Community Action Services in Provo has been assisting people struggling with poverty since 1967, in large part due to service from those in the community.
People are actually at the heart of everything we do. It is the people of our community that we serve. It is the people that organize and run our organization. And it is the people who volunteer their time, talents, andW resources to support our initiatives. When we talk about making a difference in the community, it takes a village. And not just any village. It takes villagers with a volunteering heart.
Without our volunteers here at CASFB, we could not do what we do. We are ALWAYS in need of volunteers to help keep our organization running smoothly and help more people in our community. Are you ready to get to work on your volunteering heart? Here are nine ways you can volunteer to help!
1. Dig in at the Community Gardens
We need your green thumbs! Our community garden volunteer opportunities are now open. This is a popular service for those who enjoy being outdoors. Volunteers can help clean up the various community gardens by weeding, removing dead produce, and watering gardening boxes. This is a great idea for smaller groups.
2. Volunteer Hours at the Food Pantry
For a fun, hands-on volunteer experience, consider volunteering for a day or night shift at our food pantry. Volunteers can walk in or use our sign-up form. If you have a group larger than 25, please email Hillary (hillaryw@communityactionuc.org) to confirm. Because of the high number of individuals seeking volunteering opportunities, please provide at least two days’ notice if you are unable to attend your appointment for any reason.
3. Host a Food Drive
The Feed Utah food drive held on Saturday, March 18, brought in 144,000 pounds of food. While this was an incredible amount of food donated by churches, individuals, groups, and more, it is much less than the amount that was donated a few years ago. As food prices rise, donations drop—but needs rise. Food drives of any size can be coordinated with the organization and delivered to one of our local pantries.
4. Join Our #givingtuesdaynow Challenges
Each Tuesday on our Instagram page, we share an inexpensive item you can donate to the organization. Donation calls have ranged from canned proteins to breakfast cereals, hygiene items, and diapers. Follow us now so you can see what we’re currently in need of, then simply add that week’s item to your weekly grocery list and drop it off at our Provo location during regular business hours. This is a simple but effective way to help.
5. Donate Gas Cards
Many in our community who need help the most often don’t have the resources to fill their gas tank to come and shop our pantries or attend a Circles meeting. In order to help these individuals, we encourage you to donate gas cards in $10–25 amounts to help these families get to their local pantry. You can drop these off for Helen at our Provo location, and they will be distributed among community members who need them.
No matter how you choose to help, we can use your unique heart to touch lives and make a difference in our community. If you have an idea for an activity for our organization, please reach out! We’d love to coordinate something amazing with you and your organization or group. Or, if you’re an individual looking to give back, we have lots of incredible volunteer opportunities for you as well. No matter how you choose to serve, we welcome all acts of kindness.
Submitted by Jen Gallacher
