Ways to Serve Guide

Community Support

• Shop for your elderly or at-risk neighbor
  Dedicate an hour of your time by assisting your neighbor with errands such as grocery shopping. Vulnerable individuals may not have someone who can help out, and there could be an immediate need even right next door!
• Start a non-profit
  Notice a need in your area and have a passion for helping people? Think about starting a non-profit in your community and working closely with local partners.
• Volunteer at your local YMCA
  There are a plethora of volunteer opportunities at all times across the country. Get involved on a regular basis or check out opportunities with short term commitments by contacting your local YMCA.
• Mission Trips
  Many churches and religious communities offer mission and service trips for community empowerment year-round. Programs may be local, national, or global — so check out what interests you!

Educational

LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES

• Public School Program
  Our neighborhood schools and the Office of Community Service design programs once or twice each semester to give our elementary-age neighbors an opportunity to experience college up close. This is designed to get them excited about their own educational futures and to encourage them to consider college as a future option. Saint Rose volunteers interact with students and answer questions they have about college life.

albanyschools.org

• Literacy New York Greater Capital Region
  Volunteers work directly with adults in Albany County to help them build functional literacy skills or improve their current reading skills. Training is provided. For further information, visit the website.

literacynycap.org

• Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center, Inc.
  The Pre-K Program stresses the importance of reading aloud to young children while encouraging them to begin to read on their own. Volunteers are asked to read children’s stories aloud to those children in the pediatric waiting room.

wmyhealth.org

NATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

• Sit on your child’s school board/be a member of your local parent and teacher alliance PTA).
• Offer tutoring and/or mentorship to students in your local school system.

Social Justice & Advocacy

• Foreign Policy Association
  You can join existing groups or create your own.
• Albany Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center
  Become a sexual assault hotline counselor with Albany County. There’s also an opportunity to be an office assistant.
• Citizens’ Climate Lobby
  This link is specifically for Albany’s location, but they’re all across the country.
• United We Dream
  You can create your own group if you want, but this is a great option for those who have limited time and would like to know more about policies and resources such as petitions!United We Dream
• Volunteer with a political campaign.
• Serve as poll workers at your local election site.

Volunteer Your Time

• Volunteer at local Ronald McDonald House
  Offer support to families and children, help with preparing meals, and organize a toy drive.
• Help out at St. Vincent’s Food Pantry located near Saint Rose on Madison Ave.
• Help drive cancer patients for treatment
  This will be offered soon after Phase 4 of New York State’s reopening! You can drive cancer patients to their treatment centers when they do not have access to transportation. One ACS location is right in Latham. All for Good Projects Road to Recovery
• Volunteer at Life Path NY
  You can also become a driver or meal preparer for Meals on Wheels. This is also located nationwide for our alum.
• Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
• Take care of the elderly
  Become a pen pal with a resident of a nursing home or retirement home
• Reach out to first responders
  Leave a thank you note and/or present for the people we often take for granted (policemen, firemen, paramedics, nurses, mailmen, teachers, pastors).