Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Services Coordinator - Betsy Haimson, 608-238-7010 laughingwithbetsy@yahoo.com
Assistant  - Nan Baillies, 608-846-3550

Training for the following volunteer opportunities is usually "on the job" unless there is a special session offered. Please call the contact person or Volunteer Services Coordinator if you have any questions.

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ALLEN CENTENNIAL GARDENS

Contact: Ed Lyon, 608-576-2501, eslyon@wisc.edu, or visit
www.allencentennialgardens.org.

There are needs for hands-on gardening including planting, pruning and potting. We offer free and convenient parking, kneeling pads, gloves, sun block, clean towels, and refrshments.

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AMERICAN FAMILY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Contact: Tina Nelson, 608-263-6046, volunteer.services@uwhealth.org,
or visit http://www.uwhealth.org/kids

Volunteers read to children or engage them in activities while waiting for treatments or appointments. Siblings of patients also need direction in art activities or projects in playrooms. Safety equipment and informational materials could be distributed or stocked by volunteers.

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BOOKWORMS

Contact: Mary Warfield, 608-273-9809, warfield-wi@tds.net

Once a month from September until May, volunteers read to preschool classes of students from low income families of Dane County. After reading, volunteers present each child with a copy of the book to keep. At many sites, readers then lead the students in activities that relate to the books. Some of these preschools serve children for whom English is a second language.

 

 

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CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART

Contact: Melinda Gleason, 608-263-2246, mgleason@chazen.wisc.edu, or visit www.chazen.wisc.edu
The Chazen Museum of Art offers exhibitions, a permanent collection of 18,000 works of art, and educational programs free to the public. Volunteers help at exhibition receptions, in the museum shop, and as docents (volunteer tour guides). Training is provided.

 

 

 

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LAKESHORE NATURE PRESERVE

Contact: Bryn Scriver, 608-220-5560, bscriver@fpm.wisc.edu,
or visit www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu.

Volunteers can participate in habitat restoration projects. Possible activities include planting native plants, trail maintenance, and removal of invasive plants. Work is usually done by groups of volunteers, which adds to the enjoyment.

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MADISON FRIENDS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, INC.

Contact: Sherry Caves, Office Hours: Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to noon, 608-263-4010, 716 Langdon St., Room 223, (Red Gym) info@mfismadison.org, or visit http://iss.wisc.edu/mfis/

Volunteer activities include: providing 2 to 3 nights housing for newly arrived international students and scholars ; Thanksgiving meal hosting; the Fall Welcome Picnic and a winter reception and tour of the Capitol; one-on-one English partnering conversation (Global Friends), English language classes; furniture loan program.

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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ARBORETUM

Contact: Judy Kingsbury, 608-262-5604, jakingsb@wisc.edu,
or visit http://uwarboretum.org/

Share your time and talents while learning about nature and supporting the Arboretum. Volunteers help by staffing the reception desk, working in the gardens, patrolling trails, restoring prairies, and many other indoor and outdoor projects.

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UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

Contact: Tina Nelson, 608-263-6046, volunteer.services@uwhealth.org,
or visit www.uwhealth.org/volunteer

Volunteers help out anywhere from the Main Information Desk to inpatient hospital units, doing anything they can to make a patient or family member more comfortable.

 

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FRIENDS OF THE UW-MADISON LIBRARY

Contact: Beth Kubly, 608-265-2505, bkubly@earthlink.net
friends@library.wisc.edu
or visit www.library.wisc.edu/friends

Volunteers are needed to help with the semiannual Friends of the Library Book Sale (sales take place in the spring and fall), Childrens Cooperative Book Sale, and can assist with other Friends special projects or events.

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UW MADISON ODYSSEY PROJECT

Contact: Emily Auerbach, 608-262-3733, eauerbach@dcs.wisc.edu, or visit www.odyssey.wisc.edu

The UW-Madison Odyssey Project, a free college humanities course for adults near the poverty level, helps students overcome adversity and achieve dreams through higher education. Some students have journeyed from homelessness to UW-Madison degrees. Interested UL members are needed to help with meals, fundraising, grant writing, tutoring, baby sitting, and other aspects of this life changing project.

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WISCONSIN HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Contact: Katie Schumacher, 608-261-9359, kaitlyn.schumacher@wisconsinhistory.org , or visit
www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/volunteer

The Wisconsin Historical Museum seeks volunteers to assist in our mission to

help people to collect, preserve and share stories. Positions available include Information Desk, Special Events, Docents, and Office Receptionist. Schedules are flexible. Training is provided. Benefits include discounts and passes to historic sites.

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WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION (WPT)

Contact: Ericka Balgord, 608-265-4436, ericka.balgord@wpt.org, or volunteer@wpt.org, or visit www.wpt.org

Volunteers support public television by staffing a wide variety of enjoyable fundraising and community events. They answer phones during four annual membership drives, greet visitors and assist with presentations at Quilt Expo and Garden Expo, and participate in the energetic on-air auction each May as cashiers, merchandise handlers, phone operators and on-air camera auctioneers

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"I am only one... but still, I am one. I cannot do everything,
but still I can do something." - Helen Keller