1. The SEEDS Community Garden is an urban sanctuary dedicated to organic gardening and sustainable agriculture, and it provides hands-on opportunities for youth and adults to learn weeding, mulching, composting, planting and harvesting. Try your hand in the garden Wednesdays through Fridays, or in the kitchen on weekends. The Durham Inner-city Gardeners program is currently seeking workshop instructors to educate youth on a variety of skills, from yoga to bee pollination. SEEDS also needs help re-mulching and defining the paths in the garden after the winter precipitation and will offer volunteer shifts 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. from April 6-8.
2. Get in touch with Durham’s roots . . . literally. Assist in planting trees around the community with Trees Across Durham’s program dedicated to creating a healthier and greener Durham. Volunteer opportunities are plenty: Contribute by planting your own tree, taking a class or donating to Durham’s Urban Forestry Program. “Band Together” is the organization’s latest mission – a campaign targeting cankerworms and their harmful effects on local trees. Free weekly workshops are available, as well as tree-banding materials to combat the worms in your neighborhood. For more information, visit durhamnc.gov.
3. Do good, and build muscle in the process. Habitat for Humanity of Durham’s goal is simple: Give homes to those who need it most. You can construct and renovate homes, donate clothing and food, or simply engage with members of our community. Anyone can join this mission year-round, and families are particularly encouraged to volunteer as a unit. For younger residents who want to get involved, Habitat hosts Saturday youth programs. And for those a little older, “Geezers Build” meets every Thursday in April. To find volunteer shifts that work with your schedule, visit durhamhabitat.org.
4. Don’t be afraid of getting your feet wet for this great cause. The Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association needs your help to preserve the natural beauty of Durham and its forest ecosystem. You can sign up for a number of unique tasks, including stream cleanup, trail building and maintenance, invasive plant removal, hike leading and fundraising. Leave your good clothes at home, and get in touch with your wild side!
5. Girls on the Run is an empowering outdoor program for girls in the third through eighth grades. There are plenty of ways to get involved, big and small! The Fundraising and Development Committee meets monthly to help garner business support by organizing special events, soliciting in-kind donations, and cultivating donor and sponsorship relationships. Those who want to contribute on a one-time basis can register to staff a water station at a race. During the races, a family member or adult volunteer accompanies each girl and provides one-on-one encouragement and motivation. Volunteer to be a “running buddy” during a 5K and help your girl cross the finish line.
6. Durham Central Park is always in need of volunteers to assist with tasks from gardening to recycling to organizing and staffing events throughout the year. In the spring (April-June) and again in the fall (Sept.-Nov.), the park hosts volunteer workdays on the first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m.-noon during the Durham Farmers’ Market. You can also join the new Waste Warriors effort and help the park “waste wisely” at food truck rodeos. During the rodeos – the next one is June 19 – volunteers staff the waste stations and help customers divide up trash into compost, recycling and land fill containers. These efforts have drastically reduced the amount of waste that goes to the land fill after these events.
