Community Service

There are as many reasons to serve as there are people who serve. Volunteering is not just an altruistic act. It's an opportunity to advance in all areas of your life. Here are a few of the things you can gain when you give your time and yourself:

• Connect with your community.
• Conserve funds for charities, nonprofits and faith-based and other community organizations by contributing your time.
• Meet new people from all walks of life.
• Enhance your resume and make important networking contacts.
• Promote a worthwhile activity.
• Experience something new.

Perhaps the first and biggest benefit people get from volunteering is the satisfaction of incorporating service into their lives and making a difference in their community and country. The intangible benefits alone—such as pride, satisfaction and accomplishment—are worthwhile reasons to serve.

Community Service Links and Resources:

As a courtesy, this site provides links to both internal (Sacramento State) and external (non-Sacramento State) websites. External websites ("third party websites") are not under the control of Commuity Engagement Center. Please read our Disclaimer regarding the use of “third party websites” prior to utilizing the links and resources below. Third-party brands and names are the property of their respective owners.

Sacramento State links:

Alternative Break: Alternative Break offers Sacramento State students short-term, community-based service projects during winter and spring academic breaks. Faculty and staff are welcome to partake in an Alternative Break and join students in full-day voulnteer service.

Associated Students, Inc.: Community Service Events is a program of Associated Students that is dedicated to the improvement of the Sacramento State Campus and its surrounding areas. Community Service Events is a volunteer based program which serves as an outlet for students who are interested in giving back to the community.


More on-campus community service resources:

• Multicultural Center
• Student Activities

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Community Links:

American Red Cross: The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

California Volunteers: You can "bear responsibility" for our state by choosing to volunteer in your community. Use the resources here to find a service opportunity, select one that meets your interests, or create your own.

City of Sacramento: The City of Sacramento and its non-profit partners have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for youth and adults. These include on-going volunteer positions as well as short-term activities.

Community Service Centers: Staffed by Sheriff's Personnel and Volunteers, Community Service Centers offer a wide variety of services to the public. These services include: Taking "non-dispatch" crime reports, fingerprinting, neighborhood watch, Toy/Food Drives, Safety Fairs, Vacation Watches, Crime Prevention, Megan's Law, National Night Out and much more.

Community Services Planning Council: The Community Services Planning Council’s mission is to help people turn ideas into community action through information, planning, civic engagement and advocacy for human needs in the Sacramento Region.

Hands on Sacramento: Hands On Sacramento connects 2,500 volunteers a year with opportunities to match their schedules and interests. Volunteers select from one-time, group-based volunteering to longer-term opportunities to opportunities for volunteer leadership.

Sacramento County: Sacramento County provides programs that deal with today’s most pressing social needs. Volunteer opportunities are available in areas such as: youth, seniors, animals, law and justice, parks/cooperative extension, boards and commissions, holiday and seasonal.

Safetyville USA: Safetyville USA is dedicated to reduce preventable injuries and deaths to children through early awareness education. Volunteer tour guides serve over 10,000 children, teachers, and parents annually by contributing two hours per week leading safety tours.

VolunteerMatch: VolunteerMatch is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement.

Volunteer Center of Sacramento: The Volunteer Center of Sacramento has hundreds of volunteer opportunities and can match your interest in helping with a group or organization that can utilize your help.

Volunteer Centers of California: The Volunteer Centers of California is an Association that works with a statewide network of 28 Volunteer Centers and their numerous branch sites to help coordinate statewide services in strengthening volunteerism throughout California.

If your non-profit community or campus organization would like Commuity Engagement Center to identify your organization as offering community service/volunteering opportunities, please email the center at cecenter@csus.edu. Please include your organization name, website address, contact information, and a description of your organization (including mission and populations served) with your request. All requests are subject to review and approval prior to posting. Postings may be edited for content or space restrictions.

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