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Volunteering During Covid-19: Opportunities and Resources
As everyone navigates COVID-19, the Kernodle Center for Civic Life is still here to connect Elon with the broader Alamance County community to provide partnership, resources, and support. See below for opportunities and ideas on how to engage.
This page will be updated regularly as more opportunities and resources become available.
Volunteering Opportunities
If you are considering any direct-service, please use sound judgment and follow the Ready and Resilient guidelines. Most importantly, stay home if you are sick. Anyone with a fever, cough, or other symptoms of COVID-19 should not participate in direct-service opportunities.
Civic Engagement
Elon Votes! is helping get campus ready for the 2020 election. Here are some ways to engage and become an informed voter:
- Register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot
- Educate yourself on the candidates and issues
- Host your own debate watch party with a small group of friends.
- Sign-up to be a poll worker on Election Day
To learn more, check out the Civic Engagement Social Issue Guide.
Disability Rights
Our Disability Rights cluster is currently exploring opportunities to partner virtually, and Kopper Top has opportunities to volunteer in-person:
- Elon Buddies (meet with buddies to build relationships and connect about life and career development). These virtual opportunities will be happening on 9/18, 10/2, 10/18 and 11/13. Email elonbuddies@elon.edu for more information about how to get involved.
- Kopper Top (support indirect service projects such as facility maintenance and trail clean-up – this is a good opportunity for group service). Email koppertop@elon.edu for more information.
To learn more, check out the Disability Rights Social Issue Guide.
Education and Youth Development
Our Education and Youth Development cluster is helping foster some in-person and some virtual opportunities to connect with and support local youth:
- Our education and after school program partners are currently exploring a mix of in-person and virtual learning opportunities. Email student leaders coordinating these partnerships to learn more about ways to get involved:
- Alamance Community College (adult tutoring and ESL program): acc@elon.edu
- The Boys and Girls Club is looking for volunteers to help students with virtual learning during the school day and after school. Click here to see current opportunities and register today. If you have questions or want more information email bgc@elon.edu.
- Burlington Housing Authority (after school program tutoring and mentoring): bha@elon.edu
- Positive Attitude Youth Center (after school program tutoring and mentoring): payc@elon.edu
- Immigrant and Refugee Outreach: fundraising for laptops to support after school tutoring for children of local refugees: iroutreach@elon.edu
To learn more, check out the Education and Youth Development Social Issue Guide.
Housing and Food Security
Our Housing and Food Security cluster has multiple ways to stay engaged:
- Campus Kitchen: Harvest, cook, and deliver food to local community members. Register for upcoming opportunities by clicking here.
- Habitat for Humanity: Build houses and work in the ReStore. Register for upcoming opportunities by clicking here (note: house builds will likely start by the end of September or early October)
- Allied Churches (address hunger needs by serving food to those in need): alliedchurches@elon.edu.
To learn more, check out the Affordable Housing Social Issue Guide and the Food Security Social Issue Guide.
Public Health and Wellness
Our Public Health and Wellness cluster has multiple ways to stay engaged:
- Animal Welfare: volunteers are currently not being accepted at the shelter but we are exploring opportunities to foster animals for a day or days at a time. Email animal@elon.edu for more information.
- Linking Generations: volunteers are not being accepted in-person right now at senior care facilities, but we are exploring ways to offer support virtually. Email linkinggen@elon.edu for more information.
- Blood Drives: we will be host a scaled down Blood Drive hosted by the American Red Cross on Thursday, October 29th. Email ambassadors@elon.edu to be kept posted on this opportunity.
To learn more, check out the Public Health and Wellness Social Issue Guide.
Alternative Breaks
The Alternative Breaks program is planning programs for spring semester. We are still deciding on the format, but plan to have more information available soon! If you are interested in participating in a spring alternative break, email Kyle Anderson at kanderson52@elon.edu to be kept posted on our program plans and application dates.
Volunteering Resources
The Kernodle Center for Civic Life has created a resource bank with ideas on how to engage as a volunteer with community partners during COVID-19.
Click here to visit our resource bank.