Central Service Spotlight - September 14th-20th

Community Engagement has countless opportunities for you to develop and grow through service on our campus and with our Community Partners in the OKC/Edmond area. Check out the opportunities below to discover how you can make difference.

If you don’t see an opportunity you connect with, stop by the Community Engagement Office (NUC 141) where we will help to find what you’re looking for.

For any questions, please reach out to Community Engagement at volunteer@uco.edu.
Follow us on Instagram @uco_ce to keep up with our events and programming!

Community Engagement Events & Opportunities

UCO National Voter Registration Day
Are ready to vote this November? The first step to take is registering to vote!

Whether you need to register for the first time or update your current registration, Community Engagement can help!  Stop by NUC 141 on Tuesday, September 15th from 10am-3pm for National Voter Registration Day.  All supplies needed to register will be available!

Questions?  Email ndoherty@uco.edu.

Central Pantry Client Registration Open
The Central Pantry is UCO's on-campus, free food pantry for all students, faculty, and staff.  Once you sign up as a client, you can come shopping at the Central Pantry once a week for your entire household.

The 2026-2027 Client Form is open. Register on UCORE.

Broncho Bites Notification Opt-In
Broncho Bites is an on campus initiative helping reduce food waste and providiving meals to the UCO campus community. Through this program, food left over in Ayers Kitchen is rerouted to the Broncho Bites refrigerator outside of the Central Pantry (NUC 151). This food is available to any student, faculty, or staff member that wants to grab a meal on-the-go.

All interested participants can opt-in to the Broncho Bites notification system to receive a text or email notification any time food is delivered to the Broncho Bites refrigerator.

On-Campus Service Opportunities

Upcoming Service Opportunities
There are a a few service opportunities opening in the coming weeks.  Save the dates for these events and be on the look out for the registration forms soon!

Indigenous Peoples' Day of Service: Monday, October 12th
Alternative Fall Break: October 16th-17th
Alternative Spring Break: Applications Open Early October

Little Event Volunteer and Team Leader Registration
The 15th Annual Little Event, one of UCO's largest days of student-led service to the Edmond/OKC Community, is on Saturday, October 24th from 9am-2pm.

Registration is now open to be a Team Leader or Volunteer.

Team Leader Registration is due on October 2nd
Volunteer Registration is due on October 9th

Questions?  Email bigevent@uco.edu.

Broncho Bites Volunteers
Broncho Bites is an initiative on campus to help reduce food waste and provide meals to the UCO campus community. Through this program, food left over at the end of the daily lunch hours in Ayers Kitchen will be rerouted to the Broncho Bites refrigerator outside of the Central Pantry (NUC 151). This food will be available to any student, faculty, or staff member that wants to grab a meal on the go.

Shifts will be available every weekday that campus is open for food recovery volunteers or composting volunteers. Each shift will last from 2:00pm-3:00pm.  All volunteers will meet with a Broncho Bites representative at Ayers Kitchen to start their shift.

Register for a shift (or multiple) HERE!

If your office or organization has upcoming student volunteer opportunities, please send the information to volunteer@uco.edu to have it included in our weekly emails.

Off-Campus Service Opportunities

Stephenson Cancer Center Compassion Ambassadors
At OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, we put patients first. Compassion Ambassadors serve in a variety of roles to provide comfort to patients in what can be the most challenging time of their lives.

Volunteer Placement Opportunities

• Activity Ambassador
• Nourishment Ambassador
• Welcome Ambassador
• Encouragement Ambassador
• Group Ambassador
• Employee Ambassador
• Ambassador at Home

Complete our Volunteer Interest Form to get started. Call 405-312-2570 for more information.

Mid-Continent Geological Library Volunteering
The MCGL needs volunteers for their 60th Anniversary Celebration on September 24th at Science Museum Oklahoma to help with check-in, raffle ticket sales, guest assistance, and general event support that evening.

The MCGL also has ongoing volunteer opportunities at the library, including organizing and filing geological materials, assisting with projects, preparing materials, and helping to organize and maintain collections.

To register or learn more, email Karen Giannoulis at kgiannoulis@mcglibrary.org

Edmond Urban Forestry
Urban Forestry is continuing its volunteer program! This is a great program for learning about trees, how to plant trees, how to mulch, and how to care after planting.  Lead your group to be active in the community, win prizes, and establish a legacy you can watch grow for years to come.

For more info, visit https://www.edmondok.gov/1321/Volunteer.

Round Barn in Arcadia Volunteer Shifts
The Round Barn in Arcaida is in search of volunteers to help run their gift shop and museum. This is a great role for anyone that loves to elarn and loves talking to people. Available opportuntiesare open on Thursday afternoons, Friday afternoons, and all day Saturday and Sunday.  Shift run from 10:00am-1:30pm and 1:30pm-5:00pm.

Interested?  Email Betty Lowe at nessatasartir16@gmail.com.

Haunt the Zoo Volunteers
The OKC Zoo is looking for volunteers to help out at our 43rd annual Haunt the Zoo, Oklahoma’s largest trick-or-treating event! As our volunteers distribute candy at themed stations in a family-friendly environment, it is sure to be a safe, fun, and memorable experience for all.

Register to volunteer HERE.

OKC Beautiful Litter Blitz
Come volunteer with OKC Beautiful by creating or joining a LitterBlitz team! LitterBlitz provides the opportunity to give back and connect with friends, neighbors, civic clubs, and coworkers as well as the environment in a safe and easy way.

​Your team selects the location and the day to hold your cleanup. If you don’t have a place in mind, we will help you identify a location. Supply kits are provided, including trash bags, gloves, and hand sanitizer. Safety vests and trash grabbers are available depending on how many are borrowed at that time. To register your LitterBlitz group, click HERE!

Volunteer with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Be a volunteer with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma! There are 3 opportunities in the Metro OKC Area!

• Patient Companionship – Provide companionship to patients and families at their place of residence.
• Office Support and Internships – Assist with routine office duties to enhance the sources provided by hospice (areas include HR, social work, chaplaincy, bereavement, etc.).
• Special Projects –In addition to hospice companions, volunteers also assist with coordinating special projects like “Gift of a Day”, Veteran Recognition Program, and much more
• Life Journals- Volunteers meet with patients and their families to gather pictures and stories to create a memorable scrapbook journaling the patient’s life. We call this “Gift of Gratitude”.
• Veteran to Veteran- We often have veterans on service and match them up with veteran volunteers for patient care or veterans recognitions.
• Alternative Methods- Pet visits, music, art, and aroma therapy (and more!) are all available for volunteer opportunities.
• Crafty Volunteers- On your own time, make cards, blankets, door decorations, etc. to make our patient’s day a little brighter.
• Respite Volunteers- Sit with patient in their home to provide a break for a caregiver or allow caregiver to run errands, rest, or simply get out of the house.

If interested you can email tiffany.fuller@crossroadshospice.com or call (405) 632-9631 to schedule training.

Caring Hearts Hospice Inc.
Caring Hearts Hospice is looking for volunteers interested in spending time with patients in a nursing home facility. This is great experience for anyone interested in the health care field.

• Matinee Theater performances
• Arts Education – basic painting/drawing techniques; etc.
• Specialized exercise programs (i.e. Tai Chi, dance, yoga)

For more information, contact head of Volunteer Services, Christa Cook, at Christa.Cook@goodshepherdhospices.com

Freedom City
Freedom City is looking for in-person volunteers to help with their homework helpers, math buddies, pen pals, and reading buddies programs! They provide options to volunteer in person or virtual. Students can Text "VOLUNTEER" to 405-322-5660.

For any questions, contact mentoring coordinator, Alexia Converse, at alexia@freedomcityokc.com or contact Reading and Math Buddies Coordinator, Lena Lawson, at lena@freedomcityokc.com or visit freedomcityokc.galaxydigital.com

Bethany Children's Health Center
Bethany Children's Health Center volunteer opportunities include:

• Patient Companion: Volunteers send one-on- one time with patients of all ages, with the goal of providing engaging activities, physical comfort, and joy. Weekday shifts are 9-11 am, 2-4 pm, 4-6 pm, and 6-8 pm.
• Play While You Wait: Volunteers provide engaging activities such as crafts, games, and puzzles to patients and siblings in the Outpatient Services waiting area. Weekday shifts are 8:30-10 am; 10-11:30 am; 1-3:30 pm.
• Special Education Volunteer: Volunteers assist in each of the Center’s six special education classrooms, assisting patients with language activities, music therapy sessions, craft projects and more. Classes last one hour and occur between the hours of 9 am-12 pm and 2-4 pm, M-F
• Therapy Gym Volunteer: This volunteer postition is open to college students who are currently pursuing degrees in physical, occupational or speech therapy, music therapy or recreation therapy. Volunteers facilitate one- on-one or small group activities, and sanitize and organize therapy equipment. Volunteers must commit to one weekly two-hour shift for 15 weeks. Shifts are 9-11 am and 2-4 pm, M-F.

For more information, contact Volunteer Services Manager, Bailey Tyler, at BTyler@bethanychildrens.org or 405-470-2284.

LifeSpring Hospice
LifeSpring Hospice has Volunteer Opportunities available for anyone 18 years or older with a heart to serve others. This opportunity is perfect for students that need community services hours and can spare a few hours a week. Volunteers are a vital part of their hospice team. They provide patients with companionship and give them the gift of their time. Volunteer Opportunities are available in Edmond, OKC, Norman, Chickasha, Pauls Valley, Shawnee and Sayre. They have patients in Edmond’s Touchmark at Coffee Creek Assisted Living Community and OKC’s Bellevue Health & Rehab Center who would love to have the companionship of a volunteer.

For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator, Lee Lewis, at LeeAndrea.Lewis@lifespringhomecare.com or call 405-329-4545.

APEX Hospice
Apex Hospice is seeking volunteers to visit hospice patients that either live in their own homes or facilities. Volunteers will stop by for a friendly visit, help with chores, or give the caregiver a break. Volunteering is flexible and can work around any schedule.

Email or call Volunteer Coordinator, Brenda Garrett, to schedule a training at your convenience at Bgarrett.mission@gmail.com or 405-850-4580.

Feed the Children Volunteer Opportunities
Feed the Children is looking for volunteer groups to help build food or hygiene boxes that go out to families in Oklahoma. Shifts last 2-3 hours during the week and occasionally on Saturdays. In our Oklahoma warehouse, we have the pleasure of housing our Teacher Store which provides approved teachers with donated books, supplies, etc. The Teacher Store needs help from volunteers to check teachers in/out on shopping days, sort, organize, and stock the donated supplies.

To register or learn more, go to https://www.feedthechildren.org/get-involved/volunteer/ or contact Hailey Montgomery at hailey.montgomery@feedthechildren.org.

Edmond Mobile Meals
Edmond Mobile Meals needs volunteers for meal delivery to Homebound Seniors. Meals are delivered Monday - Friday between 10:30am-12:30pm. Volunteers pick up meals and deliver a route to homebound seniors in Edmond.

Visit https://edmondmobilemeals.org/volunteer/ to sign up to volunteer. For any questions please reach out to Cristi Twenter at cristi@edmondmobilemeals.org

Positive Tomorrows

Come help your local community by volunteering with Positive Tomorrows !

Why we do it:

Positive Tomorrows is Oklahoma's only school and social services agency specifically for children and families experiencing homelessness. They give kids stability and a quality education while giving their parents the support they need to create a better life. Since 1989, They have filled our scrapbooks with countless success stories, but the need continues. Their mission is: Together we can break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

They are on a mission to partner with families experiencing homelessness to educate their children and create pathways to success. Their work focuses on three areas: reducing barriers, supporting families, and providing a robust education with access to extracurricular activities. Those three objectives lead to stable families and students who are equipped and empowered to break inter-generational cycles of poverty and homelessness.

What you will do:

REGULAR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Mentors: Commit to one hour per week for one school year to help a student develop academic and social skills while providing consistency in the child’s life.

• Kindergarten through 4th-grade mentors volunteer on either Tuesdays or Thursdays from 2 – 3 PM
• 5th through 7th-grade mentors volunteer on either Wednesdays or Fridays from 2 – 3 PM

Lunch Room Volunteers: Help out in the lunchroom by talking to students, reading aloud, serving food, opening milk cartons and handing out utensils, wiping down tables, etc.

• Breakfast is from 8:15 – 9:15 AM.
• Lunch is from 10:45 AM. – 12:45 PM

After-School Program Volunteers: Volunteers assist staff in conducting age-appropriate games and activities like board games, sports, STEM projects, etc.

• After School Program hours are 3-4:30 p.m.

Recess Buddy: Volunteers play and monitor students with staff on the playground, keeping them safe and happy.

• After School Program hours are 3:15 -4:15 p.m.

Administrative/Receptionist Volunteers: Volunteers help with filing, sorting, covering the front desk in the receptionist’s absence, etc.

Special Events/Birthday Party Throwers: Throw birthday and holiday parties, chaperone field trips, or work at break camp activities as needed.

How to sign up:

Email volunteer@positivetomorrows.org to get on their volunteer list and to learn more about opportunites.