Agency Descriptions
Service Learning Agencies
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central New Mexico
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico
- Explora
- Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails
- HopeWorks
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
- National Hispanic Cultural Center of NM
- Rio Grande Food Project
- St. Felix Pantry
- Watermelon Mountain Ranch
- Wings For LIFE International
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central NM, Inc. (BBBS)
2501 Yale Blvd. SE Suite 302
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 837-9223
Contact:
Agency description/mission: The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to build a stronger community through the creation and support of positive one-to-one relationships between children and adult volunteers. We have a very strong leadership team that has grown the agency over the past several years. There are wonderful opportunities to learn about the operations and management of a successful, youth mentoring non-profit organization. The incredible staff is looking forward to engaging CNM Service Learners on-site to learn about this fast-paced and rewarding work environment.
Service Learning opportunities: There are four major work areas for Service Learners:
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Volunteer Retention – Will assist with the organization of parties and activities that volunteers, families, and children are invited to in both our Community-Based and Site-Based programs and participate on the match retention/satisfaction committee.
- Event Management - Work with our mentor 2.0 team and Special Events Coordinator on fundraising events.
Orientation/Training schedule: We provide comprehensive orientation and training for the specific work function. We use a variety of training resources, including online modules, manuals, personal, and hands-on opportunities, as needed to accommodate your service learning needs. Additional training in other departments is available to supplement your overall experience in a non-profit agency.
- Special conditions or requirements: We perform a background check (criminal, sexual offender, MVD) and ask for three references.
- Hours of operation when students are needed: Total = 4+. One for each major work area and as many as possible for Volunteer Recruitment.
- Minimum hour commitment required: 20 hours.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico
202 Central Ave SE, 3rd Floor
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 881-0777
Contact: [email protected]
Agency description/mission: The mission of the Boys & Girls of Central New Mexico is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as caring, productive, responsible citizens. We offer programs that help our members reach three priority outcomes: Good Character & Citizenship, Academic Success, and Healthy Lifestyles. Club members learn leadership skills, explore career opportunities, and become healthy individuals who are ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.
Service Learning opportunities: We have service learning opportunities for students to interact directly with our members doing specialized programmings such as the arts, sports, technology, or education. Students can function as mentors and provide homework assistance during our “Power Hour” in our after-school program with subjects such as math and reading. We also have Service Learning opportunities with our Administrative staff helping with special events or marketing and communications.
Orientation/Training schedule: Students wanting to become Reading mentor coaches would be required to attend an initial training seminar. Training for other service learning opportunities would be based on the area of interest and conducted on a one-on-one or small-group basis.
Special conditions or requirements: Those service learning students wishing to work directly with our youth members will be required to complete a background check performed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico. This process usually takes 2-5 days; once results are received the enrollment process will be completed.
- Number of Service Learning Students Needed: No limit.
- Hours of operation when students are needed: Those working with members: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Monday - Friday. Those assisting with administration, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.
- Minimum hour commitment required: N/A
Explora
1701 Mountain Rd. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
Contact: Drora Schub
(505) 600-1377
Agency Description/ Mission: Explora is a non-profit science center dedicated to creating opportunities for inspirational discovery and the joy of lifelong learning through interactive experiences in science, technology, and art.
Service Learning opportunities: Opportunities include the following subject areas: child development, elementary education, communication, psychology, biology, chemistry, physics, health sciences, trades, and more. This placement will be working directly with our visitors on the exhibit floor.
Orientation/Training schedule: Three-hour session; dates and times will be provided.
Special conditions or requirements: Present course syllabus to the agency supervisor
- Number of Service-Learning Students Needed: Up to eight Service Learners (Group placements not available at this time)
- Hours of operation when students are needed: Monday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (two to four hour shifts)
- Minimum hour commitment required: 30 hours per term
Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, Inc.
4000 Jefferson Plaza NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 343-1040
(505) 633-6830
Contact: [email protected]
Agency description/mission: Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character that make the world a better place. Service Learning with Girl Scouts is a rewarding and uplifting experience. No matter what your talents, skills, or objectives are, you can have an impact on a girl's life and on your community.
Service Learning opportunities: We are willing to partner with Service Learning students to find an opportunity that fits your lifestyle, interests, skills, course objectives, and schedule.
Many service learning students help with both large and small-scale events, support general office work, or assist in planning, preparing, or providing programs for the girls.
Please mention if you are interested in working in the Santa Fe community, as Santa Fe and other regional areas of New Mexico are part of our jurisdiction.
Orientation/Training schedule: Orientation is provided on a one-on-one basis. Please call and arrange an appointment. Last-minute appointments are discouraged and not guaranteed.
Special conditions or requirements: We may require Service Learning students to complete their adult membership registration ($25 membership fee paid by the council) and background check (paid by the council) before working directly with girls.
- Number of Service Learning Students Needed: Flexible
- Hours of operation when students are needed: Flexible. Vary by event/opportunity
- Minimum hour requirement: 15-20 hours.
HopeWorks
1201 Third Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 242-4399
Contact: HopeWorks Volunteer Information
Agency description/mission: HopeWorks is New Mexico’s premier multi-service program provider to the homeless and disenfranchised with a vision of “ending homelessness one person at a time.”
Service Learning opportunities:
- Kitchen - Assist the Shelter staff in feeding three meals for approximately 700 clients a day.
- Clothing Room - Manage and help clients select some new clothing, shoes, and accessories from our Clothing Room. All materials in the clothing room are donated and completely free of charge to all clients.
- Shower Station - Help with shower sign-up and distribution of towels, toiletries, and more to those that need to shower.
- Long-Term Storage - This is for clients who need to store social security cards, family photos, medication, and more— anything they don’t want on the streets with them. They have to confirm monthly that they would like to keep their long-term storage space.
- Mail Room - Clients can list HopeWorks Day Shelter as their address so they can receive mail. Volunteers typically sort, distribute, organize, and purge mail.
- Evening Meal Service - Help prepare meals with the guest chefs that are in charge of the meal service. Assist in the serving of the meal, refill of drinks, and all clean-up at the conclusion of the meal.
- General Help - If you don’t fit into the categories above but still want to help, no problem! We always have something for everyone to do. We are happy you are willing to help!
Orientation/Training schedule: HopeWorks will attempt to accommodate students’ schedules to conduct orientation/training.
Special Conditions or Requirements: No one under 18 years of age. High school diploma or equivalent experience working with homeless or severely disadvantaged people, substance abusers, or chronically mentally ill individuals. Experience with volunteers preferred. Experience working with racially and culturally diverse groups. Current CPR and First-Aid qualifications or willingness to be trained. Knowledge of community resources. Bilingual preferred. Comfortable blue Jeans and tee shirts are acceptable attire. Physical requirements of a Shelter Assistant are the ability to stand/walk for long periods of time and the ability to lift 25 pounds or drag 40 pounds across the floor.
- Number of Service Learning Students Needed: Eight to 10
- Hours of Operation when Students are needed: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Weekend hours are limited but available. Students may select a time that suits their learning schedules as long as the coordinators are notified in advance. A sign-in sheet will be provided for all students who receive service learning opportunities at HopeWorks.
- Minimum Hour Commitment Required: Weekly: 15 hours/Semester; two hours/Week.
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
2401 12th Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
Local: (505) 843-7270
Toll Free: 1-866-855-7902
Contact: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Volunteer Information
Agency Description/Mission: To Preserve and perpetuate Pueblo culture and to advance understanding by presenting with dignity and respect the accomplishments and evolving history of the pueblo people of New Mexico.
Service Learning Opportunities: If you wish to gain experience in museum practices and Pueblo culture, and would like to share your experiences and knowledge with our visitors, then this is a great place for you to acquire knowledge skills, and values.
Orientation/Training Schedule: Two-hour Orientation, with all service learning Interns. Customer Service.
Special Conditions or Requirements: Able to greet visitors and be able to stand on their feet for long periods of time. Able to lift 25 lbs.
- Number of Service Learning Students needed: Five
- Hours when Students are needed: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Minimum hour commitment required: Three hours per Fall semester
National Hispanic Cultural Center
1701 4th Street SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 246-2261
Contact: Annette Lujan, NHCC Volunteer Coordinator; (505) 225-6656; [email protected]
Volunteer Program Office is on the 4th Street side of the NHCC, in the two-story Visual Arts Building on the east side of campus.
Agency description/mission: The National Hispanic Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities.
Service Learning opportunities: Service Learning Students will support the NHCC's Education Program events. Tasks may include welcoming visitors, helping setup/cleanup activities, facilitating activities, and helping prepare materials.
Orientation/Training schedule: Interested students should contact Annette Lujan, NHCC Volunteer Coordinator, to schedule an interview time and complete initial onboarding. Further training will be provided at events.
Special conditions or requirements: Background checks are required for all volunteers, including service learning students. Spanish fluency is encouraged, but not required. Dependability is a requirement for all positions. No call/no show for the assigned day and time will result in the student being dropped from the program.
Hours of operation when students are needed: Education programs are usually evenings and weekends, hours vary depending on the program.
Minimum hour commitment: 15 hours per semester
Rio Grande Food Project
600 Coors Blvd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87121
Contact: RGFP Volunteer Opportunities
Location directions: Rio Grande Food Project is located one block south of the intersection of Fortuna and Coors, inside Rio Grande Presbyterian church.
Agency Description/Mission: Rio Grande Food Project is the largest food pantry on Albuquerque's west side. Our mission is to feed hungry New Mexicans. We accomplish this by providing a monthly grocery food box as a supplement when food stamps run out. We began in 1989 as a dedicated mission outreach of Rio Grande Presbyterian Church; that small group of volunteers served over 1,600 meals that year. We have grown quite a bit since then. We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and at the end of 2014, we served over 45,000 people with 1.3 million meals.
Service Learning opportunities: Students can take part in a variety of Service Learning opportunities such as data entry for our client intake and donor database; food distribution in our food pantry; gardening and compositing in our community garden; online communications through our website and social media.
Note: Not all students will have the opportunity to participate in the listed activities
Orientation/Training schedule: Depending on the Service Learning activity, training will vary. Students will go through a brief orientation with the Volunteer Manager and training will involve shadowing volunteers in their specific role until students can demonstrate ability.
- Number of Service Learning students needed: Five
- Hours of operation when students are needed: Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Minimum hour commitment: 15 hours throughout the semester
St. Felix Pantry, Inc.
4020 Barbara Loop SE
Rio Rancho NM, 87124
(505) 891-8075
Contact: Rachael Miletkov
Agency description/mission: We restore hope to families and individuals in need by providing food, compassionate support, and referral services. In the calendar year 2022, we served 105,850 times! Our guests are allowed to come once a week and are provided with a grocery cart filled with food. We are the only food pantry with weekly access to food in Sandoval County and our only requirement to receive food is that one be a resident of the State of New Mexico.
Service Learning opportunities:
- Pack food
- Receive deliveries and restock the pantry
- Meet and greet guests
- Register clients
- Data entry (MS Office)
Orientation/Training schedule: On-the-job training for some positions. Other jobs require previous experience or education.
Special Conditions or Requirements: Some opportunities require heavy lifting and standing for extended periods of time.
- Number of Service Learning Students Needed: One to two students
- Hours of Operation when Students are needed: Tuesday-Saturday, starting at 5:30 a.m.
- Minimum Hour Commitment Required: Flexible; St. Felix Pantry’s main need is for students to be responsible and when they make a date and time commitment, to honor that commitment.
Watermelon Mountain Ranch
3251 Westphalia Blvd SE
Albuquerque, NM 87124
(505) 267-6227
Contact: WMR Volunteer Information
Agency Description/Mission: Watermelon Mountain Ranch, a nonprofit corporation, is dedicated to the belief that all living creatures-humans and animals- should be cared for and protected whenever possible. The recovery, care, and housing of companion animals (lost, strayed, unwanted, or abandoned), until they can be reunited with their owners or adopted out to new homes, is a major focus for Watermelon Mountain Ranch. We also understand and appreciate the significance and positive impact that animals can have interacting with people. To foster this human-animal bond, Watermelon Mountain Ranch will provide facilities and support for efforts that encourage the positive interaction of children, youth, adults, and seniors (including persons with disabilities) with animals through outreach, educational, interactive, and therapeutic programs using paid and volunteer staffing with support from private & corporate donors.
Service Learning opportunities:
- Animal Care-Dog Walking and Washing, cat care (brushing, etc.) Showing the animals on property love and affection at all times.
- Offsite Adoption Events-Assisting with set up and break down at the events; handling of dogs during events (walking, watering); and talking with the public about what the ranch does and our mission.
- Maintenance of Ranch- Building projects throughout the property, including shades for dog runs and windbreaks, moving small cottages, and creating fenced areas. Regular upkeep on already existing areas.
Volunteer Orientation: If you are interested in service learning with the ranch, you will need to attend the volunteer orientation which takes place every Saturday at Noon at the main ranch location. You can pick a Saturday that works best for you.
Prior to coming to orientation, you need to complete a volunteer application. You can fill one out online by visiting our website at www.wmranch.org or you can come a little early before orientation begins and fill one out in person.
Special conditions or requirements: Closed-toe Shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dirty in. Must Show respect for all animals and staff members while at the ranch or during any offsite events.
- Number of Service-Learning Students Needed: 20-30
- Hours of operation when students are needed: Wednesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Minimum hour commitment required: Weekly: Open Semester: Open
Wings For LIFE International
2015 Wyoming Blvd NE Suite J
Albuquerque, NM 87112
(505) 298-0985
(505) 291-6412
(505) 554-6698 cell
Contact: Ann Edenfield Sweet, Executive Director and Founder
Office Location: 2015 Wyoming Blvd. NE Suite J, Albuquerque, NM 87112
Meeting Locations: Second Presbyterian Church, 812 Edith Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (Corner of Lomas and Edith - Park in the north lot off Page Rd., one block north of Lomas off Edith), or Mountain Christian Church, 12242 State Hwy 14 N, Cedar Crest, NM 87008.
Agency Description/Mission: Wings for L.I.F.E.: Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education.
Wings for L.I.F.E. Mission Statement: Transforming lives to break the generational cycle of incarceration. WFL has rebuilt lives during and after incarceration and teaches basic life skills to individuals inside and outside of prison, so they can implement these skills in everyday life. WFL enjoys working with and preparing students for careers in criminal justice, social work, social service, non-profit organizations, philanthropy, community development, peace and justice, ministry, or other related fields. Volunteers have an opportunity to engage in a wide spectrum of social intervention, social service, and non-profit management activities.
The first four Mondays each month a Wings For L.I.F.E. education program is held for families of prisoners and returning citizens. Dinner is served; manners, life skills, and topics of interest are taught and discussed. The program is for the whole family and everyone is welcome. After-dinner tutoring and Pre-K programs are offered for the children.
CNM students AND their family members, including children, are welcome to participate together at Wings For L.I.F.E. while getting service learning credit.
Service Learning opportunities at WFL:
- Discussion leader
- Craft leader for after-dinner children’s program
- Create a special program for children’s program (Reading, crafts, something related to the theme for the evening
- Help with special meetings: Make a Difference Day, Keep Albuquerque Beautiful, Dr. Seuss Read Across America, Back-To-School Fashion Show, Christmas “Go Shopping”, NM Healthy Family Awards Banquet, and many more!
- Tutor – after-dinner program for elementary-aged children and youth
- Be a Team Member for the WFL “Special Dinners” (Plan, and prepare special meals, decorations, etc.)
- Help with seasonal fundraisers (Yard sales, concerts, annual banquet, Celebration of Champions fundraiser, etc.)
- Be trained as a speaker to talk about WFL
- Create PowerPoint about WFL
- Be a photographer at WFL
- Take a video at WFL
- Create a video about WFL
- Create photo collages for the website
- Put photos on the website
- Help in the kitchen at WFL
- Create a walking/exercise program before WFL
- Help with Wings community parties
- Help with Wings prison family days
- Website design
- Database entry
- Help with IT and technology
- Help with newsletters
- Create brochures about Wings: General program, tutoring program, toddler program, and other programs
- Blog about WFL
- Office help
- Help donor package gifts for children
- Create healthy menu plans for the semester. Figure out portions, quantities needed, cost, etc.
- Create health-related materials or programs – First Aid tips – seasonal issues like bug bites and frostbite – recipes for healthy snacks – provide healthy snacks – get donations for shampoo, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, etc.
- Activities for children using Fractals & STEM
- Share your idea on how to help – we are always creating new programs and activities at WFL
Orientation/Training schedule: As needed. Very flexible. WFL will offer an optional “official training” for students at the beginning of each semester to educate students about what WFL does, why, and the best practices behind each part of the program.
Special conditions or requirements: Dress appropriately – business casual.
- Number of Service-Learning Students Needed: As many as are interested. Class "teams" are welcome.
- Hours of operation when students are needed: Monday 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. or depending on the Service Learning project. We are flexible. Can work at home. Can work at Wings Office. 2015 Wyoming NE Suite J – Near Wyoming & Menaul. Hours are usually 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Minimum hour commitment required: No minimum hour commitment. If attending Monday meetings students can help for up to three hours each evening weekly until requirements are fulfilled. Wings is very flexible and will work with all students on finding ways to work Service Learning into their school and family life schedule.