Reminder
Register by Friday, May 2.
Volunteer Opportunities
Hillcrest Durham
Hillcrest Durham opened in 1951 as the first certified Skilled Nursing facility in North Carolina. Since then, they have proudly remained at the forefront of senior care in the Triangle and beyond. In addition to the Convalescent Center in Durham, they opened an outpatient physical therapy facility in 2018. Across both locations, Hillcrest is known and trusted by the area’s families. They have earned a reputation as the premier senior care provider in our community, with a total dedication to quality care and superior service—whether for a short rehab stay, assisted living, skilled nursing, or outpatient therapy.
What: Volunteers will support Hillcrest’s Activities Coordinator in engaging with residents during their daily recreational programming. This could include helping with arts and crafts, games, music sessions, or simply offering companionship and conversation. Volunteers play a key role in creating a warm, supportive environment that brings joy and meaningful connection to the residents.
Considerations: This activity takes place indoors and with minimal tasks requiring standing. There will be exposure to vulnerable individuals.
When: Monday, May 12, 10:00am – 12:00 Noon
Where: 1417 W Pettigrew St, Durham, NC
Service Captain: Mary Beck White-Sutton
Salvation Army Food Pantry Organization
The Salvation Army of Durham, Orange, and Person Counties Food Pantry program aims to combat food insecurity distributing nutritious food items to those in need, offering both emergency relief and ongoing support. With a focus on dignity and compassion, the Salvation Army ensures that people from all walks of life have access to meals, helping them navigate challenging times while fostering stability and hope.
What: We will begin with cleaning the shelves, then we will sort items into categories, discarding expired or unwanted goods. Volunteers will help organize donated food, group similar items together, and use containers for storage. They will also label everything clearly and create zones for different food types to keep the pantry well-organized. Additionally, volunteers will assist with unloading deliveries and ensuring food is stored properly, helping provide nutritious meals to individuals and families in need.
Considerations: This activity takes place both indoors and outdoors and involves light lifting, with most tasks requiring standing. Please wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. We will use cleaning solutions to clean the shelves. Bring your water bottle.
When: Monday, May 12, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: 909 Liberty St, Durham, NC 27701
Service Captain: Cathy Santos
Eno River Association
The Eno River Association is a land trust that protects the natural, cultural and historic resources of the Eno River basin in northern Durham and Orange counties. They have been instrumental in creating five public parks: Eno River State Park, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, West Point on the Eno Durham City Park, Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve, and the Little River Regional Park. The primary goal of the Eno River Association is to conserve lands along the Eno River and protect the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Eno River Basin.
What: With the guidance of Eno River staff, we will create or maintain paths, which includes trimming vegetation such as tree limbs, raking trails, and making new trails passable using hoes and mattocks.
Considerations: This is an outdoor project requiring the volunteer to be capable of accomplishing heavy yardwork such as hoeing trails as well as uprooting and lopping vegetation; hiking somewhat hilly terrain in variable weather. Volunteers must wear adequate work clothes including long pants such as jeans as well as work or hiking boots. Bring water, bug spray and sunscreen. Participant liability waivers are required.
When: Tuesday, May 13, 9:00am – 12:00 Noon
Where: Durham | Exact Location TBD
Service Captain: Jane Day
Duke Campus Farm
The Duke Campus Farm is a one-acre working farm owned and operated by Duke University that provides sustainably-grown produce and food systems education for Duke and surrounding communities. More important than the thousands of pounds of food that is grown, however, are the opportunities the farm provides for engaging and reimagining the ways we cultivate, access, value, and think about food. The mission of the Duke Campus Farm is to catalyze positive change in the food system.
What: Fuqua volunteers will have the opportunity to help with mulching pathways and other general farm maintenance tasks. Absolutely no farming experience is necessary. We will start off with some introductions of each other and of the farm, before the Duke Campus Farm team introduces the tasks for the project.
Considerations: This is an outdoor activity that involves minimal physical exertion. Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Equipment will be provided, and we recommend bringing a water bottle.
When: Tuesday, May 13, 9:00am – 12:00 Noon
Where: Duke Campus Farm
4934 Friends School Rd Durham, NC 27705
Service Captain: Lynn Cunningham
Habitat for Humanity
Durham Habitat builds new homes, rehabs existing homes, and repairs older, owner-occupied homes in order to provide low-income families with safe, decent and affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity operates around the globe and has helped build, renovate and repair more than 600,000 decent, affordable houses sheltering more than 3 million people worldwide.
What: Fuqua volunteers will assist with construction efforts. Project duties may include, but are not limited to, deconstruction, crawl space sealing, wall framing, roofing, siding, interior/exterior trim, painting, cleaning, or landscaping. No tools, skills or experience is necessary, but expect to get a little dirty while working. Event is rain or shine! In extreme conditions they may choose to close a construction site to protect the safety of staff and volunteers.
Considerations: This is an outdoor activity that involves some physical exertion. A liability waiver is required by the organization. Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Equipment will be provided, and we recommend bringing a water bottle. More details will be shared after signing up.
When: Tuesday, May 13, 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Where: Durham | Exact location TBD
Service Captain: Lizzie Pogoloff
Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS)
Website description: The Animal Protection Society of Durham (APS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been helping animals in our community since 1970, and has managed the Durham County Animal Shelter since 1990. APS relies on donations from caring individuals and corporations to feed, shelter and provide medical attention for the nearly 4,000 stray, surrendered, abandoned, abused, and neglected animals they care for each year.
What: Calling all animal lovers! Volunteers will support the shelter on-site in whatever needs they have on our service day. This could range from dog walking, cat care support, cleaning kennels, or sorting donations. Volunteers will need to complete a waiver and come ready to work around animals in a variety of conditions. This will be a difficult, but rewarding project!
Considerations: This is an indoor/outdoor activity that involves some physical exertion and exposure to vulnerable animals. A liability waiver is required by the organization, and will be provided via email prior to the project date. Please wear long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes.
When: Wednesday, May 14, 10:00am – 12:00 Noon OR 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: Durham APS
2117 E Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27704
Service Captains: Liz Mullins and Amber Smith
Ronald McDonald House Baking
The Ronald McDonald House offers housing and support for families with hospitalized children. It helps them stay close to their child during treatment, easing stress and financial burden.
What: To brighten the days of families staying at RMHC, volunteers are baking and decorating cookies, providing a touch of home during a difficult time.
Considerations: Majority of project requires standing, indoor activity, closed toed shoes preferred, head/hair covering encouraged.
When: Wednesday, May 14, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: 506 Alexander Avenue Durham, NC 27705
Service Captain: Callie Westphal
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels of Durham is a group of volunteers who deliver hot, nutritious meals to isolated, disabled, seniors, and others in need.
What: Volunteers, working in groups of three, will team up to drive routes together to deliver prepared meals to various homes on their designated route. Teaming up offers the most meaningful interaction with clients, as well as with Fuqua colleagues!
Considerations: This is an indoor activity, light lifting may be required, there will be exposure to vulnerable individuals, and volunteers need to be comfortable driving in their own vehicles with other Fuqua staff members. A liability waiver is required by the organization. There will be restroom facilities available before heading out. More details on what to expect will be shared after sign-up.
When: Thursday, May 15, 9:00am – 1:00pm. The routes average around 1.5-2 hours, so plan to be done between 12:15 and 1:00pm.
Where: Meals on Wheels, 2522 Ross Rd, Durham
Service Captain: Mary Beck White-Sutton
Geer Street Learning Garden
Geer Street Learning Garden has 11 vegetable beds, community garden beds, an outdoor classroom space, fruit trees, a small greenhouse, vermicompost system, perennial rain garden, outdoor kitchen, pollinator garden and areas for community gatherings…all on only a quarter-acre lot! The heart of the Geer Street Learning Garden are the countless community partnerships we have built in Durham. All the produce harvested in the garden goes to community partners and local food pantries.
What: Spend time in the great outdoors and make a tangible impact in the fight against hunger at the Food Shuttle Farm and Geer Street Learning Garden in Durham. Participants will work in the community garden, harvesting ripe vegetables, packaging and weighing the produce, and preparing it for storage at Interfaith Food Shuttle’s facility just across the street.
Considerations: This is an outdoor activity that involves minimum physical exertion. Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Equipment will be provided, and we recommend bringing a water bottle.
When: Thursday, May 15, 9:30 – 11:30am
Where: 110 E Geer Street, Durham, NC 27701
Service Captain: Amanda Laird
Durham Crisis Response Center
The Durham Crisis Response Center works with the community to end domestic, sexual and family violence and human trafficking through advocacy, education, support and prevention. Durham Crisis Response Center (DCRC) is now the only agency in Durham dedicated to providing advocacy, shelter and support services to victims of domestic and sexual violence.
What: With partner, Bon Appétit, we will be supporting the DCRC safe shelter initiative by cooking a full meal to be delivered by the agency for the 10-15 adults and children currently sheltering. With instruction from Bon Appétit chefs, we will use the kitchen facilities at Fuqua to prepare and package dinner with sides and dessert.
Considerations: Participant liability waivers are required. This project requires standing. Participants may come into contact with sharp objects or allergen-containing foods, and closed toed shoes are required. Hair/beard nets and gloves are required and will be provided.
When: Thursday, May 15, 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Where: Fuqua Café
Service Captain: Brenda Tate
NC Diaper Bank
Website description: The mission of Diaper Bank of North Carolina is to promote and protect dignity and health by ensuring that families with babies and children living in poverty have an adequate supply of diapers, incontinence supplies, and period products. The Diaper Bank distributes basic personal hygiene products through community partners to encourage access to their services and programs, thereby empowering people to become self-sustaining and develop their full potential.
What: Fuqua Volunteers will wrap feminine hygiene products into smaller packs for the Diaper Bank to distribute to local schools and other community partners. Wrapping the hygiene products helps inventory and minimizes storage needs for our partner organizations.
Considerations: This is an indoor activity that involves minimum physical exertion and will have sitting and standing roles.
When: Friday, May 16, 9:30am – 11:00am
Where: Kirby Winter Garden, Fuqua
Service Captain: Mary Catherine McKee
Salvation Army Food Distribution
The Salvation Army of Durham, Orange, and Person Counties “Free Food Friday” program offers local members of the Durham community the opportunity to shop for food for free. This initiative is designed to provide essential groceries and support to those in need, ensuring everyone has access to nutritious food, helping our community thrive by addressing food insecurity through this valuable resource.
What: Volunteers help serve and distribute free food, including canned goods, frozen meats, and pet food, to local community members in need.
Considerations: This activity takes place both indoors and outdoors and involves light lifting, with most tasks requiring standing. Please wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. Volunteers may interact with individuals from vulnerable communities.
When: Friday, May 16 from 9:00am – 11:30am (or until the food runs out)
Where: 909 Liberty St, Durham, NC 27701
Service Captain: Alex Markiewicz
Book Harvest
The Book Harvest is a local organization established in 2011 to encourage literacy and reading by distributing books to children in low-income families. The group employs a small staff and is located at Rockwood on University Drive, in Durham. Since 2011 the Book Harvest has given over two million books to local children in need.
What: Volunteer groups help to sort book donations in their office but there are other special projects that come up from time to time as well. No prior experience or knowledge is needed. They will provide training to orient the group!
Considerations: This activity takes place indoors and may involve some heavy lifting, with most tasks requiring standing. Please wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes.
When: Friday, May 16, 10:00am – 1:00pm
Where: 2501 University Dr, Durham, NC 27707
Service Captain: Susan Kesti