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Community service does not only give you the chance to strengthen your community but also allows you to help change the world for the better. But if you come to think of it, the benefits of community service are also inward. These opportunities help you grow, and if you do it because you simply enjoy helping others, then you harness the most benefits.

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In this article, you will find community service opportunities thatwill help you fulfill a certain amount of service hours, build up your resume,increase network opportunities, and potentially get access to loan forgiveness.

American Red Cross
American Museum of Natural History
National Audubon Society
Natural Resources Conservation Service – Earth Team Volunteers
Feeding America
Federal Election Volunteers – Become a Poll Worker.
VA Voluntary Service
Points of Light (Hands on Network)
The Nature Conservancy
Habitat for Humanity

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is one of the largest and oldest organizations that provide humanitarian aid to soldiers and victims of war, supplies blood in the nation, delivers disaster relief and community outreach through services and gifts that include food, shelter, clothing, and medical supplies. If providing genuine assistance to others is up your alley, this organization might just be for you. It teaches its volunteers best practices to help victims prepare and respond to emergencies. They offer classes such as CPR, first aid, babysitting, disaster response training, HIV and automatic electric defibrillator training.

Several colleges and universities have partnered with the American RedCross for academic service-learning. College students who are enrolled inprograms like nursing, public health, and other disciplines earn college creditsthrough their service-learning opportunities.

American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History is known to be one of thelargest museums in the nation and the world. Located in Manhattan in New YorkCity, this historic structure was built over 140 years ago as a research andexhibit center on natural resources. Visitors from around the globe explore andexperience lifelike exhibits from dinosaurs to human cultures and outer space. Thereare about 1,000 people who sign up as volunteers for AMNH each year. Volunteersperform duties like tour guides, teaching guides, staff information desks, andmore.

College students can make the most out of their community service byhelping the museum achieve its goals. Internship programs are available for allhigh school, college, and even graduate students. College students get thisopportunity through AMNH's Museum Education and Employment Program (MEEP) and PublicPrograms / Margaret Mead Film Festival Internship.

National Audubon Society

The National Audubon Society is an organization involved in nature conservation. It was established by George Bird Grinnell, an American anthropologist, historian, naturalist, and writer. He named the organization after John James Audubon, an ornithologist and naturalist. Grinnell created the organization after he was moved and repulsed by the mass slaughter of birds he witnessed. National Audubon Society aims to protect birds and other wildlife through scientific research, educational programs, and encouraging the government to make laws that protect the ecosystem. This is perfect for college students who plan to take on green careers. These students can find Audubon chapters across the nation and may sign up for community service.

The group has a diverse and flexible set of volunteer programs readyfor different individuals. Its Audubon Center for Birds of Prey helps collegestudents train and work for specific positions for service-learning hours.

Natural Resources Conservation Service – Earth Team Volunteers

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an agency of the UnitedStates Department of Agriculture dedicated to helping farmers and privatelandowners. The Earth Team program was founded in 1985 to work on theconservation of the nation's natural resources and as NCRS's volunteerworkforce. Its volunteers are teamed up with NRCS employees and staff indedicating their time to help farmers produce water resources, improve soilquality, protect watersheds, and enhance wildlife habitat. The program offersvolunteer opportunities to individuals ages 14 and above.

College students from all over the country who are interested involunteering for Earth Team can start by sending an email to its state volunteercoordinator. They can work part, or full-time, evenings, weekends in an NRCSoffice or even outdoors. Students can earn academic credit through volunteeringfor soil data entry on a local farm, plant grass for bank stabilization orerosion control, and help NRCS employees conduct water quality tests.

Feeding America

Feeding America is a non-profit organization established by an entrepreneur noted as the "Father of Food Banks," John van Hengel. The organization started in the late 1960s when van Hengel ended up having more donations than the local soup kitchen he had volunteered in. Today, the organization has grown to over 200-member food banks that aim to fight hunger in the United States. They have been providing food to more than 46 million people across the nation.

College students who want to get involved can serve their community or serve internships at any Feeding America national office or network food bank. They can work in research, graphic design, or volunteer at the nearest food bank and food pantries. At the present, about 51% of the Feeding America programs are entrusted to its volunteers.

Federal Election Volunteers – Become a Poll Worker.

College students with an affinity to politics can volunteer as poll workersor assistants. Each state and local government organizes an election commissionthat encourages all individuals not just to participate through voting but alsoto become a poll worker. Poll workers conduct duties such as issuing ballots tovoters, monitoring voting equipment, assisting voters, and explaining votingprocedures and assisting the setup of the polling place.

Requirements are stated on the FEC website for students to comply with.Applicants have to pass a test or an assessment to show their competency in a particularjob function. Poll workers' positions include inspector, clerk, assistantclerk, deputy, or equipment operator. Some state and local governments provide acertificate to fulfill community service orders or school requirements.

VA Voluntary Service

College students who would like to make a difference in the lives ofour veteran military members may get involved by doing voluntary work relatedto the needs of veterans and their families. A variety of VA operations needthe help of volunteers. In most cases, student volunteers are assigned to VA'smedical centers. Besides training and experience, students can benefit fromvolunteering with the James H. Parke Memorial Youth Scholarship Awardscholarship.

There are many services and specialties for student volunteers such as Audiologyand Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nursing PatientEscort, Research, Laboratory Medicine, Outpatient/Ambulatory Care Activities, InformationTechnology, Medical Illustration, Social Work, Extended Care, and MedicalAdministration.

Points of Light (Hands on Network)

Points of Light was created as a result of a merger of two independentnon-profit organizations, Hands on Network and Points of Light Foundation. HandsOnNetwork is based in Atlanta, Georgia, that hosts almost 50,000 projects a year.The organization helps rebuild communities, teach reading, build wheelchairramps, and more projects that help strengthen communities. It collaborated withseveral companies to encourage volunteerism. Students may explore the volunteerservices they offer on their website and sign up for a project. There are amultitude of volunteer positions and projects from animal welfare toimmigration and refugee services.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is an environmental organization established in1951. It was founded to promote research and had developed to advocate forconservation. Its headquarters is located in Arlington, Virginia, and has morethan 1 million members across the globe. College students may volunteer and immersethemselves in hands-on and educational experiences in the protection of thecommunity's species and natural habitats.

Depending on the state and location, volunteer programs strive toconnect students with nature. College students can volunteer as plant stewards,translators, conservation ambassadors, videographers, and photographers. Severalcolleges and universities partner with the organization to coordinate researchthat supports sustainability and biodiversity.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity was established in 1976. It is a non-profitorganization with the objective of building affordable, safe, and decent housingfor residents in low-income areas. It was founded by Linda and Millard Fuller, whogathered families, volunteers, and resources to work together and create the homeownershipprocess. Homeowners pay the costs to build their houses without interest. Itsheadquarters for international operations are located in Americus, Georgia,while its administrative office is in Atlanta.

Local and community-level offices are established all over the country. With almost 500 Habitat campus chapters, the organization helps high school and college students make good use of their time and talent by offering community service opportunities. Campus chapters functions include direct service, fundraising, advocating, and educating. Students are encouraged to apply their academic skills in helping solve issues related to poverty housing and homelessness. It also offers school break programs like the Collegiate Challenge that allows students to build and repair houses.