COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Below is a list of volunteer opportunities for you outside of the GSD organized into several broad categories. If you know of other volunteer opportunities that individuals or groups at the GSD might be interested in, click here and it will be posted on this page.
Arts Education
Affordable Housing
Building and Construction
Environmental and Conservation/Landscape
Food and Clothing /Shelters
Real Estate
Safety/Self-Defence
Others Sources
Cambridge
Arts Council
It is the mission of the Public Art Education and Outreach Program to
provide a variety of opportunities for visitors and residents of Cambridge
to experience art that has been created for public spaces throughout
the City. Cambridge public art offers a rich cultural resource that
can broaden our appreciation of history, art, community, nature, and
the civic environment.
The education and outreach programming is designed to serve a diverse multi-generational audience. Through our website, our publications, and collaborations with other organizations and City agencies, we seek to reach a wide spectrum of individuals. Whether it becomes a part of a bicycle tour, a place to find a Golden Shoe, an eight-week course, or a feature on a field trip or morning commute, public art is a dynamic part of living, working, and visiting the City of Cambridge.
Contact: Jane Beal, Director of Community Arts, 617.349.4381
Fall
Community Care Day
In the September of every year the United Way Massachusetts Bay coordinates
a day that is geared towards increasing youth opportunities, sustainable
employment and affordable housing
Contact: Julie DiBari
Habitat
for Humanity Greater Boston
This chapter requires a mandatory $500 contribution by student group
volunteers in order to help offset costs of tools, materials, etc. The
sites are generally 10-15 minutes drive away, or accessible by public
transport. Saturday build days must be planned well in advance since
they fill up quickly.
Contact: Laura Mannering,
617.423.2223, ext. 23
273 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210
South
Shore Habitat for Humanity
This chapter does not require a mandatory contribution by group volunteers
and would likely have more openings for a Saturday workday, though their
sites are slightly farther away (approx. 20-30 minutes by car).
Contact: Laura Mannering,
617.423.2223, ext. 23
Rebuilding
Together Boston (formerly known as Christmas in April)
Volunteers are needed to help repair and renovate the homes of elderly,
low-income families or disadvantaged community members. Depending on
the anticipated number of volunteers each year, they may limit the number
of student participants from GSD.
Contact: Martine
Taylor, President, 617.296.0058
249 River Street, The Foley Building
Mattapan, MA 02126
Environmental and Conservation/Landscape
Earthworks
Projects have included planting and maintaining some of Boston’s
orchards, planting native trees and shrubs in undeveloped, city-owned
urban wild areas and community clean-up.
Contacts:
Benjamin Crouch, Executive Assistant, 617.442.1059
Person to contact to schedule planting sessions
Dennis Pultinas, Site Coordinator/horticulturist, 617.739.1489 (home)
Person who leads the planting sessions
Habitat
for Humanity Environmental Initiative
Construction and Environmental Resources Department helps international
and U.S. Habitat affiliates build quality houses. They specialize in
providing information and training on a variety of construction issues
such as management and methods, building materials, energy efficiency,
healthy indoor air quality, house design and accessibility.
Contact: consenv@hfhi.org
Walden Pond Restoration
GSD students have participated twice in this event organized by People
Making a Difference (PMD). The one-day restoration project typically
takes place in mid-late October. Visit PMD
website in mid-September to participate. In 2001 and 2002, since
we made up to 1/3 to 1/2 of the volunteers, we contributed $150-$200/year
to help purchase plant and restoration materials.
Contact: Lori Tsuruda, Founder &
Executive Director of People Making a Difference, 617.437.8871
Bread
and Jam
This is a homeless shelter for men and women in Harvard Square. The
GSD collects donations for them in the annual holiday food and clothing
drive.
Contact: 617.441.3831
1151 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
Harvard
Square Homeless Meals Program
This is an ongoing program run on a volunteer basis to provide hot meals
to the homeless of Harvard Square. Meals are served in the basement
of Christ Church Episcopal, 10 Garden Street, every Thursday night and
volunteers are needed for any amount of time (an hour is great if that’s
all you can spare!) from 2 to 8 p.m. The Public Service Fellows will
lead outings to the Meals Programs periodically, but you can go on your
own.
Contact: Dudley
Public Service Fellows
The
First Church In Cambridge
In Harvard Square at this church, volunteers are needed to help out
in the kitchen preparing and serving dinners for the homeless. Volunteer
for any two hour segment.
Contact: tuesdaymeals@firstparishcambridge.org
Shelter,
Inc.
This is another shelter that the GSD collects donations for in the annual
holiday food and clothing drive.
Contact: 617.267.8081
109 School Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Habitat
for Humanity Greater Boston
There are two operating committees involved with their construction
component, the site selection and design committee which meet at 6:30
pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, and the Construction Management
committee which meets at 1:00pm every Wednesday. Both meetings are at
our office at 273 Summer Street, Boston on the third floor. Call to
learn more!
Contact: David Lopes, 617.423.2223
Rape
Aggression Defense Course (RAD)
Offered through the HUPD, it is a women-only self defense course that
takes place over three sessions. The program can be organized at the
beginning of either the fall or spring semesters (or maybe both). The
administration (contact, Laura Snowden) co-sponsors this event with
Student Forum.
Contact: HUPD's
website
Other Sources
Harvard Public
Service Network
Volunteer
Solutions