fill out their application.

Children's Museum of La Crosse  - here's a link to the volunteer application form.

City of La Crosse Parks and Recreation Department - Volunteer application form. Help with special events and activities.

Coulee Region Humane Society - Always looking for volunteers to help care for animals and people to collect donations for the animals. Here's the volunteer page.

Franciscan Skemp Medical Center (La Crosse) - Volunteers 14 and older work with paid staff to provide extra services and/or add to the quality of care. Most volunteers serve 2-4 hours a week. New volunteers complete an application, health screening, background check and orientation. To get started, call 608 392-9766 to schedule a personal interview or send an e-mail Ask about volunteer opportunities in your community.

Great Rivers 211 (La Crosse) - Help with data entry, telephone work, bulk mailing, filing, etc. Contact Amy at 608 775-5586 or Jenny at 608 775-6337.

Great Rivers United Way - Click link for opportunities.

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center - At Gundersen Lutheran, volunteers 14 and older become a part of our team. More than 500 volunteers provide service to patients, families and staff in a wide variety of areas. Volunteers help make a hospitalization, an appointment or a visit a more positive experience for patients and their families. To get started, please contact 608 775-6755 or 1-800-362-9567, ext. 56755 or email the teen volunteer coordinator at gundluth.org Ask about volunteer opportunities in your community.

Habitat for Humanity La Crosse Area  - Volunteers may work in the Habitat Re-Store and/or help with construction. Click here for the volunteer application form.

Hillview Urban Agriculture Center (737 24th St. N.,  La Crosse) - a non-profit community urban farm working to building community and improve the lives of elders by engaging them in the operation and maintenance of this unique organic agricultural facility. Click here for information about volunteering.

Hillview Healthcare Center (La Crosse) - Many opportunities to work with residents or help staff - from reading aloud to making a bulletin board. Contact Brooke Smith, Recreation Therapy Supervisor/Volunteer Coordinator at 608 789-4800, extension 238 or fill out the online volunteer application.

Holmen Community Theater - Once each year, during the summer, Holmen Community Theatre, Inc., sponsors a production. Members of area communities are invited to audition in late May for the summer's show. The productions, musical or otherwise, are performed at Holmen High School or Holmen Middle School. Volunteers actors, stage crew, costumers, sound and light technicians and set builders are needed. For more information, call Curt Tolvstad at (608) 526-9242.

HorseSense for Special Riders (La Crosse) - Be a "side walker" or horse leader, exercise the therapy horses, muck out the barns, help with special events ... Email, call 608 791-4868 or fill out the online volunteer form.

Human Powered Trails (La Crosse) - A 100% volunteer, non-profit  organization that develops and maintains sustainable and environmentally correct shared use trails for the La Crosse, WI region for human powered (walking, running, biking, skiing, etc.) activities. If you like to get outside, get dirty, learn more about human powered activities, geography, trail building or being a leader in your community, fill out the volunteer form or email info[at]humanpoweredtrails.com

La Crosse Area Family YMCA - Volunteers are critically important to carrying out our mission, so we ask our program volunteers to go through an application and screening process similar to that of our paid staff members. This process ensures that the best fit is made between the new volunteer and the program they are matched with, while also ensuring the safety of our members, participants, staff and all of our volunteers. Click here to view volunteer opportunities with La Crosse's largest youth serving organization. Here is the volunteer application form.

La Crosse Community Theater (118 Fifth Avenue North, La Crosse) - LCCT productions rely on volunteers! There are many openings onstage, backstage, and in the office in a variety of areas including construction, sound and lighting, ushering, marketing, acting, office work, clean up and much more. Fill out a Volunteer Application and mail it to PO Box 1852, La Crosse, WI 54602-1852 or drop it off at the theater. Or contact volunteer coordinator, Greg Parmeter, for more information.

La Crosse County Historical Society - be a Hixon House docent, a re-enactor, an office volunteer or help with a special event. Call 608-782-1980 or email George Italiano.

La Crosse Park and Recreation Department - lots of volunteers needed year 'round for special events like runs, Polar Plunge, Winter Rec Fest and much more! Call Jay Odegaard at 608 789-7597 for more info.

La Crosse Skyrockers - Learn about pyrotechnics and help raise funds for the local shows. Contact Matt or Pat for more info.

Lakeview Health Center (West Salem) - Volunteer opportunities include cooking groups, exercise groups, visiting and socializing, gardening, music, playing games, taking walks, writing letters, reading books, helping with special events, educational groups, decorating for holidays, and much more! Internships are also available. Call the coordinator of Volunteers at 608 786-1400.

MeadowWood Assisted Living Center (2904 East Avenue South, La Crosse) - Email or call 608 788-7489 for information about volunteer opportunities.

Meals on Wheels La Crosse - Contact the La Crosse County Aging Unit 608 785-9710 or Mobile Meals of La Crosse, Inc. 608 784-4623 for more info

Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center (at UW-L) - Help preserve the history of our area. Call MVAC at 608 785-8454 or email Jean.

Mississippi Valley Conservancy - Mississippi Valley Conservancy is a regional, non-profit land trust in La Crosse that has permanently conserved over 9,400 acres of blufflands, prairies, wetlands and streams in the Coulee Region since its founding in 1997. Workdays include seed collection, brush removal, sign posting, etc. Check this page for volunteer opportunities!

Monroe County Animal Shelter (19714 Highway 16) - Hours are 8 a.m. to noon Mondays through Saturdays. If you are interested in helping or volunteering please call (608 269-8775) or email your name, address and phone number and we will get the proper volunteer information to you.

Monroe County Historical Society - Opportunities are many and varied including research, filing, re-enacting, event planning, marketing, horticulture, preparing exhibits and much more! Email Jarrod or call 608 269-8680 for more information.

Monroe County Meals on Wheels (Sparta) - help deliver hot meals to local elders. Call 608 269-8692 to find out more.

Myrick Hixon Eco-Park (789 Myrick Park Dr,  La Crosse) - Volunteers needed to help care for animals and trails, work on special events, volunteer in the office, help with habitat and wildlife surveys and more! Download the volunteer brochure for more details and then email or call 608 784-0303.

National Weather Service - be a volunteer storm spotter! Attend a training session (students younger than 18 must attend with a parent or other adult).

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (W7996 20th Street West, Necedah) - The Friends of Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is a volunteer-based organization. There are volunteer opportunities available from teaching in the outdoors, assisting in construction, fund-raising and serving on committees. Email or call for more information.

Norskedalen (Coon Valley) - Volunteer opportunities include event volunteers (set up, advertising, cooking, cleaning, re-enacting, educating, parking cars, setting up, etc.),  Invasive Species Eradication (training and tools provided), guiding and hosting, office help, gardening (in heritage gardens). For more information call 608 452.3424 or email info[at]norskedalen.org

Place of Grace Catholic Worker House (919 Hood Street, La Crosse) - You don't need to be Catholic to volunteer. PoG volunteer work includes helping to prepare and serve meals, cleaning up, talking with guests, crafting with children and providing general hospitality. Please attend at least once as a guest before volunteering! Contact Ben Kruse, 608 782-6224. Meals are: Sundays 2 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Hospitality hours are Sundays and Wednesdays 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays 1 to 7 p.m.

Riverfront (La Crosse) - Office and clerical, work with clients, help with special events. Contact the volunteer coordinator.

Salvation Army La Crosse - Volunteer opportunities include meal services, pantry, office, unloaders, seasonal bell ringers and angel tree. Email or call 608 782-6126 for more information.

Special Olympics - There is a great need for volunteers willing to give some of their time to this special population especially with the Special Olympics sports programs. Working with people with disabilities is a highly rewarding experience and something you will remember all your life. Possibly, you may choose working with persons with disabilities for a career. If you are interested in volunteering in the La Crosse area, please call (608) 789-7596. Or visit this page for other communities in western Wisconsin.

Tomah Area Historical Society - Volunteer to MAKE THEM A WEB PAGE!!! Contact Forrest Mades at 608 372-1880 or 608 372-5771.

Tomah Veterinary Clinic Animal Shelter  (1600 Superior Avenue) - To ask about volunteering, please email or call 608 372-4879

Veterans Administration Veterans Center (500 East Veterans Street, Tomah) - Volunteer to help our veterans - patient visitors, drivers, blue bird monitors, pharmacy customer service assistant, golf course attendant, and much more!. Call the center (608 372-3971, ext. 66225 or fill out the online application form.

WAFER Food Pantry (403 Causeway Blvd, La Crosse) - Collect non-perishables or volunteer to unload and stock. Contact: 608 782-6003  or email.

YWCA of La Crosse - Be a computer tutor (an A-PRO (recreational opportunities for those with physical disabilities) volunteer - call 608 781-2783 ext.6 or email Melanie.

Last updated December 21, 2012.

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