Zuri Primos
Paris Allen, a junior student, volunteers at DU Decision Day 2024.
Every Dillard University student needs community service hours to graduate. Start sooner rather than later with opportunities from local organizations. Here’s a list of service opportunities in the New Orleans area:
Second Harvest Food Bank is an organization that allows volunteers to get in touch with food pantries, feeding kitchens, and other distribution centers in the greater New Orleans area. In order to volunteer, create an account on their website, find the city of New Orleans, and immediately find a list of available community service opportunities with available slots. Kitchen, warehouse, and general volunteer age requirements start at 9 years old, so all college-aged students can apply.
Lantern Light prides itself on “providing peace, support, and encouragement to the working poor and homeless, in downtown New Orleans,” according to their website. As a volunteer, the positions available include information ambassador, helping with plating and serving meals, fundraising, picking up donations for the organization, or delivering groceries for the food bank. Fill out a Google form to sign up.
Generation Hope works to “ensure all student parents have the opportunities to succeed, experience economic stability, and build wealth” by engaging education and policymakers to change the system and providing support to teen parents in college, according to their website. Volunteers can provide childcare at Generation Hope events in New Orleans. To volunteer, applicants must be at least 18 years old, submit to a full background check, and complete Generation Hope’s one-hour Childcare Volunteer Training and Assessment online.
Farming New Orleans is a nonprofit organization that “promotes the cultivation of gardens, groves, and livestock as vehicles for education, building community, feeding the hungry, and promoting entrepreneurship in New Orleans,” according to their website. Fill out a Google form to sign up.
Gigi’s Playhouse New Orleans delivers “free educational, therapeutic, and career development programs to individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community,” according to their website. Volunteers at Gigi’s Playhouse can apply as program assistants, program leaders, greeters, tutors, youth board members, and more, with their multitude of options on the site. Age requirement for application starts at 13 years old for basic positions and is 18 years old for more complex positions.
Those who choose to volunteer at New Orleans City Park contribute to the upkeep and care of City Park to keep it looking good for park guests. Volunteers have the option to apply for various events listed on the site with open slots.
Covenant House New Orleans delivers sanctuary and care for their youth’s mental health needs, taking in youth who have been abandoned or experienced childhood trauma. Volunteers at Covenant House New Orleans who choose to work with youth must be at least 24, but youth volunteers aged 16-24 may join the organization on a limited basis to help with special events and peak seasons of service. The organization requests at least six months of commitment and requires $25 to cover the cost of a background check before volunteering.
The New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter is an organization that works to “enable women and their children to transition from a life of homelessness and poverty to one of stability and self-sufficiency,” according to their website. Volunteers at the shelter would aid in organizing events, shelter upkeep, administrative tasks, fundraising and more. The requirements for applying include: being at least 15 years old, being able to pass a background check, attending a volunteer orientation and sharing the core values of the shelter.
Animal Rescue New Orleans dedicates its work to rescuing and aiding abandoned and homeless animals in New Orleans; volunteers complete various tasks such as dog-walking, kennel cleaning, feeding animals, washing dishes, cat socialization, and more. While the shelter only allows up to 10 volunteers, they only require volunteers to fill out the application available on their site and sign a volunteer waiver. Age requirements for the application start at 14 years old.
The Audubon Nature Institute offers volunteers an opportunity to interact with nature while working with wildlife and engaging with guests. Volunteers work with staff and gain valuable skills while being surrounded by a community “dedicated to protecting nature and inspiring visitors,” according to their website. Adult applicants at the Audubon Institute must be 18 years or older, complete a background check, attend and complete their in-person volunteer orientation and pay a one-time onboarding $55 fee that covers the cost of a background check and full uniform.
More information is available on their websites, which are available below:
Second Harvest Food Bank
Lantern Light
Generation Hope
Farming New Orleans
Gigi’s Playhouse New Orleans
New Orleans City Park
Covenant House New Orleans
New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter
Animal Rescue New Orleans
Aubudon Nature Institute