Through action and service, Terps directly contribute to social impact while building skills, relationships, and capacity.
Looking to recruit UMD volunteers?
Visit our Recruit UMD Volunteers page to learn about tools to help you or your organization.
In this toolkit
Getting started
Before you volunteer, there are some critical questions you may want to reflect on before you commit your time, energy, and skills.
Why do you want to volunteer?
Reflecting on why you want to volunteer helps you pick the right role and make a real impact.
I want to volunteer because I want to...
- contribute meaningfully to my community
- connect with people who share my values
- build my resume or gain experience
- meet new people and make friends
What are your limits?
Defining your limits helps you volunteer in a way you can sustain and avoid burnout. Before committing to a role, you might reflect on:
- How many hours per week, month, or semester can I realistically give?
- Are there periods of time (midterms, finals, work, family obligations) that impact my availability?
- Do I have support systems in place if the role becomes too stressful?
- Do I have reliable transportation to the location?
What are the contexts of the communities I want to serve in?
Understanding the local needs, cultures, and challenges of the community you will volunteer in helps you make a meaningful impact and avoid unintended harm. To approach a volunteer role with awareness, respect, and understanding you might reflect on:
- What do I know about the community I will be serving in? And what might I need to learn before I start?
- Am I approaching this role in a way that respects community voices and experiences?
Recommended resources
- What Should You Ask Before Committing to a Volunteer Role? ↗, Clean Up USA
- Top Ten Tips for Serving Sensibly ↗, Johns Hopkins University
- Find a Volunteer Opportunity Quiz ↗, Idealist
Finding opportunities
Explore different volunteer platforms to find opportunities that fit your interests, schedule, and location. Below, there are three platforms that are used by Terps and our local community members.
Services 24/7 (UMD @ Givepulse)
A volunteer portal where Terps can find volunteer opportunities from partners
PG Parks Volunteer Portal
Volunteer portal run by M-NCPPC Dept. of Parks & Rec, Prince George's County with numerous sustainability-related opportunities
Idealist (Formally VolunteerMatch)
A popular, widely used portal used by many local and national nonprofits to post volunteer opportunities
KEEP IN MIND
Some opportunities, especially those in public schools or with youth, may require background checks and fingerprinting which have associated fees.
Staying on or close-to campus
Below are opportunities hosted by our partners that are open to UMD students, faculty, or staff groups wanting to volunteer on (or close to) campus.
KEEP IN MIND
This list should be used as a starting point to begin volunteering. We highly encourage Terps visit UMD's volunteer portal Services 24/7 to find more opportunities to do good locally and beyond.
| Organization | Opportunity | Contact | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arboretum & Botanical Garden | Community Learning Garden | umdlearninggarden@gmail.com | Daily, Monday through Friday |
| Dining Services | UMD Campus Pantry | campuspantry@umd.edu | Daily, Monday through Friday |
| College Park Community Food Bank | Weekly Food Distribution | cpcommunityfoodbank@gmail.com | Weekly, Fridays and Saturdays |
| Maryland Mentor Corps | Maryland Reading and Math Celebration Day | mdmentorcorps@umd.edu | Annual day of service, April |
| University of Maryland | Good Neighbor Day | thecenter@umd.edu | Annual day of service, October |
| City of College Park | College Park Day | volunteers@collegeparkmd.gov | Annual event, October |
| 2nd Lt. Richard W. Collins III Foundation | 2nd Lt. Richard W. Collins III Day of Service | info@2ndltrwc3.org | Annual day of service, December |
NEED GUIDANCE? HAVE QUESTIONS?
Schedule a meeting with us to explore more opportunities about doing good locally.