For some of us, community service may be a second nature to be involved in, but for others, it is something they have never found a passion for. Community service has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and it has brought me to help in so many situations I never would have been exposed to otherwise. Service is great to be involved in, not only because it is a resume booster, but because it is a learning experience that is also incredibly rewarding.

Everyone has different interests, so the reason you may have disliked community service before may just be because the activity was not something you were passionate about. The hardest part of community service may just be connecting with the right people and finding opportunities. Luckily, I’ve done that work for you! Here are some different community service opportunities, according to different interests, and where Salve students can get connected:

If you want to help children:

Big Brothers Big Sisters has a number of Salve students as their mentors for young children, and is always looking for more. As a mentor, you will be assigned a child to visit weekly at the MLK Center and help him or her with their homework and do activities with them. This is a great way to individually connect with a child and make a difference in their life. To find their volunteer form, look on their website under Become a Mentor.

If you want to help the elderly:

Elderly people have far more knowledge than us college students could ever imagine. They also, however, face many more ailments as their bodies' age. The Heatherwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Newport welcomes volunteers to help with various patient activities. To find out more, email their activities person listed on their contact page.

If you want to help animals:

The Potter League in Middletown has plenty of volunteer opportunities for animal lovers. After a brief training and education session, the shelter’s website offers volunteer spots in the areas of dog walking, bunny play groups, and even puppy bathing! What better way to help animals than to help those waiting to be adopted?

If you care about the environment:

There is no better place to act on your passions for the environment than in a city by the ocean. Clean Ocean Access is an organization based in Middletown that organizes regular beach cleanups and fundraisers to keep our ocean clean and healthy. Volunteer sign up is available on their website!

If you want to help the homeless:

Homelessness is a much bigger problem on our island than what meets the eye when you first tour a Newport mansion. Lucy’s Hearth provides shelter for homeless women and their children in Newport County. Volunteer work for the shelter could include collecting and organizing donated items. To find out more, contact the shelter or Salve’s community service office.

Community service is a very rewarding experience, and something worth trying out. If you do not have transportation, and the RIPTA routes don't go to your location, something can usually be arranged with Salve's Office of Community Service. Even if you can only commit to once a week, or having a varied volunteer schedule, getting out of your element and helping others is a worthy way to spend some of your free time.