Tips on choosing a community service project

If you’d like to volunteer with a student group, the first step is to view the list of community service groups and pick which ones most interest you. Then, contact those groups, usually via email. If you’re not sure you are contacting the right person or have trouble receiving a response, you can look at the list of Student Union groups to cross-check contact information, or you contact Community Service Office for assistance.

If you applied for financial assistance and received a federal work-study award,you may be interested in tutoring elementary students in reading or math. Washington University currently works with Delmar Harvard Elementary, Flynn Park Elementary, and several local after-school programs. If you would like to participate in this program contact James McDonald in Student Financial Services.

If you’d like to volunteer directly with a local agency, visit our St. Louis non-profit agency database. The database is organized into different issue areas, and can also search for agencies accessible without a car. Be sure to note the locations of agencies and make sure you’ve explored your transportation options before you risk getting excited about an agency that is too far away. The clearer you are about what you want, the easier it will be to find the right agency. Click here for suggested questions to ask yourself when choosing an agency. When you contact agencies you’re interested in, be sure to articulate what you’re interested in doing, your availability, and how much time you have to offer (hours per week as well as duration of commitment). It also helps to ask questions to learn more about the agency and make sure it’s a good fit. Click here for suggested questions to ask community-based agencies.

If you want to discuss your interests further or are having difficulty finding a good connection, click here for real live help!