The Center for Community Service and Engagement
Every year Albright students contribute hundreds of hours of service to the college and the community. The Center for Community Service and Engagement can assist students in finding long- and short-term projects that match their interests and availability. Additionally, students are welcome to find their own volunteer opportunities and ask for help in contacting the organization. The Center is student-run, so there is always someone willing to help in anyway possible. In September, the Center also sponsors a Volunteer Fair to introduce students to area agencies and their volunteer needs.
In 1995, Albright joined Alvernia College, Kutztown University, Penn State Berks, and Reading Area Community College in forming the Berks Council on Higher Education. The community service office of the Council works to incorporate students from the five colleges into community projects through events like College Care Day, the Higher Education Month of Service, Leaders in Service workshops, and established agency fundraisers.
The Albright Center for Community Service and Engagement is located in the lower level of the Student Center (near Jake’s Place) and is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Go down the steps to Jake’s, take a quick right and go through the doors. The Center is the first door on the right. Feel free to stop by. If we are not in the office, you can also call 610-921-7621 or email us at volunteer@albright.edu. We can also e found on aLink, Facebook, and Instagram.
Open Office Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
“It’s impossible to be involved in all situations, but there’s no excuse not to be involved in something, somewhere, somehow, with someone. Make an ounce of difference.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich
Volunteer Opportunities:
Heartland Hospice
Overview: Heartland Hospice uses volunteers to provide comfort and support to patients and their families at the end of life. During this pandemic Friendly Visitor volunteers visit in homes, or provide supportive phone calls or letters to patients in nursing facilities. Volunteers also help with special projects, events and office support. Veteran volunteers play a special role in supporting our veteran patient population and veteran education in the community.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and successfully complete security and medical clearances and training.
More Information: Contact Lori Gourama, Volunteer Coordinator, 610-373-6898, Lori.Gourama@HeartlandHospice.com, 2201 Ridgewood Road, Suite 180, Wyomissing, PA 19610
Colebrookdale Railroad Company
Overview: Volunteers and donors are the lifeblood of the Colebrookdale Railroad.
More information: Click here
Grane Hospice
Overview: Grane Hospice Care- Comfort for the Body Mind and Soul
Volunteer Opportunities- Become a friendly visitor and read to, talk with, hold a hand, or take our patients outdoors! Other opportunities also include: Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Pet Therapy, Bereavement, Caretaker relief, Clerical Assistance, Crafts and Events.
More Information: https://granehospice.com/volunteers Angelique Riley, Volunteer Coordinator, 610-337-1721
Habitat Berks
Overview: Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. We believe affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities.
More Information: We always need volunteers at our ReStore in Temple. Please visit www.habitatberks.org or contact: Penny Hummel, Director of Family Services, 610-373-3439, Ext.301, phummel@habitatberks.org
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Overview: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves and interprets and early American iron-making community and its effect on the nation’s industrial history. The historic village includes the charcoal-fueled furnace, Ironmaster’s mansion, tenant houses, and a blacksmith shop. We are one of the few parks that have an active farm program, showcasing animals that would have historically called the furnace home. Programs and events vary throughout the year; these events include sheep shearing, charcoal making, Fourth of July celebration, living history demonstrations, apple picking in the historic orchard, and other seasonally-themed events.
More information: Click here
Olivet Boys & Girls Club of America – AmeriCorps Program
Overview: Our programs address the region’s most pressing and immediate youth issues of education support, afterschool programming and mentoring – all of which is provided by caring and knowledgeable staff. We adhere to the national Boys & Girls Club of America’s initiative to help young people between the ages of six and eighteen get a healthy start and enter school ready to perform to the best of their ability cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally. Our three core areas of programming promote Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles, and Good Character & Citizenship. To reach and serve as many youth as possible, our programs and services are available during non-school hours and during the summer at free or greatly reduced costs.
More information: Click here
Opportunity House
Overview: We’re more than meals and a place to sleep. We empower people to stand on their own feet. That’s our mission, and our emergency shelter is just one of five Opportunity House programs that make Reading and Berks County a better place to live. In addition to our emergency shelter, we offer supportive and transitional housing, a state-licensed childcare center and preschool, a Children’s Alliance Center that helps kids through the trauma of sexual abuse and helps prosecute the abusers, assistance for veterans, and reuse and recycle services whose profits further support our mission and services.
More Information: For more on who we are and how to volunteer, log onto https://opphouse.org/volunteer/opportunities.aspx
Tower Health at Home
Overview: Do you have a kind heart? Do you want to bring a smile to a patient’s face as they near the end of their life? Consider becoming a hospice volunteer where you can read, play games, play an instrument and talk with our hospice patients and families. If you still want to make a difference in someone’s life, but prefer to work behind the scenes, consider making weekly phone calls to our patients and families to ensure they have the supplies needed for ultimate comfort and care.
More Information: Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and must be willing to complete training, be current on required immunizations and have up-to-date clearances. Please contact the Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, Cassondra, at 610-378-0481 ext. 3115 or THAHVolunteer@towerhealth.org if interested or for more information regarding the onboarding process. Feel free to learn more about Tower Health at Home by visiting https://towerhealthathome.org/.
