Take a look at this list curated by Gator Volunteers to discover if any of these opportunities capture your interest. There’s a variety of engaging options available, and you might find something that really resonates with you or aligns with your passions and goals.
Community Engagement Opportunities
Gainesville Campus
- Grace Pharmacy: Founded in 2017 by Grace Healthcare Services Corp, Grace Pharmacy—”the pharmacy without a cash register”—was created to provide prescribed medications free of charge to eligible patients who cannot afford them. Since its inception, we have filled over 35,000 prescriptions.
https://www.gracehealthcs.org/grace-pharmacy - Meals on Wheels: Elder Options is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting older adults in need. Among its programs is Meals on Wheels, which brings nutritious meals to homebound seniors in the Gainesville area. As a Meals on Wheels volunteer, you’ll assist in packaging and delivering meals to older adults who might otherwise lack access to healthy food. This opportunity allows you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of seniors in your community.
https://eldercare.ufhealth.org/services/meals-on-wheels/ - Bread of the Mighty Food Bank: We gather, organize, store, and distribute donated food and essential items to more than 200 nonprofit partners, including food pantries and feeding programs. Our committed team travels five days a week to collect contributions from generous retailers and wholesalers. This vital food is then redistributed to the community, helping to combat hunger and support individuals in need across Alachua, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties.
https://breadofthemighty.org/ - Alachua Habitat for Humanity: More than 600 volunteers assist in various Alachua Habitat for Humanity activities each year. Our volunteers build houses, assist in our administrative offices, provide lunch for volunteers at build sites, work at our ReStore, help at events, and so much more for our community. We host individuals and groups of volunteers through a variety of ongoing opportunities.
https://www.alachuahabitat.org/volunteer/for-individuals - Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc.: To provide services to anyone in need, regardless of race or religion; to advocate justice, human dignity, and quality of life; and to call all people to join in these efforts.
https://www.catholiccharitiesgainesville.org/ - Gainesville Community Ministry: For over 40 years, GCM has provided emergency help and hope to families and individuals who are in crisis and lack the basic necessities of life.
http://gcmhelp.org/ - Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida: The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida is to directly improve the health and wellbeing of children. RMHCNCF is pleased to offer a wide variety of individual and group volunteer opportunities at Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room at Shands Children’s Hospital.
https://rmhcncf.org/ - UF Mobile Outreach Clinic: The mission of the Mobile Outreach Clinic is to create environments that provide an immersive educational experience that focuses on the social determinants of health and their impact on patients’ health and well-being. Our vision is to create a globally recognized model that fosters the development of socially conscious healthcare providers through the delivery of dignified, respectful, and quality care in a low barrier setting.
https://outreach.med.ufl.edu/ - Equal Access Clinic Network – Pharmacy Students Volunteer – The Equal Access Clinic Network (EACN) is a student-run network of free clinics offering healthcare to underserved populations. Pharmacy students volunteer to assist with medication management, patient education, and collaborate with other healthcare students. This initiative helps develop healthcare professionals’ skills while addressing health disparities in vulnerable communities.
https://equalaccess.med.ufl.edu - Insulin for Life – Insulin for Life is an international non-profit organization that provides insulin and other essential diabetes supplies to individuals in low-resource settings. The organization focuses on ensuring that people with diabetes, particularly in developing countries, have access to the medication they need to survive and manage their condition.
https://iflusa.org/ - Alachua County Health Promotion & Wellness Coalition – The Alachua County Health Promotion & Wellness Coalition is a community-based group dedicated to improving health outcomes in Alachua County, Florida. It brings together local organizations, healthcare providers, and residents to promote healthy behaviors and address health disparities. The coalition focuses on initiatives related to nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and access to care to enhance the overall well-being of the community.
https://hpwcoalition.org/ - The Giving Garden – The Giving Garden is a community-driven initiative in Alachua County that focuses on growing fresh, organic produce to address food insecurity. Volunteers cultivate the garden and donate the harvested food to local food banks, shelters, and families in need. Through this effort, The Giving Garden promotes sustainable agriculture while helping to provide healthy food options to underserved communities.
https://www.gainesvillegivinggarden.org/