Volunteers
Want to give back? Want to volunteer?
Opportunities to volunteer with Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) are almost unlimited. Help out at a one-day special event or assist on an ongoing basis. Volunteer opportunities exist for:
• Individuals • Corporate Groups • College & High School Students
• Retirees • Scout Projects • Court Appointed Service
Volunteering is easy!
If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, please email AskParkRec. All volunteers ages 18 and older desiring to work with children in programs sponsored by PRCF will be required to undergo a background investigation.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
PRCF
Why volunteer in parks?
Richmond is a city of beautiful parks that are brimming with adventure, history, ecology and wildlife, arts, culture, and opportunities for action-packed days that are the pride of our region. We invite you not only to enjoy these special places, but to partner with us as the stewards of Richmond’s public landscapes. From planting, building, and repairing, to litter removal, tree planting, and painting murals, there is a role for everyone to play when you volunteer in parks!
Top 5 Reasons Why
- Serving in parks connects you with neighbors in your community who you may never have met before
- Volunteers in parks restore crucial environmental features in Richmond, ensuring the city continues to be a great place to access the outdoors
- When you serve in parks, you reap the health benefits of nature, getting exercise and a healthy dose of Vitamin D (not to mention forest bathing)
- Working in parks is a screen-free experience that has been shown to reduce stress in teens and adults, reconnecting people to the natural world around them
- The parks need you! The threat of urban heat islands, of invasive plants, of litter and vandalism are real … so please don’t wait! Join us.
Enroll in our volunteer program to become a partner with PRCF!
Click this link to sign up. [Link could go to updated N2N application]
Other Volunteer Initiatives:
City of Richmond / Radio One Toy Drive
About
The City of Richmond and Radio One have partnered together for the past several years for the annual Holiday Toy Drive. N2N has been honored to assist this initiative by helping to recruit volunteers to serve at the annual event. Volunteers provide various duties such as unloading toys from moving trucks, setting up toy displays, assisting residents with selecting toys during the event, and helping to manage large crowds.
N2N Participation & Service
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For more information please contact us at Neighbor To Neighbor, (804)646-6528.
Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities
About
Want to give back? Volunteer! Opportunities to volunteer with Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities are almost unlimited. Help out at a one-day special event or assist on an ongoing basis. Students who need service learning hours can earn hours through this program.
Volunteer List
All volunteers ages 18 and older desiring to work with children in programs sponsored by the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, will be required to undergo a background investigation.
| Title | Duties |
|---|---|
| Athletic Coach | Programs: Basketball, Baseball, Football, Soccer, Tennis, Lacrosse, Cheerleading, etc. Serve as coach under the direction of recreation staff instructing youth ages 5-17 in various sport disciplines. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and willing to organize practices, teach basic skills, encourage team play and good sportsmanship, travel with the team to games, project a positive attitude, and occasionally meet with league representatives. Volunteers are needed for boys and girls programs. |
| Certified Aerobic Instructor | Instruct low impact, combo (high/low impact), or step aerobic classes for a minimum of 2 days per week. Volunteer must be a certified aerobic instructor. |
| Environmental Aide | Assist James River Park staff in conducting environmental education programs for children and adults. These programs include walking tours, special hands-on children's programs, river exploration and float trips. Water programs: Safety is stressed in all water programs. All volunteers MUST SWIM and wear sneakers, a life jacket will be provided. |
| Gallery Attendant | To allow public access to art showings at the Pine Camp Arts and Community Center and/or the Carillon in Byrd Park, to insure no food or beverage is taken into galleries, and to insure all small children are accompanied by adults. |
| Graffiti Police | Serve as eyes for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities by monitoring and reporting graffiti activities in parks and on buildings such as the Richmond Centre, Richmond Coliseum, recreation centers, etc. |
| Park Maintenance - Painter |
Paint areas within parks covered with graffiti, paint fences, lines in parking lots, street curbs, etc. |
| Recreation Leader | Under the direction of recreation staff, instruct youth or adults in a structured activity such as arts and crafts, chess, music, dance, drama, etc. |
| Receptionist | As a receptionist you will be the first point of contact for the Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF) at the Community Center level. You will handle the flow of people through the center and ensure that all administration tasks are completed accurately and delivered with high quality and in a timely manner. Must be dressed presentably, person will often be the first person that customers and staff see, so they're always representing the City of Richmond and PRCF. |
| Trail Worker | Work in small groups to maintain trails at James River Park utilizing shovels, clippers, hand saws, etc. to clip brush, spread gravel, wood chips and install culverts. |
| Tutor | Assist children 5-17 years of age in after-school program and/or community center with homework and specific subjects i.e., math, English, reading, science, etc. Volunteers must be mature, knowledgeable of subject areas, and possess the ability to patiently communicate clear instructions. |
| Visitors' Center - Information Aide |
Staff the James River Park Visitors' Center and provide information to the public relating to the James River Park system, maintain and update informational displays and answer telephone. |
N2N Participation & Service
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2019
Apply
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities' Volunteers Making A Difference Program is currently seeking volunteers for the following positions. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer contact the Neighbor to Neighbor Coordinator by e-mail, or call (804)646-6528, or visit the Neighbor To Neighbor website for more information, or Register for N2N on-line to receive volunteer opportunity e-mail notices.
About
"AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith- based groups across the country.
Since the program’s founding in 1994, more than 900,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.2 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.
AmeriCorps programs do more than move communities forward; they serve their members by creating jobs and providing pathways to opportunity for young people entering the workforce. AmeriCorps places thousands of young adults into intensive service positions where they learn valuable work skills, earn money for education, and develop an appreciation for citizenship.” 1
For more information about national service, click on the following link:
Richmond Area Healthy Futures AmeriCorps Project
About
The Richmond Area Healthy Futures AmeriCorps Project focus is to deploy the equivalent of 10 Full Time AmeriCorps members to provide peer recovery and educational outreach services to address Opioids and Prescription Drug Use. Partners of this project include CARITAS-The Healing Place, The McShin Foundation, VCU Rams In Recovery and REAL LIFE.
AmeriCorps team members will help individuals demonstrate improvements in their recovery through active program engagement and through community outreach events, to educate, increase knowledge, promote wellness and provide resources to dissuade substance use.
For more information about AmeriCorps service in Virginia, click on the following link:
Click on the following link to access Regional Opioid Solution Resources for Education, Prevention, Treatment and Recovery:
N2N Participation & Service
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The program recruits year round for candidates. If interested in serving, please contact Jennifer Swinson, Program Director at Rebecca.Davis@RichmondGov.com
References
1 www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps
Archived Pictures
MLK Day: Virtual Commemoration Ceremony
About
Each year, thousands of American's gather to honor Dr. King's legacy and come together to serve their neighbors and community. Held annually on the third Monday of January, the MLK federal holiday is a national day of service and time to re-commit ourselves to aiding others. Dr. King devoted his life to advancing equality, social justice and economic opportunity for all. He challenged us to build a more perfect union and taught us that everyone has a role to play. Four decades after his assassination, we still work to realize his dream. The needs are great, many Americans are hurting, and government can't do it alone. We need citizens to help renew our nation and expand both equality and opportunity for all.
The City of Richmond is proud to celebrate this national day of remembrance and service, engaging in meaningful volunteerism, viewing this day as "A Day On, Not A Day Off". To learn more about this national holiday and day of service, please visit the MLK National Day of Service website.
N2N Participation & Service
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2021
- January 18, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
- Virtual Commemoration Ceremony
(Watch the ceremony via the City of Richmond Facebook page)
Please register for service projects by visiting:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P777TV2
Apply
For more information please contact us at Neighbor To Neighbor, (804)646-6528.
| 2019-2020 Participating Officials |
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National Service Recognition Day
(formerly the Mayor and County Day of Recognition for National Service)
About
The nation’s mayors and county officials are increasingly turning to national service as a cost-effective strategy to address challenges. By unleashing the power of citizens, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs have a positive and lasting impact - making our cities better places to live
Since April 2013, mayors across the country have participated in this annual event to spotligh the impact of national service and thank those who serve. The Mayor and the City of Richmond is excited about participating in this national day of recognition and service.
To learn more please visit:
N2N Participation & Service
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For more information please contact us at Neighbor To Neighbor, (804)646-6528.
Veterans Day of Service
About
The City of Richmond is proud to honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces on Veterans Day, observed each year as a federal holiday on November 11. 2015 was the inaugural year that N2N partnered with community agencies that aid and assist veterans and their families. N2N will provide and/or support volunteerism services that assists vulnerable veterans with services such as light home repairs, painting, leaf removal, lawn tasks, house cleaning, and furniture moving. Please consider joining N2N in volunteering to make a difference in the lives of some of America's brave heroes of freedom.
N2N Participation & Service
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For more information please contact us at Neighbor To Neighbor, (804)646-6528.
Ft. Lee - U.S. Army Partnership
About
During the summer of 2013, while planning for the City’s annual 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance event, N2N contacted Ft. Lee to determine their interest in participating in the event. Brigadier General John O’Neil, then the acting Quartermaster Commandant, agreed to attend the event and bring 50 soldiers. Having enjoyed the event and learning more about N2N’s goal of leveraging service as a strategy to accomplish mayoral goals, BG O’Neil made a commitment to provide soldiers on a monthly basis to volunteer in Richmond. In 2014, the new Quartermaster Commandant, Brigadier General Ron Kirklin, took the reigns of leadership and got his command staff on board to solidify the partnership, engaging the 244th Battalion’s warrior’s in monthly service. The soldiers have participated in many impact service projects, working with both City departments and local nonprofit organizations to help build the best Richmond.
N2N Participation & Service
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For more information please contact us at Neighbor To Neighbor, (804)646-6528.
Read Across America
About
The National Education Association's (NEA) Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. In cities and towns across the nation, teachers, teenagers, librarians, politicians, actors, athletes, parents, grandparents, and others develop NEA's Read Across America activities to bring reading excitement to children of all ages. Governors, mayors, and other elected officials recognize the role reading plays in their communities with proclamations and floor statements.
Neighbor-to-Neighbor supports this annual event as their continuing commitment to serving youth in the Richmond community. To learn more about this national service event, please visit:
N2N Participation & Service
Read Across America Day - Elementary School & Library Reading Projects
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2019
- Friday, March 22, 2019
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2018
- Thursday, March 8, 2018
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- Thursday, March 2, 2017
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- Monday, March 2, 2015
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- Friday, March 1, 2013
Apply
For more information please contact us at Neighbor To Neighbor, (804)646-6528.
Friends of James River Park -- The roughly 500 acres of deciduous forest surrounding the falls of the James River -- with islands, bridges, and trails -- are Richmond’s wild central park. To know the stories and geography of the James River Park is to know Richmond. Find out more when you volunteer. Click the link above to learn about year-round opportunities.
Invasive Species Task Force -- Help support the removal of invasive species from the James River Park System. Invasive species crowd out local flora and fauna and hold back the growth of native plants.
Community Gardens -- Now more than ever, residents are interested in growing healthy fruits and vegetables in a local, family-friendly setting. Richmond Grows Gardens supports over 14 community gardens around the city. For more information or to volunteer, click this link.
Find out more about our Out of School Program.