Baldwin County offers residents plenty of free ways to spend their time helping out in the community. Tutoring students, building homes, caring for animals and more, there are opportunities for all ages and schedules.
Habitat for Humanity is always looking for volunteers. Volunteers are needed on job sites to help build homes for those in need. Executive Director Ivey Hall said no experience is needed to assist with the process of bringing a home to fruition.
“It doesn't matter if you are at the top of the ladders swinging a hammer or at the bottom keeping the ladder steady,” Hall said. “It takes a community of volunteers to build a home and build hope for our families.”
Habitat for Humanity has upcoming events, such as its Women Build fundraiser in March and April to build homes. It also offers smaller opportunities throughout the year to get involved. Community members can sign up to volunteer by contacting Habitat at habitatforhu-manitymbc@ gmail.com or calling 478-453-9617 and asking for Outreach Managers Ellie or Mason.
For environmental enthusiasts, Keep Milledgeville-Baldwin Beautiful holds litter clean-up events and hosts the Adopt-a-Road program that gives an organization or group the responsibility to beautify a road. The organization’s goal is to help with trash pick-up and litter issues throughout the county. For more information, visit keepmbbeautiful. org.
For more one-on-one partnerships, Communities in Schools of Milledgeville and Baldwin County looks for volunteers to help students stay in school and succeed. Volunteers have the option to tutor between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., read to classes, or help with events, such as book fairs and school dances.
“It is important for the community to get involved because we are working with the future of Baldwin County to make sure that they stay in school and achieve in life,” said Director of CIS Courtney Bently. “We want to connect them with resources in the community so that any barriers to their education are alleviated and they can graduate and get on a path to contribute to our community in the future.”
Visit cismilledgeville. org/volunteer to fill out the volunteer form.
Local animal shelters, such as ARF & Friends and the Baldwin County Animal Shelter, and food pantries, such as Chard Wray Food Pantry and Milly Free Fridge, are also in need of assitance. Both organizations depend on the community to collect and donate items and to assist with events.
Whether residents prefer working with students, building homes, or caring for animals, Baldwin County offers volunteer opportunities that fit a variety of interests and schedules, making it easy for community members to give back without spending a dollar.