Volunteer Opportunities in West Augustine & Beyond

 

Organizations Seeking Volunteers in West Augustine & Beyond:

The West Augustine Nature Society

The West Augustine Nature Society's mission is to keep our community green despite the growing development, deforestation, and littering in our neighborhood. We are looking for volunteers of all ages to come help us at our community clean-up events. 

Our next event wil be on MLK day 2022. Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates.

If you would like to help us just email us at westaugustinenaturesociety@gmail.com to get signed up for event alerts. Let's keep West Augustine green!

www.westaugustinenaturesociety.org

 

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West Augustine Improvement Association 

When: Meets every 3rd Thursday at 7 p.m.

Where: Meetings at the Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park (in the second pavilion) at 10 N Holmes Blvd, St. Augustine.

Clean ups will be at:

Pinehurst & San Sebastian Cemetery Pearl Street Saint Augustine, FL 32084 

What: Come help clean-up and restore Florida's oldest African American cemeteries! 

Who: West Augustine Improvement Association needs your help. This is open to families, teens, and anyone in the community who would like to volunteer or donate to the cause. 

More info: When attending a clean up: Things to consider: -dress for the weather -wear work gloves -wear close-toed shoes -put on bug spray -sunscreen -hat -refillable water bottle.

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The West Augustine Improvement Association is currently looking for other organizations, clubs and faith groups in West Augustine and beyond, which may be able to donate their time one weekend or more a year to help bring dignity back to the cemeteries.

If you would like to support the West Augustine Improvement Association in their efforts to restore and maintain Florida's oldest African-American cemeteries, you can donate directly to the West Augustine Improvement Association or contact the West Augustine Improvement Association to see how you can help. 

westaugimprovementassoc@gmail.com

How to Help with the Restoration and Upkeep of the oldest African American Cemeteries in Florida:

In-kind Donations:

• In-kind donations such as maintenance equipment, wheel-barrows, gardening tools, nylon-bristle brushes, soft brushes, D2 biological solutions spray, spray bottles, gallon-sized garden pump sprayers etc.

Donate Your Time:

• Organizations, faith groups, clubs or schools can donate their time one weekend or more a year to help with the maintenance and upkeep.
• Organizations, schools, clubs, churches or businesses can help host fundraising events.
• A law firm and/or an accounting firm can donate their services and help the association move their mission forward as they try to work with the county.
• Tree trimming companies can donate their time to help with tree maintenance and removal.
• Help spread the word about the condition of Florida's oldest African-American cemeteries through word of mouth.
• Use your social media accounts to bring attention to the needs of the West Augustine Improvement Association.
• If you know of someone, who might be able to help either via donation of time, services or money reach out and help connect them with Willie Cooper Sr.
• If you are a media organization consider featuring the The Pinehurst and San Sebastian cemeteries to help bring attention to the needs of these and so many other forgotten African-American cemeteries throughout the state and the country.

Become a Member:

• Become a member of the West Augustine Improvement Association for a $10 annual membership fee. 

Donate Funds:

• Send a check made out to the West Augustine Improvement Association and mail it to: The West Augustine Improvement Association at 455 S Volusia St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• (website)

Or

• Donate to the West Augustine Improvement Association through PayPal.

• Donate to the West Augustine Improvement Association through PayPal. (You can use credit or debit card too)

To learn more read our article about the Pinehurst & San Sebastian Cemeteries.

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RESET St. Augustine 

Who: RESET St. Augustine 

What: Looking for volunteers to tutor school-aged students from elementary to high school levels.

Where: 88 Riberia St., Suite 150, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Contact: If you  would like to volunteer and become part of the tutoring team at RESET St. Augustine, please email Alyssa Kelley at a.kelley@resetsta.org

More info: You can learn more about RESET St. Augustine, and the free tutoring services they offer here.

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Epic Cure

Epic-Cure is a local organization, which mission is to eliminate hunger and food waste, protect the environment by keeping food out of landfills, and to teach self-reliance through cooking classes for veterans and Title-1 school children. 

Besides the Epic-Cure Warehouse location off 16, they also team up with local schools, churches and organizations to hold food distribution events around town. To find a food distribution event check out the Epic-Cure Facebook page.

To volunteer at Epic-Cure you can either send them a message through their website listed below, or you can sign up for the Epic-Cure Volunteers Facebook page. 

Epic-Cure has plenty of volunteer opportunities, whether you want to help clean up in the warehouse, get ready for distribution events, assist with distribution etc., and if you cannot donate your time, you can always donate toward their cause at the Epic-Cure website.

 https://www.epic-cure.org/

 

 

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County

Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County is seeking volunteers to join them in their mentoring programs. They need volunteers for special events, on-site mentors (such as at local area schools), and community based mentoring. Big Brothers and Big Sisters serve as role models and mentors for children in need of one-on-one mentoring. If you have a few hours a few times a month to help a child by giving the gift of friendship, the program needs you, as they have kids lined up waiting for mentors. 

 

If interested in becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, go to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County volunteer page and follow the steps.

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Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center

"The Road to Black History Runs Through Lincolnville" this is the headline on the About page of The Lincolnville Museum, and the words so true, also ring out with a sense of shame and pride all at the same time.

If you have yet to visit the Lincolnville Museum, it is highly recommended, and if you are a student of history, you will surely feel the chills, as you walk around the museum studying the exhibits, since it is almost impossible not to be deeply affected by the history of Lincolnville and its residents as well as those from our side of town here in West Augustine. Many of our senior residents actually attended schools in Lincolnville, as the schools in St. Augustine were deeply segregated, and some of their stories come alive at the Lincolnville Museum.

The Museum is located in the historic Excelsior School Building, which was the first African American high school in the St. Augustine. 

The Lincolnville Museum's mission is to preserve, promote and perpetuate more than 450 years of the African American story through the arts, educational programs, lectures, live performances, and exhibits

Volunteers Needed:

The Lincolnville Museum is looking for front-desk volunteers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The responsibilities includes checking in guests, collecting admission, answering the phone, and responding to questions of guests. 

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Lincolnville Museum is asked to fill out the Lincolnville volunteer form here.

The Lincolnville Museum is located at 102 M. L. King Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084

The Museum Hours Are: Tuesday - Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

For more information check out the Lincolnville Museum website.

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Hugs St. Johns Needs Volunteers:

Hugs Across the County St. Johns needs immediate volunteers to help fill clothing bags for local children, who are referred  by school counselors to the Betty Griffin Center and social workers.

When: Various dates and times August 17th -

Where: Hugs St. Johns Warehouse, 2745 Industry Center Road, St. Augustine, Fl.

What: Volunteer clothing packers - helps with packing clothes, sorting, and light cleaning. Duties may include: lifting,  standing,  walking and bending.

Volunteer on-call clothing driver - pick up bags of packed clothing and deliver to schools around St. Johns County. Duties may include: lifting, standing, walking and bending.

How: Sign up to volunteer at St. Johns hugs through this sign up genius form.

You can learn more about Hugs St. Hugs Johns here.

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Hope Deliverance Ministries is hosting its free Community Christmas Eve Dinner, and they are looking for volunteers and donations.

The event will take place at the Ketterlinus Gym on 60 Orange Street in St. Augustine on December 24th from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Visit the Facebook post here for more info, and see the comment section for the sign-up link.

For more info email hdmlabouroflove@gmail.com

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Who: St. Francis House and Port in a Storm 

What: Festival of Trees Fundraiser for St. Francis House and Port in a Storm at the Lightner Museum.

When: Nov 29th - Dec 2nd

How: Contact Joyce Duffy at 410-688-0883 or via email at joyce.duffy@stfrancisshelter.org. or visit www.stfrancisshelter.org

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Learn To Read

Who: Learn To Read of St. Johns County 

What: Looking for volunteers to tutor adults in GED, reading, writing, math, English for learners of other languages and more. Whether you can volunteer in the mornings, late afternoons, evenings or weekends, Learn To Read needs you. Contact them to get started and participate in the free tutor training. 

Where: 70 South Dixie Highway, St. Augustine, FL 32081

Contact: If you  g like to volunteer at Learn To Read or donate to help them change lives, please visit Learn To Read to learn more about their adult tutoring services here or use the contact form here.

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St. Johns Housing Partnership 

Who: St. Johns County Housing Partnership 

What: Looking for volunteers to help fix up up homes, ramps and more to change the quality of lives.

Where: 525 W King Street, St. Augustine, FL  32084

Contact: If you would like to volunteer or donate to help them change lives, please visit St. Johns Housing Partnership to learn more about their housing services here or use the volunteer form here. 

You can also call 904-824-0902

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St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Board & Committees

What: St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners provides residents who have an interest in serving their community and participating in local government with a variety of board and committee opportunities. The volunteer positions consider and make recommendations regarding a myriad of topics including planning and zoning issues, development projects, libraries, parks and recreation facilities and programs, and arts, culture, and tourism matters. 

The following boards are currently accepting applications: Contractors Review Board, Fire Code Board of Appeals, Mid–Anastasia Design Review Board, South Anastasia Design Review Board, Tourist Development Council, and Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. 

Where: More info on website

How To Contact: www.sjcfl.us/Boards

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For more places to volunteer check out our Volunteer opportunity tab for the latest news on volunteer needs in West Augustine.

 

 

 

 

For more volunteer opportunities click here

 

If you are an organization in West Augustine or an organization serving the West Augustine community, and surrounding area please send an email to westaugustinenewsconnection@gmail.com to get your organization featured on this page and through a posting. This is a free service, and please don't hesitate to reach out with your needs. 

 

Contact us at westaugustinenewsconnection@gmail.comto get your organization's needs posted here.