There are many ways to make a positive impact on the life of someone else. You might be surprised to find that your life gets better, too.
Please contact the Office of Civic Engagment for more information on any of the opportunities you see here. If you're ready to get involved, please use the sign-up form. Note that there may also be an opportunity to transform your service experience into a work-study position!
Children aged 7 to 14 years in the Wilkes-Barre area are on a waiting list for big brothers or sisters. Bigs help Littles with homework, have fun together, and talk. The time commitment is a minimum of one hour per week.
DVSC provides counseling, crisis intervention, professional training, information and referral, support groups, emergency shelter, community education, and legal system advocacy for both men and women. Volunteers are needed to help with office projects such as hanging signs/posters locally and other awareness raising efforts. Men and women are both welcome to participate.
If a volunteer provides this type of support and shows responsibility and maturity, the volunteer can undergo counselor advocate training. This 50-hour training enables the volunteer to provide direct services to clients. A two-semester commitment is asked of anyone who receives this training. Counselor advocates are eligible to use this experience as work-study.
The Multi-Campus Build project is an initiative of the Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity Chapter in collaboration with institutions of higher education in the Wyoming Valley and Back Mountain. It is designed to provide opportunities for students to develop life skills, while promoting collaboration, leadership and thoughtful actions to help others.
A few Saturdays each semester, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., groups of students accomplish a great deal on a Habitat House. Contact the Civic Engagement office to learn how to become one of the Habitat for Humanity team members.
At Heritage House students can spend time with the elderly during activities such as exercise class, music appreciation, bingo, cooking classes, movies and much more.
This is a free after-school program for students in grades one to six. Activities for kids include:
- Prepare and serve nutritious evening meal.
- Learn about healthy nutrition.
- Give help with homework.
- Teach the kids lessons in health.
- Play sports.
The Kid's Cafe is open every full day of school according to the Wilkes-Barre Area School District calendar from 3:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
The REACH program serves the poor and underemployed with emergency food and a clothing room. Volunteers help to sort and distribute these goods. A volunteer desiring more direct contact with those receiving services should speak with the site contact. Volunteers are usually asked to volunteer once a week.