BUDA — If you’ve been looking for a way to give back, look no further than in your own community.
The city of Buda held its first volunteer fair on March 4. More than 30 vendors, including local nonprofits, organizations and city boards and commissions, set up shop at city hall. According to Buda City Manager Micah Grau, the city hosted the fair to help find new ways for residents to become active and engaged in service.
“We have a great number of residents that are looking to volunteer and be active in the community and there are many opportunities to do so, ranging from working with youth organizations to helping with landscaping in our park system,” Grau said.
While the fair’s first year was successful, Grau and other city staff are already looking forward to what’s to come in the future with new ideas.
“My hope is that this fair will continue to grow,” Grau said. “We want nonprofits and organizations that have a need for volunteers to sign up … In future years, I can see different organizations having windows of time to give short presentations and overviews to those in attendance. We could even recognize volunteers that have helped serve the community in amazing ways.”
Participating vendors at the fair that offer opportunities for volunteers include:
• American YouthWorks; provides opportunities for young people through education and on-the-job training. Visit www.americanyouthworks.org.
• Any Baby Can; addresses physical, developmental and emotional wellbeing needs by offering home services and special programs for children up to age three. Visit www.anybabycan.org.
• Ascension Seton Hays, Seton Foundations; volunteers needed in various positions within the hospital. Visit www.ascensiontexasfoundations.org/volunteer.
• Buda Area Chamber of Commerce; contact [email protected]
• Buda Juneteenth 2023; volunteers needed for Juneteenth celebration. Contact [email protected].
• Buda Police Foundation; volunteers needed for Citizens Police Academy, National Night Out, Blue Santa/Shop with a Cop, Neighborhood Watch and Booda Halloween. Contact [email protected].
• Buda United Methodist Church Food Bank; assists approximately 400 families a month primarily in the 78610 and 78640 zip codes. Visit www.budaumc.org/food-and-social-services-assistance.
• Cenikor-Project AIM; helps reduce the progression of substance use and misuse in young adults while strengthening prevention capacity at the community level. Visit www.cenikor.org.
• City of Buda City Clerk; volunteer openings on various boards and commissions. Visit www.budatx.gov/boardsandcommissions.
• Community Organizations Reaching Neighbors (CORN); works to ensure a healthy community. Contact [email protected].
• Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA); provides advocacy for children and youth in the child welfare system. Visit www.casacentex.org.
• Friends of the Buda Library; volunteers needed for library events, receiving book donations, fundraising and more. Visit www.friendsofthebudalibrary.org.
• Girls Empowerment Network (GEN); offers girls in grades 3-12 throughout Texas a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. Visit www.girlsempowerment network.org.
• Greater San Marcos Youth Council (GSMYC); emergency children’s shelter that offers free counseling services for youth and families in Hays County. Contact [email protected].
• Hays CISD; mentoring program Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPs) pairs adults and older students with younger students to help make a difference in their lives. Visit www.hayscisd.net/Page/113.
• Hays County Food Bank; provides food assistance programs, nutrition education and advocacy. Visit www.haysfoodbank.org.
• Inspired Minds Art Center (IMAC); volunteers needed to assist with art, music and theatre education, community events and pop-up markets. Visit www.inspiredminds.art.
• Keeping Communities Connected (KCC); mentors, contributors and event volunteers needed to offer youth career readiness training, digital skills building, professional development and more. Contact [email protected].
• Seedling Mentors; volunteers needed to mentor school-aged children with incarcerated parents. Visit www.seedlingmentors.org.
• Texas Senior Medicare Patrol; volunteers needed to protect Texans against Medicare fraud, error and abuse. Visit www.texassmp.org.
• The Teacher Reuse; free classroom supplies and materials for teachers. Volunteers needed for organizing donations, writing grants, marketing and more. Contact [email protected].
