Find A CSER: Local Organizations

Amazement Square Children’s Museum

CSER 569-001

Supervisor

Bayley Lindevaldsen – Volunteer Coordinator (Email or 434-845-1888)

Webpage

https://www.amazementsquare.org/

Description

Amazement Square provides multiple volunteer opportunities! As a Children’s Interactive Museum, we focus on interacting and working with children through various exhibits, programs, and events.

Museum Educators: Exhibit educators work with Museum Educators to help museum visitors explore and understand hands-on, interactive exhibits in eight multidisciplinary galleries. Shifts are available Wednesday-Sunday during operating hours. This is our most popular volunteer opportunity!

Exhibit Maintenance: Exhibit maintenance volunteers will assist with exhibit preparation and maintenance. Duties may include cleaning exhibit environments, touch-up painting, or skilled exhibit fabrication. This is a wonderful opportunity for creative carpenters! Basic art skills are required due to paint touch-ups and other art-related projects. Preferably FACS or an art-based degree. Shifts are available Monday-Friday from 9 am- 5 pm.

Special Event: Special events volunteers participate in the museum’s outreach, educational, or fundraising events such as the Museum After Dark, Amazing Mile Children’s Run, Ugly Bug Ball, and Children’s Holiday Festival.

Museum Shop Volunteer: Museum shop volunteers will assist the shop manager in keeping the Kidz Warehouse stocked and organized. Volunteers may also be asked to assist guests with purchases from finding products to meet their needs to check them out at the register. This would be a great experience for students who plan to run their own businesses! Due to Covid-19, shifts are currently available Wednesday through Saturday during operating hours. Please ask Ashleigh Keller for any other opportunities that may arise throughout your semester.

Facilities: Facilities entails painting, staining, cleaning, setting up and tearing down from rentals, organizing facilities-related inventory, landscape care (weeds, branches, snow), and moving facilities-related items to and from storage.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Amazement Square!

Procedures

Volunteers are required to complete orientation as well as fill out an application that is listed on the website.

Before registering, you are required to reach out to the supervisor via the contact information above to confirm availability.

Register for CSER

American Red Cross Lynchburg

Beacon of Hope

Bedford Humane Society

Bedford Pregnancy Center

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg

Campbell County Public Library

CSER 534-001

Supervisor

Katie Lane – Youth and Community Outreach Coordinator (Email or 434-332-9655)
Ronda Mathews – Adult Literacy Manager (Email)
Cody Cole – Timbrook Branch Manager (Email or 434-592-9549)

Webpage

www.campbellcountylibraries.org

Description

The mission of the Campbell County Public Libraries is to maintain continuity of library services, embrace new directions, and involve the community in support of the library. There are a variety of ways you can help with any one of our library branches. Possible duties could include shelf-reading, shelving books, cleaning, digitizing files, organizing files or materials, marketing, mailers, or other projects as needed. 3 volunteers are needed at each branch. Use branch contacts above, if interested.

Night At The Museum Volunteer – Partnership with Campbell County Public Library System and Avoca Museum in Altavista. Possibility to earn 20 hours in one week. Individuals MUST be available the evenings of October 15 & 16. We are looking for people to memorize a script and either be a tour guide or an actor for lantern tours of the property. Students will be given hours to memorize lines earlier in the week. Students will be required to go to Avoca at least one time prior to the Oct 15 and 16 dates. We are also looking for people to help guide patrons where to park, move furniture/set up the performance areas, and help clean up these two nights. Contact Katie Lane if interested. The event is currently tentative due to COVID-19 concerns. Students must have transportation.

Youth Services & Outreach Volunteer – Opportunities available at all four library locations. Work with the Youth Services staff to help set up/facilitate/clean up events. During events, you may be asked to help move boxes, load items to a car, clean tables, or run a station. Some locations may be off-site, like at a Food Lion, or on museum property. Events may also be indoor or outdoor. Additional preparation tasks may include stapling, cutting, button making, etc. Contact Katie Lane if interested. Library programming is currently tentative due to COVID-19 concerns, but opportunities to help create kits/decorate libraries will be available. Students must have transportation.

Literacy Volunteers– ESOL tutors needed for adult students who are interested in furthering their English language skills. Tutors will have recurring sessions with students 1-2 hours weekly, and meet at one of the library branches within Campbell County.

Before registering, you are required to reach out to the supervisor via the contact information above to confirm availability.

Register for CSER

Carriage Hill Retirement and Assisted Living Community

Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living

Concerned Women for America

Eagle Eyrie Conference Center

CSER 575-001

Supervisor

Malachi Kearney (Email)

Description

Liberty student volunteers are the heartbeat behind our hospitality ministry! At Eagle Eyrie, you will have a unique opportunity to assist in cultivating a peaceful environment through a variety of outdoor projects, including maintaining landscaping, planting flowers, splitting wood, and spreading mulch. Not only will you have a direct impact on the ministries and churches that come to Eagle Eyrie, but you will also experience a fun work environment. Here is what Kayla said in Spring 2021: “This isn’t just a CSER. You form amazing friendships and I have learned a lot through serving at Eagle Eyrie. It is truly so much fun and you really make a difference for the conference center.”

Course Pathing

These unique course pathing opportunities provide students with experience equivalent to that of a competitive internship program. Students will benefit from working in a welcoming Christian environment, interacting with a passionate team, and knowing their contribution is having a positive impact on Eagle Eyrie’s mission. Upon completion, students will have gained valuable experience that will greatly enhance their ability to be competitive in the job market.

Communication and the Arts

Eagle Eyrie is in need of talented individuals with photography, social media management, or graphic design skills. Students in the School of Communication and the Arts will be able to apply their creative expertise through serving as an event photographer, social media contributor, or graphic designer for Eagle Eyrie’s website and promotional material. Volunteers will be given schedule flexibility so they can easily serve without interrupting their studies.

Business

Eagle Eyrie is in need of talented business students with a strong passion for marketing and process development. Students in the School of Business will be able to apply their professional skills through developing marketing strategies, recording, analyzing, and interpreting business trends, as well as helping redesign processes for greater efficiency. Volunteers will be given schedule flexibility so they can easily serve without interrupting their studies.

Divinity

Eagle Eyrie is in need of individuals passionate about contributing to our vision of seeing lives changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ through spiritual awakening and renewal. Students in the School of Divinity will be able to apply their enthusiasm for serving the Lord through a variety of ministry-oriented projects. This could include leading staff devotionals, participating in church retreat planning meetings, developing new recreation activities for youth retreats, and proposing new ideas that would advance the ministry effectiveness of Eagle Eyrie. Volunteers will be given schedule flexibility so that they can easily serve without interrupting their studies.

Before registering, you are required to reach out to the supervisor via the contact information above to confirm availability.

Register for CSER

ELIC Lynchburg

FIVE 18 Family Services

Girls on the Run Central Virginia and Blue Ridge

Gleaning for the World

Gospelink

Habitat for Humanity Lynchburg

HumanKind

Jubilee Family Development Center

The Lighthouse Community Center

Lynchburg Daily Bread

CSER 546-001

Supervisor

Rachel Snyder – Volunteer Coordinator (Email)

Description

Since 1982, Lynchburg Daily Bread has provided a hot lunch to the homeless and hungry of the Lynchburg area. We serve a free lunch from 10:15 a.m. until 12:20 p.m. 365 days a year. Anyone is welcome to receive a meal and each person is welcome to up to 8 meals. In addition to our downtown location, our Meals Outreach program distributes food to 4 summer programs targeting children, locations that include Appomattox, Altavista, Bedford, Madison Heights, Pamplin, and neighborhoods within the City Lynchburg. In 2023, we served 246,177 meals and provided additional assistance by distributing a variety of groceries and fresh produce, donated by local stores and community growers.

Lynchburg Daily Bread is located at 721 Clay Street in downtown Lynchburg, across from the fire station, at the corner of 8th and Clay streets. Free parking is available along Clay Street. Paid parking is available at the parking garage, also on the corner of 8th and Clay.

Volunteer Information:

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., seven days a week involves helping with meal preparation, washing/cutting produce, cutting and panning bread, opening carryout bags, folding laundry, rolling utensils and napkins, assembling children’s dinner bags, plating meals for lunch service, shuttling meals to the carry-out area, providing guest meals and assorted groceries at the carry-out area, and cleaning up. Please contact our volunteer coordinator for more information on this shift.

Our volunteer schedule usually fills up a month in advance and more quickly around Thanksgiving and Christmas. April and May fill quickly with area high school and college students trying to complete last-minute volunteer hours. Please contact us at least a month in advance for individual spots and at least two months for groups of up to 6 to 8 volunteers.
Please do not bring additional volunteers with you unless they are scheduled. Our daily volunteer schedule is often at capacity.
Please refrain from using your cell phone while serving, if you must, please wash your hands after you do.
Please give at least 24-hour notice if you need to cancel or re-schedule your volunteer time.
Please do not give personal information about yourself out to our guests.
Please adhere to Daily Bread’s rules at all times.
Please do not give money or rides to our guests.

Before registering, you are required to reach out to the supervisor via the contact information above to confirm availability.

Register for CSER

Lynchburg Parks and Recreation

CSER 545-001

Supervisor

Jamey Love (Email or 434-455-5886)

Webpage

https://www.lynchburgparksandrec.com/

Description

Lynchburg Parks & Recreation Department serves the community better with help from volunteers like you. We appreciate volunteers that extend their time and talent to support our operations. Opportunities to complete your Christian Service are available in the areas of youth, senior adults, athletics, Nature Zone, special events, parks, trails, and gardens. We can help you build your resume and contribute to a healthy, active, and educated community.

Community Centers
Center Assistant – Assist City staff with center programs and activities as follows:

After-School Program for ages 6 to 12 or teens 13 – 17. The program operates on weekdays from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Volunteers may assist with open recreation activities, homework help, reading with a child, playing outdoor and indoor games, computer lab, meals, or events. Neighborhood centers are lively social hubs, located in Lynchburg’s central city neighborhoods. Assistants must be able to work in a diverse and energetic environment which requires both structure and flexibility.
Classes and Programs – A wide variety of programs and classes are offered to the community such as: art, exercise, culinary, educational, musical, and more. Volunteer support is needed at times to set up, clean up, share information, and provide customer service.
Summer Camps typically start in June and end in August. Designated centers offer full or part day structured programs that may include days at the park and pool. We also offer themed summer camps that are only a week long.
Senior Programs are offered at most of the community centers. Assignments may include interacting with participants, assisting with meal preparation, set up, clean up, and monitoring activities, and assisting with programs.

Event Volunteers – Assist with annual and special events when needed throughout the year. Duties may include set up, clean up, decorating, preparing food, serving food, greeting participants, safety monitor, parking assistance, providing information, and more.

Educational Speaker / Class Instructor – Share your special knowledge, skills, or talent as a speaker or instructor. Possible topics include: health, nutrition, fitness, travel, hobby or interest, musical entertainment, and local opportunities or services of interest to participants.

Photographer – Takes pictures of classes, activities, and events for future use on social media, in our activity guide, and other publications.

Athletics

Athletic Assistant – assist with score keeping and time keeping for basketball and softball.

Athletic Coaches and Assistant Coaches – Coach youth athletic teams teaching sportsmanship, skills, teamwork, and notifying players/parents of practices and games.P&R League sports include: Basketball (December – March).
Coaches are also needed for athletic partner organizations providing play in: Football, Cheerleading, Soccer, Baseball, Volleyball, Lacrosse and Tennis. Please check our website (teamsideline.com/lynchburg) for contact information for each of these organizations.

Naturalist

Nature Zone Volunteer – Assist with the operation of the Nature Zone, feeding and handling animals, and cleaning cages. Welcome visitors and provide information about animals and ecosystems at the Nature Zone. Answer phones; provide general information regarding birthday parties and nature programs; set-up and assist with birthday parties.

Parks and Trail Stewards

Parks, Trails, and Gardens Assistant – Assist City staff with projects in the parks, on the trails, and gardens to keep areas mulched, clean, and well maintained for public use. Monitor trails for safety and litter pick up.

Community Market

Volunteers are needed for the Mistletoe Market during late Nov. and Dec. and other programs at times.
Visit www.lynchburgparksandrec.com to learn more about our organization. Volunteers must complete a volunteer application on our website (go to the About heading – Volunteer Opportunities) and receive an interview and orientation. Volunteers may have their background screened, depending on the volunteer position.

Before registering, you are required to reach out to the supervisor via the contact information above to confirm availability.

Register for CSER

Lynchburg Public Library

MasterWorx Community Theater

Miriam’s House

Park View Community Mission (PVCM)

CSER 577

Webpages

https://www.parkviewcommunitymission.org/

CSER 577-002: PVCM Food for Families

Supervisor

Heather Gibson (Email)

Description

Volunteers can assist with unloading food trucks, stocking shelves, sorting through produce, cleaning the facility and making coffee for neighbors. In addition, students are encouraged to just spend time with neighbors, whether that means enjoying a cup of coffee with someone or coloring with children in the kids corner. If you are interested in using your gifts and skills to help with tasks in the office or help us brainstorm new ideas on how to create a better atmosphere for our neighbors, please register with us. We serve over 200 families each week, giving them the food they need to stay healthy!

CSER 577-003: PVCM Food for Thought

Supervisor

Barb Chase (Email)

Description

Food for Thought is a Backpack Feeding program that partners with local organizations, churches, and individuals to help feed children in need in Lynchburg City Schools (LCS). With the help of dedicated professionals, community members, and LCS staff and faculty, students in need are able to be sent home with food on the weekends.

CSER students will be packing bags to be distributed at the local elementary, middle, and high schools. These bags will be assembled according to the menu each week and delivered by Food for Thought volunteers at a later time. Students may also assist in sorting food according to date, organizing and cleaning the facility, and helping with office tasks and other projects that aid in the distribution of the food bags. There are also potential opportunities with food bag deliveries and events benefiting the program.

CSER 577-005: PVCM Park View Cafe

Supervisor

Roberta Scrivener (Email)

Description

The Park View Cafe is a program of Park View Community Mission. It exists to serve a hot, home-cooked meal once a week (Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30) to individuals in the community in need. All are welcome, and on average the Cafe served about 100 individuals and 125 meals.

Help is needed in setting up for the meal (i.e. setting up tables & chairs, setting out tablecloths & table settings, making drinks, setting out plates & utensils, prepping snacks and making sure the community room is tidy and welcoming.) Other responsibilities may include making sure new attendees and volunteers know where to go and feel welcomed.

CSER 577-006: PVCM Community Resource Center

Supervisor

Brittany Melvin (Email)

Description

The Community Resource Center provides neighbors with personal, one-on-one assistance with their daily essential life needs and helps them navigate the complexities of available resources. This program is dedicated, assists, and educates those who seek and are referred to Park View in obtaining the resources they need. Assistance is given and coordinated for utility disconnection notices, as well as for accessing healthcare, childcare, transportation, housing, employment, food, clothing, hygiene and other basic necessities. Along with this assistance the Resource Center was established to help educate individuals on how to manage their situations and resources. Park View serves as a source of hope, inspiration, support, and education for the neighbors. The Resource Center serves as a connecting point for community partners and agencies.

CSER 577-007: PVCM The Clothing Connection

Supervisor

Kris Marcinik (Email)

Description

The Clothing Connection was established as a program of PVCM to provide our local neighbors in need with a dignified shopping experience. We have served thousands in the greater Lynchburg community since 2021. Neighbors may come in and shop for what they need free of charge for themselves and their families in an open and inviting space.

CSER students will assist by accepting and unloading donated goods, hanging and sorting donated clothing and household items, and putting these donations on the floor for neighbors. If desired, students might also interact with our neighbors and assist them as they shop.

CSER 577-008: PVCM Lighthouse Communications

Supervisor

Mark Lindy (Email)

Description

This CSER opportunity involves refurbishment and building of PC’s and laptops, moving equipment, new user activation and creation, resolving password issues, remote technical support, phone extension set-up, data wiring and port activation, video conference troubleshooting, wireless network set-up, software installations, hardware troubleshooting (TV’s, projectors, displays, sound systems, cellphones, etc.), VPN configuration, and basic IT office duties.

Procedures/Policies

At the beginning of each semester, we would like to meet with you, get to know you and see where you might plug in best. We believe that each of you have your own gifts and talents and passions and we want you to be able to use those. We also plan to have a brief orientation where you will learn about what Park View does, why we do what we do and how we hope you will contribute to the culture of Park View. Emails will be sent out once you register with a specific date and time.

Before registering, you are required to reach out to the supervisor via the contact information above to confirm availability.

Amazement Square Children’s Museum

American Red Cross Lynchburg

Beacon of Hope

Bedford Humane Society

Bedford Pregnancy Center

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lynchburg

Campbell County Public Library

Carriage Hill Retirement and Assisted Living Community

Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living

Concerned Women for America

Eagle Eyrie Conference Center

ELIC Lynchburg

FIVE 18 Family Services

Girls on the Run Central Virginia and Blue Ridge

Gleaning for the World

Gospelink

Habitat for Humanity Lynchburg

HumanKind

Jubilee Family Development Center

The Lighthouse Community Center

Lynchburg Daily Bread

Lynchburg Parks and Recreation

Lynchburg Public Library

MasterWorx Community Theater

Miriam’s House

Park View Community Mission (PVCM)

Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue

Rivermont Pre-School and Children’s Ministries

Runk & Pratt Residential Care

Salvation Army Inner City

World Help

YMCA Live-Yers

YMCA of Central Virginia

Young Life Lynchburg

YWCA Central Virginia