Community Service Information

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Community Service Opportunities

We try to keep a list of up-to-date and relevant Community Service Opportunities posted here. If you are aware of other opportunities you'd like to share, please e-mail your child's AVID teacher. Community Service will count as 10% of every VRHS AVID student's grade, each grading cycle.

Regular community service can only strengthen their college application and help build them as a diverse individual. If you have questions, concerns, or know of community service opportunities please e-mail your child's AVID teacher.

Also, students often ask if they complete hours beyond the requirement if they receive extra credit. Our response is always, no. We tell them the motivation should not be for extra credit or that they're just doing it for their grade but that they're willing to help out, learn new things, try new things, and help them experience things they might not elsewhere. We explain to them how colleges are looking for diverse students would will bring character to their universities. They look for people who they know will work hard. Several of our AVID students have been able to find jobs from their community service opportunities as well!

Students who have jobs can submit 5 of their work hours towards their community service in a grading cycle. To receive these 5 hours, they must submit a copy of their work schedule with their manager's signature along with contact information.

Alphabetical List of Ideas & Options for Volunteering:

• AGE of Central Texas
• Altus Hospice Care - Round Rock, TX
• Austin Animal Center - Volunteers must be at least 13 years of age and accompanied by an adult, or 15 years of age to volunteer alone. Volunteers must contribute at least six hours monthly.
• Austin Creative Reuse - Austin Creative Reuse is a non-profit organization that collects, sells, and distributes donated reusable materials. Volunteer opportunities include: making business cards, assembling bow-making kits (cut strips of magazines and put in bag), creating instruction sheets for craft kits (for example, the bow-making kit), putting together kits for educators, and more. Sign up for their volunteer newsletter for updates on opportunities.
• Austin Dog Alliance - in Cedar Park, TX
• Austin Fairy Godmother - Leander, TX (on Crystal Falls Pkwy)
• Austin Parks Foundation
• Austin Pets Alive! - Children 12 and up are invited to volunteer with Austin Pets Alive. Volunteers aged 12 – 15 must have a guardian present, those aged 16-17 can volunteer alone with a parental waiver. Volunteers must commit to a minimum of 6 hours monthly and must attend an orientation.
• Austin Public Library - Children ages 13 and up are welcome to apply the Austin Public Library Fall and Spring Youth Volunteer Program.
• Austin Steam Train Association - Cedar Park, TX (at the RailYard Shopping Center)
• Caring Place - in Georgetown, TX
• City of Cedar Park
• Cedar Park Memory Care Community
• Cedar Park Public Library - a very popular volunteer opportunity
• Cedar Park Public Library TLC - Teen Library Council
• Cedar Park Teen Court - a very popular volunteer opportunity, a great opportunity if interested in law or criminal justice
• City of Austin Volunteering Opportunities
• City of Cedar Park
• City of Leander
• Cox Elementary - Leander ISD - From helping in the garden to helping at school events, Cox Elementary needs our help all year long! Please contact Mrs. Klepper by e-mail at robin.klepper@leanderisd.org if you're interested in volunteering!
• Equine Rehabilitation Center of Central Texas - very popular volunteer opportunity! Lisa is great and loves having AVID students help out!
• Friends of Georgetown Public Library - Georgetown, TX
• Generation Serve - Family Volunteering Opportunities. Family members as young as 3 years old can help, too!
• Georgetown Animal Shelter - Georgetown, TX
• Georgetown Palace Theatre - Georgetown, TX
• Georgetown Project - Georgetown, TX
• Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County (must be 16 years or older) No experience necessary.
• Hill Country Community Ministries - Leander, TX
• Keep Austin Beautiful - Always several opportunities available - often times need an adult if younger than 16. They often have UT game volunteer opportunities posted here.
• Kindred Hospice Volunteer Program - must be at least 16 years old
• KUT - Austin
• Miracle League - a very popular volunteer opportunity of our AVID students! Off of Anderson Mill Road between 183 and Parmer.
• Mobile Loaves and Fishes - those that participate in this typically participate through their churches
• Meals on Wheels Central Texas - Children under 18 may volunteer but must be accompanied by an adult.
• Open My World - Therapeutic Riding Center. Leander, TX
• Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties
• Reveals Resource Center / Reveal Ministries - Cedar Park, TX
• ROCK - Equine Therapy (ages 14+)
• Round Rock Serving Center - Round Rock, TX
• Ronald McDonald House Charities - Austin & Central Texas
• Texas Book Festival - (ages 16+)
• Texas Humane Heros - a very popular volunteer opportunity. Located on Crystal Falls Pkwy near Wiley MS / Rouse HS.
• The Contemporary Austin - Art School - Volunteers ages 13 and up are actively recruited for all Art School classes with particular emphasis on children’s classes. Volunteers will help in the classroom by assisting with instruction, helping students, as well as set-up and clean-up.
• The Dog Alliance - Cedar Park, TX
• The Thinkery - Austin's Children's Museum
• The Volunteer Center of Williamson County - Round Rock, TX
• Treasure of the Hills Senior Center - Cedar Park, TX
• United Way of Williamson County - main office in Round Rock, TX
• Urban Roots - Urban Roots cultivates leadership skills through food and farming to transform the lives of young people and inspire, engage, and nourish the community. The minimum age to volunteer is 10 years old. Children 10-13 years old must be accompanied by an adult (minimum 1 adult per 3 children), and minors ages 14 to 17 years old are allowed to volunteer without an accompanying adult with the proper form. All minors must bring a signed parental consent form on each visit to the farm.
• Vincentian Family Center and Thrift Store
• Volunteer opportunities in Cedar Park, TX
• Way Off Broadway Community Plays - great for anyone interested in plays, theatre tech, acting, etc.
• Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter - 1855 S.E. Inner Loop, Georgetown, TX 78626
• Williamson Museum - A museum dedicated to the history of Williamson County
• Youth2Seniors - a youth-based organization that creates inter-generational programs designed to pair youth and seniors within the community. Volunteer opportunities include arts and crafts with seniors led by an adult volunteer. Events are held at various Austin-area assisted living facilities.
• Youth Opportunities to Unite - Round Rock, TX

Please note that this is just a resource of Community Service opportunities in the Austin / Cedar Park / Leander / Georgetown / Round Rock area that the VRHS AVID teachers have personally put together. This list is only a suggestion and not a guarantee of service hours - you need to check with each organization of opportunities available. Leander ISD, Vista Ridge High School, nor AVID Center endorse the organizations appearing on list. As always, be SAFE when volunteering.