As students of the University of Alabama, we bear a responsibility to better our school as well as better the surrounding Tuscaloosa community. Volunteering within Tuscaloosa is a beautiful way to give back to your collective home away from home as a way of saying "thank you," and it is also a way to give back to ourselves. Going out into the community, there are endless ways to get involved, and these opportunities are luckily just within your grasp.

1. RISE Program

The RISE school is located on UA’s campus in the Stallings Center. The school is open to children ages 0 to 5, and the program focuses on early childhood special education, early childhood education and child development. As a volunteer in the RISE program, you will work in a classroom aiding the teachers and students in daily classroom activities.

Address: 600 Johnny Stallings Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL

Website: http://riseschool.ua.edu

2. YMCA

According to their website, the Tuscaloosa Y is currently looking for volunteers in areas of Wellness, Fitness, Marketing and Business.

Address: 2405 Paul W Bryant Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL

Website: http://www.ymcatuscaloosa.org

3. Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama

The Boys and Girls Club provides a safe environment for at-risk children to learn and grow. As a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama, you can work with the children on their homework, or even just talk and hang out with them.

Address: 2201 Positive Pl, Tuscaloosa, AL

Website: http://www.bgcwestal.org

4. Habitat for Humanity

Volunteers in the community can help rebuild or restore homes, and even help around the Habitat for Humanity office for those who are not as construction-savvy.

Address: 1120 35^th St, Tuscaloosa, AL

Website: http://www.habitattuscaloosa.org/#!volunteer/c1izb

5. Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

The VA Medical Center has many volunteering opportunities that can range from welcoming Veterans into the facility, to working in administration, to accompanying Veterans to activities on and off the property.

Address: 3701 Loop Rd, Tuscaloosa, AL

Website: http://www.tuscaloosa.va.gov/giving/

6. DCH Regional Medical Center

DCH is just off campus and is great for anyone going into medicine or patient care. Volunteers can deliver mail, wait with loved ones, and greet patients and visitors, among other opportunities.

Address: 809 University Blvd E, Tuscaloosa, AL

Website: https://www.dchsystem.com/jobs.aspx

7. Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter

As a volunteer, you can help with walking dogs, cleaning cages and feeding and playing with the dogs, but jobs may vary depending on what the shelter needs. Volunteers may also be asked to help out at events.

Address: 3140 35^th St, Tuscaloosa, AL

Website: http://www.metroanimalshelter.com/volunteer.html

8. Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has many volunteering opportunities, ranging from working in the Salvation Army store to preparing and serving holiday meals.

Address (Thrift Store): 3400 McFarland Boulevard, Northport, AL

Website: http://salvationarmyalm.org/tuscaloosa/volunteer/

9. West Alabama Food Bank

Volunteers at the food bank can pack and deliver bags of food for the Brown Bag Program, sort through donated foods, and even help with fundraising and food solicitation.

Address: 3160 McFarland Blvd, Northport, AL

Website: http://www.westalabamafoodbank.org/how-to-help.htm...

10. Kentuck Art Center

Volunteers at Kentuck can help out at their largest community event, the Kentuck Art Festival, as well as helping in the center. They welcome year-round volunteers to answer phones, watch the store, weed flower beds, filing, paint walls; volunteer opportunities can vary depending on the needs of the center.

Address: 503 Main Ave, Northport, AL

Website: http://www.kentuck.org

11. University of Alabama Arboretum

Volunteering at the arboretum is great for those who are environmentally conscious (which if we’re being honest, should be everyone at this point).

Address: 4801 Arboretum Way, Tuscaloosa, AL

Website: http://arboretum.ua.edu