Washington and Lee University
This Volunteer Resource Guide for local and campus service opportunities is provided by the Nabors Service League to better inform the Washington and Lee campus on where, when, and how to serve.
Nabors Service League enlightens students of local service opportunities by electing student chairs to represent the diverse needs of both the local and campus communities. Though this Resource Guide provides direct contact information for each agency, Nabors asks that you first utilize student chairs to facilitate service. The election of one student representative is a convenience to the agencies.
Individuals seeking service placements should first sign-up to receive emails about service opportunities, then contact the appropriate student representative.
Lylburn Downing Middle School
Agency Mission: Lylburn Downing Middle School serves 6-8th graders who live in the city of Lexington. Volunteer are needed for afterschool tutoring programs (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-4:15 p.m.). Math, French, Latin, and Spanish tutors are especially needed.
Maury River Middle School
Agency Mission: Maury River Middle School serves 6-8th graders who live in Rockbridge County. Assist with the Failure Free Reading Program, tutoring, chess club, and after-school enrichment.
NEXT: 21st Century Afterschool Program
Parry McCluer Middle School
Agency Mission: Parry McCluer Middle School serves students in grades 5-8. Volunteers are needed to tutor and staff the school's afternoon "homework help" twice a week from 2:55-4 p.m. Volunteers are also need to assist teachers in the classroom.
Prevention Services
Agency Mission:: A comprehensive array of programs, presentations, and trainings are available for adults, children, and families to help them anticipate and decrease risk behaviors, increase protective behaviors, and develop resiliency. Volunteer opportunities with the Rockbridge Area Prevention Coalition include serving on the Coalition (meetings are once a month), helping with afterschool programs, and assisting with a variety of substance-abuse prevention projects in the schools and community.
Rockbridge County High School
Agency Mission: Rockbridge County High School serves 9-12 graders residing in Rockbridge County. Serve as an academic coach during the traditional school day.
Rockbridge County Middle School
Agency Mission: Rockbridge County Middle School serves 6-8th graders residing in Rockbridge County. Volunteers are essential to the success of the Failure Free Reading Program and other tutoring needs.
Central Elementary School
Agency Mission: Central Elementary serves Rockbridge County students in grades K-5. General need for during-school and after-school tutors. The school is an active participant in the RACSB Mentoring Program.
City of Lexington Office on Youth: Community Center
Agency Mission: The Office on Youth provides an after-school program for elementary and middle school students at the Lylburn Downing Community Center. Services include tutoring and assisting in crafts, games, and activities.
Fairfield Elementary School
Agency Mission: Fairfield Elementary School serves Rockbridge county children from preschool to 5th grade. General need for tutoring during and after school as well as help in classrooms.
Head Start of Rockbridge
Agency Mission: Head Start provides pre-school services to 3- and 4-year-old children with developmental or financial needs in preparation for school attendance. Head Start Centers are located at Glasgow, Fairfield, Enderly Heights, and Waddell elementary schools. Consistent need for volunteers as classroom aides, preferably one student at a time.
Mountain View Elementary School
Agency Mission: Mountain View Elementary School serves Rockbridge County children grades K-5. There are many volunteer opportunities, such as working in the classroom setting with teachers, taking students out of class and reading to them or working with them one-on-one. Monitor the computer lab while students are working on projects, assist in the art room while students do their art work, work in the library helping to find books for students or re-shelving books, or assist in Physical Education classes.
Natural Bridge Elementary School
Agency Mission: Natural Bridge Elementary School serves elementary school-age children in Natural Bridge and Natural Bridge Station. Consistent need for tutors and volunteers to lead enrichment activities.
Pre-School on the Bus
Agency Mission: Rockbridge County Schools provides mobile daycare for county residents in need. Pre-School on the Bus alternates school sites throughout the week to serve the wide geographical region of the county.
Waddell Elementary School
Agency Mission: Waddell Elementary School is the primary school for children in Lexington city. Consistent need for after school homework helpers as well as classroom volunteers during the school day.
Woods Creek Montessori
Agency Mission: Recognizing that all children are born with a yearning for self-development and learning, Montessori programs aim to facilitate the development of the "whole child." Three to four-year-old children are encouraged to explore and experience a stimulating and supportive classroom environment, develop self-esteem, and work toward realizing their full potential in all areas of life. Volunteer as a classroom aide.
Yellow Brick Road Child Development Center
Agency Mission: Yellow Brick Road Early Learning Center serves children from 6 weeks old to age 6 in a daycare setting. Yellow Brick Road serves both disadvantaged and secure families. Volunteers assist in classroom and during outside play.
Youth Literacy Program
Agency Mission: The Youth Literacy program recruits and trains reading tutor/mentors to help struggling youth readers catch up to their peers. The Youth Literacy program partners with the Rockbridge Regional Library, Rockbridge County Public Schools, and Lexington City School. Trained reading tutor/mentors are matched with children in kindergarten through fifth grade and work to encourage students' interest in reading and to help them improve their reading skills.
Kendal at Lexington
Agency Mission: Assisted living and skilled care for the elderly. Volunteers are needed to visit with residents and help out with group activities. Performances are welcome.
Maury River Senior Center
Agency Mission: A centrally located Senior Activities Center and site for meals and case management, the Maury River Senior Center is a cooperative effort of Buena Vista, Lexington, and Rockbridge County local governments to care for the elderly community.
Mayflower Home for Adults
Agency Mission: Mayflower Home for Adults provides assisted living for the elderly and disabled. Adopt-a-grandparent, plan an evening activity, or visit independently.
Meals for Shut-Ins
Meals for Shut-Ins provides one meal a day, five times a week to more than 35 seniors in the city of Lexington who cannot cook for themselves. The meals are given at no cost to recipients, however if they have the means they pay a pro-rated cost. Meals for Shut-Ins is a United Way sponsored organization and also performs fundraisers throughout the year to raise money to offset operation costs.
Back Campus Garden
Agency Mission: The Back Campus Organic Garden works to improve Sustainability at Washington and Lee through composting, while also providing fresh produce and a living classroom to the Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee.
Boxerwood Nature Center and Woodland Garden
Agency Mission: Boxerwood, located just two miles from W&L, is 31 acres of rolling Virginia valley. The land reflects six distinct habitats and includes an impressive collection of trees and shrubs spread naturalistically over 15 of the acres. The non-profit's mission is to educate and inspire people of all ages toward becoming successful and environmentally responsible stewards of the Earth. Boxerwood is open to the public for visitations and self-guided tours.
Boxerwood is an education resource for all local preschools and the three local school systems. Volunteers are needed to work with the educational programs, to assist with preparation and clean-up for classes and other activities, to provide general administrative assistance, and to work on landscaping/gardening maintenance projects.
Rockbridge Area Conservation Council
Agency Mission: Since 1976, promoting the wise stewardship and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources through education, advocacy, and action to protect and enhance the quality of life for present and future inhabitants of Rockbridge County.
Roots and Shoots at Waddell Elementary
Agency Mission: An all school program where the students are the "Shoots" and the community volunteers are the "Roots." Together they grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs during the spring, summer, and fall. Academic learning is incorporated in the curriculum, especially the science units.
The Arc of Rockbridge
Agency Mission: The Arc, a national organization, promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center
Agency Mission: The Blue Ridge Autism and Achievement Center (BRAAC) is a nonprofit, nonsectarian center that provides education and services for children and families affected by autism and unique learning challenges, such as Learning Disabilities. It was founded in June, 2009 through a merger between two well established programs whose mission was the same: Provide services to children in the Roanoke Valley and Lexington area who struggle to learn and succeed in typical environments.
Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital
Agency Mission: CSJH provides health and wellness services that meet the needs of and improve the health of our community. The thriving hospital volunteer program is 100+ strong, with teens, college students, and retirees in positions in virtually every department. Every effort is made to place an applicant in a position that suits his/her strengths, schedule, and goals. Jobs are filled on an as-needed basis, and volunteer orientation is held each month for new applicants. The CSJH volunteer application is available through the Community Development Office.
Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center
Agency Mission: Hoofbeats offers therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities. Volunteer on a weekly basis or special programs are offered through one-day events for the ARC of Rockbridge, and horse shows for the disabled and able-bodied.
Contact: Carol Branscome
Contact Info: 464-3337
Agency Mission: The Manor of Natural Bridge houses residents that need assistance. Some residents are on Medicaid and have no other alternatives for housing and services. Residents are often without family visitation. Residents enjoy visitors, walks, musical entertainment, and any organized activity.
Contact: JoAnne King
Contact Info: 291-2301
Adult Day Activity Programs: Planned and supervised social and educational activities for individuals with developmental disabilities and/ or mental health issues. Volunteer opportunities at the Magnolia Center include participating in celebrations - birthday parties, dancing, singing, playing games, sports, reading to individuals, socializing, movement groups, painting, arts and crafts, and theater program - actors, costumes, scenery.
Rockbridge Area Free Clinic
Agency Mission: The Rockbridge Area Free Clinic is a community-based, non-profit organization providing quality health care for uninsured and underinsured residents. Volunteers are needed for morning, afternoon, and evening hours in both the Professional and Administrative fields. Time commitment varies depending on position.
Rockbridge Area Occupational Center
Agency Mission: The mission of the Rockbridge Area Occupational Center is to create a working environment where people with disabilities can effectively and safely be engaged in productive endeavors. Volunteers are needed to do tutoring in math and reading skills, to do office work, to help coordinate special events, to assist in grant and newsletter writing, and to spend time with workers as supportive friends.
Valley Associates for Independent Living
Agency Mission: Valley Associates for Independent Living, VAIL, is a non-profit organization promoting self-direction among people with disabilities and removing barriers to independence in the community. VAIL provides referral services, skills training, peer counseling, and advocacy to its clients. Volunteers are needed to supply one-on-one help for persons with disabilities, to help build wheelchair ramps and prepare homes for disabled clients, and to serve as "shopping buddies" for patients during their trips to the grocery store.
Blue Ridge Legal Services
Agency Mission: Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc. (BRLS) is a nonprofit charitable law firm providing free legal assistance in civil matters of critical importance to low-income residents of the Shenandoah Valley and Roanoke Valley. BRLS is committed to eliminating poverty-based inequities in the civil justice system by providing high-quality legal advice and representation to low-income residents of our service area, folks who would otherwise be unable to obtain legal help due to their poverty.
Career Café (The Joblink Network)
Agency Mission: The Joblink Network is a volunteer organization whose mission is to assist and support job seekers in the community by providing employment services and resources at mini-joblink centers in Rockbridge and Bath Counties. The joblink network, which is operated entirely by volunteers, needs volunteers to assist job seekers with job search resources and in processing unemployment claims. Volunteers are also needed to provide community resource information and referrals, as well as help with administrative tasks. The Joblink Network welcomes volunteers who are 18 or older, have no criminal background, and have a heart for service in the community.
Community Financial Freedom
Agency Mission: Community Financial Counseling is a W&L student-founded and student-run organization, whose mission is to educate members of the local community, particularly low-income residents, about how to make healthy financial decisions and about available financial resources in the community. The organization is also focused on organizing an altruistic lending program that allows individuals who usually seek out pay-day lenders to get out of the cycle and to start a savings account.
Department of Social Services
Agency Mission: VDSS programs and services help people triumph over poverty, abuse and neglect, achieve self-sufficiency and shape strong futures for themselves, their families and their communities.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Agency Mission: ESOL provides English classes and tutors to ease transitions to Rockbridge County. ESOL volunteers also have the opportunity to teach Spanish classes for adults in the Rockbridge community. In addition, volunteers translate community news, brochures, and emergency materials, serve as hotline respondents, get the word out about ESOL, and draft grant proposals for the organization's continued funding.
Project Horizon
Agency Mission: Project Horizon is a private, non-profit dedicated to reducing family violence (including child abuse), dating violence, and sexual violence through educational programs and crisis intervention services. These services are provided free of charge. Volunteer for hotline, childcare, court advocate, education, and shelter opportunities.
Rockbridge Hospice
Agency Mission: Hospice provides comfort and supportive care for the terminally ill and their families in order to facilitate a quality of life and a dignified death in a home-like setting. Pre-med and psychology students frequently serve at Hospice.
Rockbridge Regional Library
Agency Mission: Public library resources to Rockbridge, Lexington, Buena Vista, and Bath County residents. Need for after-school programs literacy tutors, and maintenance.
United Way of Lexington/Rockbridge County
Agency Mission: United Way of Lexington-Rockbridge County acts as a source of funding for many local, non-profit agencies. The United Way focuses on fundraising, community needs assessments, and assisting local non-profits. Volunteers are needed in assisting administratively in achieving its mission of reaching out to local non-profits The United Way is Nabors' voice in the community and source for referrals and ideas.
Campus Kitchen at Washington and Lee (CKWL)
Agency Mission: CKWL's mission is to reduce food waste by recovering and revamping food from local dining establishments and grocery stores into meals for the community. CKWL works with many other non-profits in Rockbridge County. Sign up to volunteer at go.wlu.edu/ckwl
Glasgow Food Pantry
Agency Mission: The Food Pantry is open on Saturdays for Rockbridge area residents in need. Collect and sort food to benefit pantry clients.
Habitat for Humanity
Agency Mission: Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian ministry that works in partnership with the community to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. The goal of Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing from Rockbridge County, Lexington, and Buena Vista by building safe, decent, simple and affordable housing.
Rockbridge Area Relief Association
Agency Mission: The RARA Food Pantry is open four afternoons a week for Rockbridge area residents in need. Collect and sort food to benefit Rockbridge residents.
TAP of Lexington
Agency Mission: Total Action Against Poverty, based in Roanoke, Va., is an excellent source of one-time service opportunities in emergency assistance or home repair.
Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization
Agency Mission: Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization provides recreational opportunities that instill good citizenship, sportsmanship, and fun. Athletic programs place primary emphasis on full participation, balanced teams, positive coaching and officiating, and having fun. Competitive spirit is nurtured, but emphasis on winning will not overshadow the goal of providing healthy, challenging, and satisfying experiences for all participants. Coaches needed - soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, baseball in spring/summer.
SPCA Shelter
Agency Mission: The SPCA provides shelter to unwanted, abandoned, stray, and impounded animals; responsible placements of adopted animals; reinforcement of local ordinances relating to the humane treatment of animals. Volunteers clean-up around the area, maintain property, and walk cats and dogs.
STORM
Agency Mission: United States Swim-affiliated swim team for area children. Children are enrolled in Jr. and Sr. squads according to age (6 years and older) and ability. Coaches needed.