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Volunteer Opportunities

  • Bring a Child to Work Day -- call 255-7565
  • CALS Elves -- provides clothing and Christmas presents for needy children in the area; Contact Bill Alberta at 255-7949
  • Commencement -- call Connie Mabry at 255-9541
  • CRC (Cornell Recreation Connection) -- call 255-7565
  • CRVIS (Cornell Retirees Volunteering In Service) -- call 255-7565
  • Employee Assembly -- call 255-3715
  • Employee/Family Day -- call 255-7565
  • Kids, Cops, and Toys -- provides toys for needy children within Tompkins County. Campus coordination through the CU Police, Ray Price and George Sutfin, 255-7404
  • Night at the Court -- call 255-7565
  • PawPrint Editorial Board -- call 255-8206
  • Pet Loss Support Hotline at the Veterinary College -- call 253-3932
  • Cornell Companions (Volunteer Pet Visitation Program) -- email cornellcompanion@cornell.edu
  • Cornell University Hospital for Animals Volunteer Programs -- see http://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospital/volunteer.htm
  • Slope Day -- email slopeday@cornell.edu
  • Volunteer Opportunities through CAPE (Cornell Association of Professors Emeriti) -- see http://www.emeritus.cornell.edu/Volunteer.html
  • Other campus volunteer opportunities -- see http://www.alumni.cornell.edu/volunteer.cfm

Around Ithaca

  • Public Service Center, 255-1148
    CIVITAS (Cornell-Ithaca Volunteers in Training and Service)
    200 Barnes Hall
    M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    Visit the Public Service Center web site for information on public service and volunteer opportunities in: Arts & Humanities, Counseling/Mental Health Services, Daycare, Education, Elderly, Engineering/Planning/Public Works, Environment, Food Distribution, Disability Services, Health Issues, Housing/Homelessness, Human Services, Legal Services, On-campus, Youth Programs, Women & Children's Advocacy
  • Ithaca Children's Garden, 272-2292 x186
    Leigh MacDonald, Education Coordinator
    615 Willow Avenue
    M-F 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    Opportunities include: education program assistants, community event planning, watering and gardening at the site, as well as participating on committees or the Board of Directors. Ongoing and one-time volunteer opportunities available. The ICG welcomes volunteers of all ages as well as families who would like to volunteer together. Volunteers receive a full orientation and the opportunity to pursue interests with special projects.


  • Ithaca Youth Bureau, 273-8364
    Allen Green, Director
    1 James L. Gibbs Drive
    M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    The Youth Bureau provides youth programs for the community. Volunteers from campus are welcome. The Youth Bureau houses the following departments:
  • *Center for the Expressive Arts - provides programs that expose children to the arts.
  • *Recreation - the only public agency in the county offering recreational programs on a large scale.
  • *Recreational Mainstreaming Services - programs offered to handicapped children and adults.
  • *Youth Development Program - mechanical program; One-to-One Program (big siblings for area youth); Outing Program; Outreach; Youth Employment Services.
  • Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), 272-3622
    Marcia Fort, Coordinator
    318 N. Albany Street
    M-F 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
    Division of Ithaca Youth Bureau. After school and evening programs in recreation, education, arts and crafts, theatre, etc.
  • One to One Program
    Katie Foley, 273-8364
    1 James L. Gibbs Drive
    M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    The One to One Program matches volunteers with youths ages 6-14, as well as pregnant teens, who need a caring adult who can spend recreational time with them. Volunteers spend three hours a week with the child or teen. Residents must make a one year commitment and students must make a two semester commitment.
  • Paul Schreurs Memorial Program
    Eloise Barrett, 273-8364
    Organizes tutors for children in grades 6-10 who need personal and academic support.
  • Learning Web, 275-0122
    515 West Seneca Street
    Career Exploration & Apprenticeship Program

    Town of Ithaca, Villages of Lansing & Cayuga Heights Coordinator: Sue Schwartz Sue@learning-web.org
    Ithaca Schools Coordinator: Rebecca Bowersox Rebecca@learning-web.org
    Rural Schools Coordinator: Erin Garry eg89@cornell.edu

    Work in the community to provide Tompkins Conty youth with apprenticeship programs. The Learning Web connects youth with active business people who act as the personal mentor in the apprentice situation. Other activities include community service projects, such as painting all the structures in a park, giving students the opportunity to help organize a project and keep a small budget; research work; gathering information to compose an abstract on the Learning Web for wider distribution; and working on the Learning Web Newsletter.
  • RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program)
    Kathie Jordaens, Director, 277-4545
    119 West Court Street
    M-F 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
    The Retired Senior Volunteer Program is a nationwide program that matches people age 60 and over with volunteer opportunities in Tompkins County. It also provides tax counseling for the elderly (TCE).
  • Project CARE
     Katrina Schickel, Coordinator
    274-5491
    kschickel@tompkins-co.org
    www.tompkins-co.org/cofa Click on "Gateway to Senior Services"
    Project CARE is a volunteer program that matches volunteers with frail, homebound seniors for the purpose of providing companionship,
    assistance with light housekeeping/chores or respite for a caregiver. Volunteers typically visit once a week for an hour or so. Please
    contact Katrina Schickel at 274-5491, for more information.

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