St. Edward's, Reflect, Volunteer, Engage (SERVE) Austin is an opportunity for you to work in collaboration with area nonprofits, focusing on a particular social issue such as food insecurity, immigration, and education.
Working in small groups, you will serve at the same site every week for the entire semester. Through regularly scheduled activities you will be able to more fully explore critical issues in the greater Austin community, allowing you to connect course content with life experience. Most importantly, through SERVE Austin you are able to build relationships with those we are working with and you will come to understand they are teaching us far more than we can provide them.
Please see below for current information on sites and descriptions. (Note: Sites will be assigned based on availability, community partners' need and transportation.)
Applications due 1.18.23 at noon.
Monarchs Food Pantry
MONDAYS-FRIDAYS | 2:30-5:30 PM
Our on campus Food Pantry provides resources for our Hilltop community. You'll stock the shelves. Work to create and fill mobile pantries and promote the pantry offerings.
Foundation Communities Learning Center
MONDAYS-WEDNESDAYS | 3:30-6:30 PM
Foundation Communities provides housing and support services to low-income families and individuals in Austin, and the Learning Centers are on-site programs that provide after-school care and academic support to the children living in that complex. You will tutor students one-on-one, assist the teachers running after-school programs, and help facilitate fun outdoor activities. Serving at Foundation Communities is a great opportunity to be a positive role model in a child’s life!
El Buen Samaritano [TENTATIVE]
El Buen Samaritano is committed to helping Latino and other families lead healthy, productive and secure lives through high-quality and affordable health-care, education and economic-stability services. You will assist children from 1st-8th grade in completing homework, projects, create art and plan fun activities.
Casa Marianella [PAUSED]
Casa Marianella is an emergency shelter for recently arrived immigrants and people seeking asylum. You will have the incredible opportunity to work with people from Mexico, Central and South America, and various African countries on projects such as resume building, job applications, and English skills. You’ll help around the house and organize your own creative projects to bring to Casa Marianella.
River City Youth Foundation [PAUSED]
River City Youth Foundation is an after-school program for the youth of Dove Springs neighborhood in Southeast Austin. You will organize activities, help with homework, and teach the kids about the importance of giving back to their community. Our students help the kids come together to plan mini-service projects. One past SERVE student said, “[The children have] different personalities, but they can all think alike when it comes to helping!”
Todos Juntos [PAUSED]
Todos Juntos is a bilingual family learning center that provides childcare for adults and families in the neighboring community who are working to learn English and improve their lives in Austin. SERVE Austin volunteers assist in preschool classes, playing with children, helping teachers with activities, and reading to the children. Former participants have loved the deep sense of family and community at Todos Juntos.
Applications for SERVE Austin are available at the beginning of each semester. Contact Liza Manjarrez for more information.