Community Volunteer Opportunities
One-Time or Occasional Volunteer Opportunities
- Aspirations programming—on-campus aspirations events for local children and youth. Contact Ronan Goulden (rgoulden@bates.edu).
- Blake Street Towers and Meadowview (Lewiston Housing Authority residences for low-income elderly and younger disabled) are happy to have volunteers plan social events–meals, game nights, performances, etc. Contact Emily Walsh (ewalsh2@bates.edu).
- The Good Shepherd Food Bank prepares food for distribution throughout the state. Contact Nimco Jama (njama@bates.edu).
Ongoing or Sustained Volunteer Opportunities
Mentoring Programs
- Big Brothers Big Sisters – one-on-one weekly one-hour matches with elementary school kids at Longley Elementary School. Contact Jennifer Cartmell (jennifer@bbbsmidmaine.org).
- Auburn Middle School – Biweekly mentoring for middle school students. Contact Ronan Goulden (rgoulden@bates.edu)
- Lewiston High School – Biweekly mentoring for high school students. Particularly suited for Bates students committed to mentoring for longer than one year. Contact Ronan Goulden (rgoulden@bates.edu)
- Montello Elementary School – one-on-one weekly one-hour matches with elementary school kids. Contact Ava Petrin (apetrin@bates.edu)
- Lewiston Middle School lunch program – have lunch with LMS students once a week. Contact Trinity Monstwillo (tmonstwillo@bates.edu)
Tutoring and Enrichment Programs
- Tree Street Youth – Mondays through Thursdays, 2-6pm; Friday 2-4pm. Contact Leslie Jimenez (ljimenez@bates.edu)
- Lewiston High School — Provide targeted reading and math tutoring as well as homework help for high school students. Contact Ellen Alcorn (ealcorn@bates.edu)
- Book Buddies – reading to early-elementary-age children during the school day. Contact Contact Anna Sarrazin (asarrazi@bates.edu).
- Aspirations programming – on-campus aspirations events for local children and youth. Contact Ronan Goulden (rgoulden@bates.edu).
- Boys and Girls Club – after-school programming. Contact Luke Van Denend (lvandenend@bgcmaine.org).
Food Accessibility
- Trinity Soup Kitchen – serves meals 7 days a week. Contact Janelle Poland (volunteertjc@gmail.com).
- Lots to Gardens – community gardening and cooking classes. Contact Nimco Jama (njama@bates.edu).
- Good Shepherd Food Bank – preparing food for distribution throughout the state. Contact Nimco Jama (njama@bates.edu).
Elderly/Younger Disabled
- Blake Street Towers – serve Sunday brunch to elderly and younger disabled residents. Contact Emily Walsh (ewalsh@bates.edu).
The Arts
- ArtVan – mobile arts therapy working with non-profits in Lewiston-Auburn. Contact Contact Kai Harris (kharris4@bates.edu).
Immigrant Integration Programming
- Trinity Jubilee Center – help immigrants and refugees with employment, housing, education, and other challenges. Contact Hunter Kissam (hunter@trinityjubileecenter.org)
- AK Health and Social Services- After school programs, community needs assessment and other programs. Contact Abdikhadar Shire (abdikhadar.shire@akhss.org)
- MEIRS — Help newcomers with English, citizenship classes, and community integration. Contact Ulyses Hernandex Felipe (shernan2@bates.edu)
Other Programs (some of these require extensive training)
- Central Maine Medical Center—Contact Volunteering@cmhc.org
- St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center – Contact Elizabeth Keene; 207-777-8369; ekeene@covh.org. (Volunteers help transport patients within the hospital, assist with departmental projects, deliver flowers to patient rooms, greet patients, provide directions to departments and more. The only requirement is a desire to help others in a friendly and personable manner).
- Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice – hospice visiting, event assistance, office help. Contact Ron Hood, (Ron.Hood@androscoggin.
org) - Safe Voices – domestic violence prevention program. Contact Alyssa Coyne, acoyne@safevoices.org; 795-6744.
- An Angel’s Wing—assist with issues around substance use disorder; contact Debra York, 207-513-6051, info@anangelswing.org.
- Greater Androscoggin Humane Society – Contact Sandy Graul, 207-783-2311, (volunteer@gahumane.org).
- Center for Wisdom’s Women – a sacred and safe place that supports and empowers women; Sonia Turgeon , (soniat@wisdomswomen.org).
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact Darby Ray (dray3@bates.edu) to talk about other options!