GIVE OF YOURSELF
The holidays are known for being the season of giving—of yourself, your time, and your treasure. But what if this spirit of generosity extended beyond the holiday season? What if it was a precursor to the manner in which we enter the New Year? A sort of “head start” when beginning again? Instead of starting over annually, January could be the proverbial second step, rather than the initial one. This would offer a remarkable momentum to our movement towards betterment in yet another calendar cycle.
Rather than making another resolution that might very well be thrown by the wayside all too quickly, put yourself in a position where your presence not only serves others, but helps to build a better community by building a better you. Volunteering is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and into someone else’s shoes. As we enter 2024, let us look at volunteering opportunities as a way to help maintain the spirit of giving beyond the holiday season.
There are countless ways to give of yourself. First and foremost, pick an area that speaks to your heart. Locally, some of the most popular organizations aid animals, children, the differently abled, the homeless, and the environment. So, we have rounded up a few Central Valley organizations from each of these categories to give ideas about where you can keep on giving. Being local, these non-profits make it easy to see the ripple effect volunteer work can have in our own community.
Animals
Animal Rescue of Fresno (ARF)
www.arf-fresno.com
ARF is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that receives no government funding. They rely entirely on community support to sustain their operations and programs. You can join ARF’s cause by volunteering at their facility, helping with events, engaging in outreach, or offering whatever you believe might contribute to their mission.
Central California SPCA
www.ccspca.com
Those who are passionate about animal welfare have plenty of ways to get involved at the Central California SPCA, “Fresno’s Humane Society”. Volunteer opportunities for a wide variety of job assignments, related to any skill set, are available every day throughout the entire year. All that is needed is a small mandatory fee that will cover a volunteer t-shirt and other essential supplies.
Project Survival Cat Haven
www.cathaven.com
Volunteering at the Cat Haven is for those who love to teach and work with the public. It also provides an excellent opportunity to be involved in wild cat conservation without traveling to exotic locations. Volunteers assist faculty with educational goals and cover routine duties such as managing the gift shop. You can apply to be a docent, keeper, coordinator, or to help with maintenance and cleanup.
Children
Boys & Girls Clubs of Fresno County
www.bgcfresno.org
Spending just a few hours a week in a Boys & Girls Club, which counts on volunteers to carry out their mission, can have a tremendous impact on a child’s life. The Clubs offer opportunities for adults to work directly with youth as homework helpers and tutors, activity assistants, and mentors. They strive to connect everyone with an opportunity that fits individual skills, interests, and availability.
CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties
www.casafresnomadera.org
There are a few remarkable ways to stand up for foster youth if you join CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties. By getting involved, you can help change the trajectories of foster kids, helping them transition into successful futures. Become an advocate and give a voice to the children in our community who need it the most. Several CASA fundraising events throughout the year are also in need of volunteers.
Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU)
www.epuchildren.org
Volunteers play an important role in EPU’s mission to provide family-focused services. They offer opportunities for volunteers to support their contributions towards our communities by working with children between the ages of 18 to 36 months in the Child Development Center or by supporting their various one-day events throughout the year. Simply apply online.
The Differently Abled
Able Advocates
www.ableadvocates.org
Able Advocates’ amazing team of regular and part-time volunteers are committed to providing services and equipment to children with special needs. The non-profit offers a no-cost equipment closet to Central Valley families in need as well as family support and community connections. If you think you would be a good fit, get in touch for more information.
Best Buddies
www.bestbuddies.org
Best Buddies offers One-to-One Friendship, Integrated Employment, Leadership Development, and Inclusive Living for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in California. Volunteers can help end the social, physical, and economic isolation of 200 million people with IDD. Just sign up and let the organization find the perfect way for you to get involved.
The Creative Center Foundation
www.thecreativecenter-visalia.org
The Creative Center in Visalia is a community arts center for adults with developmental disabilities. Their work fosters self-expression, self-worth, and personal growth through arts and community integration. The foundation’s board and volunteers help to provide cultural resources to the community and recognize individuals’ value and contributions.
Environment
Beautify Fresno
www.beautifyfresno.org
Beautify Fresno is a city-wide effort to clean the city’s neighborhoods, streets, and highways in partnership with local organizations, non-profits, churches, service organizations, and individuals in the community. If you want to help this cause and are willing to spend a couple hours to help clean up and beautify the community, simply check out their opportunity calendar.
San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust
www.riverparkway.org
From occasional to long-term commitments, time and talent is always needed to support programs and projects such as habitat restoration, river field-trips for children, summer camp, fundraising, advocacy, and more to help the mission of the San Joaquin Parkway and Conservation Trust. They also utilize the Trust’s Website Calendar and Volunteer Match to share volunteer opportunities.
Sequoia Riverlands Trust
www.sequoiariverlands.org
You can serve the land and the people with the Sequoia Riverlands Trust. They offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for all ages, physical abilities, and levels of interest. Their many stewardship activities include planting native plants for the trust’s restoration and mitigation projects, building trails, trash cleanups, assisting with environmental education presentations, and more.
Homeless
Eco Village Project of Fresno
www.ecovillagefresno.org
Anyone can help provide “A Green Solution to Homelessness” via the safe and dignified living spaces built in an environmentally sustainable manner through Eco Village Project of Fresno. Their model gives each resident the educational, emotional, and physical tools as well as the caring support and training needed to escape the cycle of homelessness.
Fresno Mission
www.fresnomission.org
Life change starts with a meal at Fresno Mission, but that’s not all that they do. The organization has recently launched a new online volunteer orientation program that allows volunteers to complete preliminary orientation from the comfort of home. You can make a difference by helping in the kitchen, working with children, or assisting in outreach programs there.
Salt + Light
www.saltandlightworks.org
Salt + Light is changing the approach to and treatment of homelessness in a radically different way, and in doing so they are cultivating community. Check out VOMO to see how you can serve our neighbors experiencing homelessness through a variety of means, such as food preparation, pick-up, transport, and distribution; food-truck loading and delivery, neighbor shuttle, or as a merchandise and office assistant.
Editorial Director Lauren Barisic
