Alabama Arise is a statewide, member-led organization advancing public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians who are marginalized by poverty. Our membership includes faith-based, community, nonprofit and civic groups, grassroots leaders and individuals from across Alabama. Alabama Arise is a nonprofit organization, and our work is funded by private foundations and members like you. Our members select our annual legislative agenda, focusing on the issues that matter most to alleviate poverty and its effects.
O Grows promotes gardening and related programming to address the issues of food security and localized food systems while providing fresh food for the Opelika, Alabama community. It began in 2012 as a solitary effort at one school to encourage outdoor education and was comprised of a school garden and weekly lessons with second graders. Since then O Grows has indeed grown, into a community-wide partnership, which at its heart is an effort to localize the food systems of Opelika.
The Campus Kitchen Project is an emerging leader in community service for students and resourceful anti-hunger programs for communities around the country.
What we do is kind of a no-brainer. We know there are people in every community who need nourishing meals and we know that every college campus has unserved food in its dining halls and brilliant students in its classrooms. So we put them all together!
We empower thousands of students each year to recycle food from their cafeterias, turn these donations into nourishing meals, and deliver those meals to those who need it most.
The best part is that students run the whole show. They plan the menus, get the food, run the cooking shifts, organize the drivers, provide nutrition programs for local children, and teach culinary skills to unemployed adults. Then, they keep track of all of the paperwork (so we know everything's being done safely), organize fundraisers, develop curriculum, and recruit new students to get involved. They accomplish an incredible amount of work every day!
Contact Name: Jake Gartner, President of Campus Kitchen
Circle K International (CKI) is one of the world’s largest student-led collegiate service organizations, with thousands of members on hundreds of campuses across the globe. The collegiate branch of the Kiwanis International family, CKI is committed to developing leaders by offering unique service, leadership and fellowship opportunities that change the world and the lives of our members. CKI members leave college with real-life skills in networking, advocating and service leadership. Live to serve, love to serve!
Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. By building with volunteer labor and offering zero-interest mortgages, we partner with low-income families to help them build equity toward stable futures. We welcome all people to join us as we build simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter.
Habitat for Humanity does not build houses for families; rather, it builds alongside those who demonstrate the need and willingness to partner with Habitat. Homeowner families invest hundreds of hours of their own “sweat equity” labor into the houses. Their monthly mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity to help fund the construction of more houses. The partnership continues!
BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose is a joint outreach program of the Auburn University Social Work Program in the College of Liberal Arts and First Presbyterian Church of Auburn. It serves as an intensive diversity and inclusion training opportunity for Auburn University interns and volunteers across a variety of disciplines.
The mission of BCPP is to provide a place where individuals with disabilities are offered comprehensive opportunities for continued growth in the areas of health and fitness, academia, life and job skills, community outreach, and creative arts exploration. It creates a place that is sensitive to the need for safety, the importance of belonging, the benefit of consistent daily routine and creates a purpose for those who would otherwise be excluded from full participation in the adult community.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Hunger can be considered a potential consequence of food insecurity that, because of prolonged, involuntary lack of food, results in discomfort, illness, weakness, or pain that goes beyond the usual uneasy sensation.
The goal of the Campus Food Pantry is to address food insecurity at Auburn University by providing nutritious food to students so they can focus on their education.
Students can access the Campus Food Pantry twice a month by visiting Lupton Hall. Check out the highlight “Get Here” on our Instagram: @au_campusfoodpantry for assistance finding the location.
Before using the Campus Food Pantry, students must confirm they are food insecure by completing this online form.
Once the form is completed, students will receive confirmation of their eligibility via email.
Lee County LITERACY COALTION (LCLC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing adult literacy programs at no cost to the community. LCLC receives 11% of its funding from the United Way of Lee County, with additional funding sources from individual and corporate donations, grants, and foundations. Our mission is to help adults learn to read, write, and use mathematics and computers at a level necessary to succeed and thrive.
Key community benefits include increasing and leveraging resources to meet the current demand for adult literacy services; and improving collaboration and coordination across local systems serving adult learners while promoting equitable access to literacy education for all adults in Lee County and neighboring counties.
Today Kreher Preserve and Nature Center acts as an outreach program of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, serving as a local resource for outdoor recreation and environmental education for thousands of visitors and students each year.
Volunteers may choose to serve in any number of capacities, including as guides and program leaders, groundskeepers and gardeners, as administrative support, or by assisting with fundraising, marketing, and public relations initiatives. Whatever your unique talent or skill, if you enjoy nature and wish to support the mission of the KPNC, your time is appreciated.
Key areas of need include:
• Maintenance/groundskeeping
• Gardening
• Teaching/education
• Marketing/public relations
• Membership/Fundraising
• Event-day support
• Photography/graphic design
• Volunteer coordination