Volunteer
Don’t be afraid to get dirty.
Individual Volunteering
The Rundown
The food CCUA grows and the joy it brings would not be possible without our volunteers. Our volunteers develop and maintain our three main farms: Columbia’s Agriculture Park, Veterans Urban Farm, and Kilgore’s Community Garden. From early March until Thanksgiving, volunteers:
Grow and harvest produce for the food pantry
Help with children activities at Columbia Farmers Market
Assist in building infrastructure
Volunteer at events like CCUA’s annual Harvest Hootenanny
Shift Times
Morning volunteer shifts start promptly depending on the season at either 7 AM, 8 AM, or 9 AM. Afternoon shifts start at 5PM or 5:30 PM. All volunteer shifts last for 3 hours. Each shift is led by the same individual each week.
We ask our individual volunteers to commit to a weekly recurring schedule; however, if you need to miss a shift or two that’s fine — we ask you just let us know. Once you start working with us, you’ll see how much every one person’s help makes a huge difference!
Proper Attire
You will get dirty! Please dress according to the weather (layers recommended) and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Closed-toe shoes are required! Also bring sunscreen, a hat, water, and gloves if needed.
Essential Items for Volunteering
Weather appropriate clothing
Close-toed shoes or boots (no sandals or flip flops)
Hat
Sunblock
Water bottle
No experience is necessary!
Fill out a background check
Attend an orientation
Sign-up for a shift!
Group Volunteering
Want to bring a group for a one time workday? Fill out a group application to schedule yours today!
The Rundown
We offer group workdays on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Depending on the day, group sizes range from 2 to 15 people. Groups help us with many of the things weekly garden shifts do. Often, bigger groups will help us knock out a big task, like moving mulch or straw, or removing brush.
Shifts
Multiple day and time slots are available for your work day ranging from Tuesday- Saturday from 8am-8pm. The exact day/time of your shift will be available for you to select when you fill out the Group Registration above.
How do I get my group involved?
Fill out a group application below! You will receive scheduling emails from our volunteer coordinator, and once a date and time is agreed upon, they will send you a confirmation email with instructions to prepare your group for the workday.
Log your hours
Recording your hours helps CCUA understand your impact as a volunteer and can be used to bolster grant applications. Please record your hours here:
Volunteer on our Board of Directors
Do you have experience in business, non-profits, law, finance, fundraising, or community organizing? Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity to use these skills in a way that gives back to the community? CCUA’s board of directors is an all-volunteer group that leads the organization as administrative partners. The board has the responsibility to assist in fundraising that supports CCUA’s programming. Most importantly, the board works with the executive director to develop and ensure the implementation of the organization’s strategic plan.
Generally, all new board members are voted onto the board at the January meeting and begin their service in April, but this timeline can be flexible. There are three options participation with CCUA's Board of Directors:
Full Voting Board Members - estimated time commitment of 8-10 hours per month.
Non-Voting Advisory Board Members - estimated time commitment of 20 hours per year.
Non-Voting Strategic Planning Committee Members - estimated time commitment of 20 hours per year, with 2-3 additional hrs in year one.
Detailed description of expectations are found HERE.
“It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives nor the amount of money one has in the bank, that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success.”