Community Volunteer Opportunities

One-Time or Occasional Volunteer Opportunities

OneTime

  • Farwell Elementary School recently adopted a “walking school bus,” and they are looking for students who can help walk kids home from school between 3-4pm. They are especially looking for help on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. (There will always be a staff person present.) For you early birds, there is also a morning shift (7:50-8:45). Contact Ellen Alcorn if you can help (ealcorn@bates.edu).
  • Farwell Elementary School‘s annual Pumpkin Fest is taking place on Sunday, October 15 from 9-1. If you’d like to help out with face-painting, games, and other activities for part or all of the day, please contact Ellen Alcorn (ealcorn@bates.edu).
  • New Beginnings, an organization that works with homeless youth and is located only a block from campus, would love to have some Bates volunteer energy in their weekly pick-up basketball games. They play on Monday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm. If this sounds like your kind of volunteer gig, contact Sarah (sarah@newbeginmaine.org).
  • New Beginnings would also like to offer a yoga class but needs an enthusiastic volunteer instructor or two. For more information or to express interest, contact Marc (marc@newbeginmaine.org).
  • 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 Cate Day (cday@bates.edu).
  • The Good Shepherd Food Bank prepares food for distribution throughout the state; contact Asher MacDonald (cmacdon2@bates.edu).

Ongoing or Sustained Volunteer Opportunities

BlakeStreetTowers

Mentoring Programs
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters—one-on-one weekly one-hour matches with Longley Elementary School students. Contact Marty Deschaines (mdeschai@bates.edu).
  • Montello Mentoring Program–one-on-one weekly one-hour matches with Montello Elementary School students. Contact Adam Blau (ablau@bates.edu).
Tutoring and Enrichment Programs
  • Hillview After-School—Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:15-4:45pm; contact Brie Wilson (bwilson@bates.edu).
  • Montello Book Buddies–reading to early-elementary-age children during the school day; contact George Steckel (gsteckel@bates.edu).
  • Tree Street Youth—Mondays through Thursdays, 2-6pm; Friday 2-4pm; contact volunteers.tsy@gmail.com.
  • Boys and Girls Club—after-school programming; contact Maura Moody (mmoody@bgcmaine.org).
  • Lewiston Public Library— Mondays through Thursdays, 3:15-5:15pm; contact Sam Findlen-Golden (sfindle2@bates.edu).
  • The Root Cellar–This is a faith-based organization that serves people in the downtown neighborhoods. Opportunities to help with adult English language classes, food pantry work, and afterschool children’s programming. Contact Joel Furrow at 207-782-3659.
English Language Learners
Food Accessibility
Elderly/Younger Disabled
  • Blake Street Towers—promote social activities with elderly and younger disabled; contact Cate Day (cday@bates.edu).
  • Alzheimer’s Association Legacy Scribes–help listen to and then write down the memories of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Contact Marty Deschaines (mdeschai@bates.edu).
  • Social Learning Center Friendship Program–form a one-on-one friendship with a person with a disability. Contact Emily Halford (ehalford@bates.edu).
The Arts
  • ArtVan— mobile arts therapy working with non-profits in Lewiston-Auburn; contact Katie Leeke (kleeke@bates.edu).
  • Art programming at Hillview Family Development—weekly art projects with youth aged 6-16; contact Katie Leeke (kleede@bates.edu).
  • Dance programming at the YWCA–dance classes for children and youth; contact Shae Gwydir (egwydir@bates.edu).
Hospitals
Other Programs (some of these require extensive training)