Giving again: Volunteer spots in Auburn

For college students attempting to become involved at Auburn, volunteering is a option to get plugged in to not solely the University but in addition town itself. It includes giving again to a neighborhood in want, and several other organizations seek for volunteers of each talent set all year long.

Esperanza House

Esperanza House on Opelika Road is a company centered on fostering the schooling and religious development of native Hispanic youngsters. Their objective is to assist dozens of Hispanic households in Lee County by offering afterschool tutoring, medical care and meals distribution.

“So, [volunteers] come in, tutor the kids, but it’s not just tutoring,” mentioned Abby Upshaw, assistant director of Esperanza House. “It’s a way to form relationships with these kids. We, yes, help them with their education, but also that’s a great opportunity to meet them, know them.”

Esperanza House volunteers may help with their medical bus the place households can get checked out by nurses and help with distributing meals containers to households supplied by meals banks.

CARE Humane Society

Another volunteer spot in Auburn is the CARE Humane Society, a no-kill animal shelter. CARE stands for compassion, adoption, rescue and schooling, which is the general mission of this adoption shelter.

Volunteers run lots of their day-to-day actions, together with canine strolling, kennel cleansing, animal transportation and doggy dates, which is when volunteers take a canine off the property to go on a enjoyable journey.

“Really wherever, like, you’re willing to help out, we accept it,” mentioned Audrey Salazar, CARE volunteer coordinator. “We just have so many animals that need the extra love and attention, and a volunteer can make a dog’s day just so much better.”

The Food Bank of East Alabama

At the Food Bank of East Alabama, volunteers assist put together, set up, pack and distribute meals donated or collected from meals drives.

“The work that we do is not elegant or fancy work at all, but you know what you’re doing is actually helping to feed people,” mentioned Martha Henk, govt director of the Food Bank of East Alabama.

The Food Bank additionally packs meals containers for senior facilities and packs backpacks for elementary college students, who need assistance over the weekends and should not have entry to meals exterior of college meals.

“I would just encourage [students] to try out different volunteer opportunities, and then once they find the one that they love, commit to it,” Henk mentioned.

This article is featured in The Auburn Plainsman’s Summer 2026 print version.