Volunteer opportunities abound for OSU students looking to get involved in the community

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El Guo

Program Coordinator Clack Chesshir (they/he) sits and does work at their desk at Oregon State University, Feb 13. The Beavs Volunteer team at Community Engagement & Leadership work to deliver an engaging experience that will build community leadership skills.

Whether volunteering is a new year’s resolution you haven’t gotten around to yet, or you’re just looking to get outside this spring, several Corvallis organizations are currently looking for volunteers.

Corvallis Sustainability Coalition

The Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, a group working to promote sustainability in the Corvallis area, offers several opportunities for those interested in volunteering. 

The group has a dozen action teams, which focus on specific sustainability-related issues from water to education, and work on projects designed by the group’s volunteers, according to the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition website

Heartland Humane Shelter and Care

Corvallis’s Heartland Humane Shelter and Care relies on volunteers for much of it’s activities, and the shelter welcomes those interested in volunteering to register on the shelter’s website

According to the website, volunteers at the shelter do everything from caring for and socializing animals, to maintaining the shelter’s grounds and buildings and aiding in fundraising efforts.

Corvallis Parks and Recreation

Between maintaining 2,000 acres of parks, and organizing community events, Corvallis Parks and Recreation has opportunities for volunteering all year round. 

According to the Parks and Recreation website, opportunities range from helping maintain parks around the city, to taking part in performances held at The Majestic Theatre. Prospective volunteers can apply online, and paper applications are also available at Corvallis Parks and Recreation facilities.

Beavs Volunteer

Oregon State University students can also volunteer in several local organizations, including both the shelter and Parks and Recreation, through the university itself via OSU’s Beavs Volunteer program. Volunteers in the program can register through the Beavs Volunteer website

The program partners with five local organizations, and beside the Heartland Humane Shelter and Parks and Recreation, students can also volunteer with Benton Habitat for Humanity, the Room at the Inn emergency women’s shelter and the Starker Arts Garden for Education, which grows and donates food to local soup kitchens and food banks, according to the Beavs Volunteer Website.

Greenbelt Land Trust

The Greenbelt Land Trust, a nonprofit organization focused on conserving lands in the mid-Willamette Valley, maintains several programs for volunteers. The organization holds half-day work events, which range from maintaining trails to removing old fences, according to the Greenbelt Land Trust website

The organization also has regular land stewardship opportunities at Bald Hill Farm, and all are welcome to apply to join the Greenbelt Land Trust Volunteer Naturalist Program.

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