Mercy Mondays: Upcoming community service opportunities for March 2023

The Center for Community Engagement and Service is offering many service opportunities for students — both ongoing ones throughout the semester and ones that happen only in the month of March. Opportunities include gardening, a nursing home, a 10k race and more.

To register, find out more information or view all service opportunities for upcoming months, visit the Center for Community Engagement and Service’s website.

The list on the website is constantly being updated with additional opportunities, so keep checking back.

Ongoing opportunities

On call snow shoveling volunteers

Volunteers who have shovels and their own cars, are needed to be on call for shoveling local areas on the Island. Once it snows, volunteers will by notified by email or phone call with the locations to shovel.

St. Augustin’s Choir volunteers

St. Augustin’s Church in Newport, is in need of volunteers to help sing in the weekly Sunday 9:30 a.m. masses. Volunteers would be responsible for learning and listening to the recordings of music before each Sunday. No transportation provided.

Bike Newport volunteers

Reliable and responsible volunteers who enjoy working with bikes are needed this spring semester at Bike Newport. Volunteers would be helping weekly with general bike cleaning, programs, and more. This site is located on the trolley line. If someone is interested in volunteering at Bike Newport, contact Allyson McCalla at allyson@bikenewportri.org.

Housing Hotline: Crafty Crochet volunteers

Volunteers who know how to crochet or are willing to learn are needed weekly on Wednesdays in Gerety Hall from 1-2 p.m. to help make small stuffed animals for children in need. If you are interested or would like more details, please email community.services@salve.edu.

Norman Bird Sanctuary: Mabel’s Garden volunteers

Volunteers who have their own cars and like to garden are needed at Norman Bird Sanctuary on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. If anyone is interested, contact Joseph McLaughlin at (401) 846-2577 or jmclaughlin@normanbirdsanctuary.org.

Fab Golf volunteers

Reliable and responsible volunteers with their own cars are needed for FabNewport’s FabGOLF program. Volunteers are needed to help weekly Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5 p.m. teaching middle school kids how to golf. Volunteers should have experience in golf or a strong interest in teaching golf. Volunteers who are interested should reach out to Orlando Peace orlando@fabnewport.org.

John Clarke Senior Living nursing home volunteers

Reliable and responsible volunteers with their own cars are needed to help at the John Clarke Senior Living nursing home with daily activities. Volunteers are needed to read to residents, do puzzles with them, play games and even bring their own interests in to share with residents. As the weather gets warmer and residents move outside, there will be some activities out in the courtyard such as gardening, paint parties and cookouts. Volunteers who are interested and want to learn more should reach out to Beth Finnegan at bfinnegan@jcrcri.org or by phone (401) 846-0743.

Gods Community Garden volunteers

Reliable and responsible volunteers with their own cars are needed at Gods Community Garden for winter harvesting. Preferred volunteers hours are Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. If anyone is interested in volunteering at the gardens, contact Linda Wood at  lswwood@gmail.com.

Seamen’s Church Institute general volunteers

Reliable and responsible volunteers are needed to help at Seamen’s Institute with daily office tasks. Volunteers are needed to help file, sort, shred and work in the archives. Preferred volunteers hours are once a week, any day between Wednesday to Friday. Hours are from Noon to 3 p.m. This site is located on the trolley line. If anyone is interested in volunteering at the Seamen’s Institute Newport, contact Tara Gnolfo at tara@seamensnewport.org.

Revive The Roots greenhouse volunteers

Reliable and responsible volunteers with their own cars are needed to help in the greenhouse at Revive The Roots. All volunteers can signup for their specific shift. If anyone is interested in learning more about volunteering at Revive The Roots, contact Annie Bayer at annie@revivetheroots.org.

March opportunities

Saturday, March 4: Clean Ocean Access Cleanup at Fort Wetherill

Volunteers are needed at Fort Wetherill in Jamestown from 10 a.m. to Noon to clean up the beach. COA no longer requires sign up before volunteers arrive at cleanups. Volunteers may either sign up online in advance or show up at the cleanup and sign a waiver on site. Location is 51 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, Rhode Island. No transportation is not provided.

Tuesday, March 14 and Tuesday, March 21: Aquidneck Community Table gardening

Volunteers are needed to help at Great Friends Community Garden with Aquidneck Community Table from 2-3:30 p.m. Volunteers should meet at 21 Farewell Ave in Newport, Rhode Island, and prepare gardens for the spring. Volunteers should dress for weather, as this event is outside. This site is located on the trolley line.

On Fridays, March 17, 24, and 31: Edward King House Rise N’ Shine Breakfast

Volunteers are needed from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. to help Edward King House Senior Center with their Rise N’ Shine Breakfast program. Volunteers will assist with making the meal, serving the meal and interacting with older adults. Students should consult the trolley line.

Wednesday, March 22: St. Paul’s Meal Prep from 1-4 p.m. or 4:30-6 p.m.

Volunteers who are responsible and reliable with their own car are needed from 1-4 p.m. or 4:30-6 p.m. to help meal prep spaghetti and meatballs for St. Paul’s United Methodist Church community meal. Volunteers will prepare meal in the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life’s kitchen and drive to St. Paul’s to drop off the meal.

Sunday, March 26: Gray Matter Marketing Aquidneck 10K

Volunteers are needed from 8:45-10:45 a.m. to help with race prep and finish area. Volunteers should dress for weather, as this event is outside. The finish area will be at second beach parking lot area. All volunteers will meet at the Easton’s Beach main lot, locally known as Second Beach’s, main lot. Transportation not provided.

Wednesday, March 29: Aquidneck Community Table Gardening at Bike Barn

Volunteers are needed from 12:30-2 p.m. at the Big Blue Bike Barn & Florence Gray Community Garden with Aquidneck Community Table to prepare gardens for the spring. Volunteers should meet at 20 Sunset Blvd in Newport, Rhode Island. Volunteers should dress for weather as this event is outside. This site is on the trolley line.

To register, find out more information or view all service opportunities for upcoming months, visit the Center for Community Engagement and Service’s website.

Featured photo is from a past service experience.