Honors College sponsored service enables Honors College students to work together in meaningful community service projects. Honors College students and staff will coordinate service opportunities all year long.

Changemaking Communities

Honors College Changemaking Communities are residentially based communities which engage students in community building, programs, and initiatives with a focus on socially responsible leadership - defined as individual, group, and community development for social change. Students can earn up to 10 Changemaking Points (equivalent to 10 HC Serves hours) for participating. 

HC Serves Series

As part of the Honors College mission to develop service-minded global citizens in search of a career with purpose, the HC Serves Series is designed to introduce students to all types of community service and civic engagement. Join the Honors College for programs including serving the community, reflecting on service, engaging in philanthropy, and meeting with professionals who are breaking the mold in the nonprofit world.

For upcoming events, visit HC Serves Series webpage.

Big Chill

The Big Chill is a unique charitable event. There is neither a registration fee nor a requirement to raise funds. Instead participants are asked to bring a new toy, valued at $15 or more, for a child between the ages of 3 and 14. There are also opportunities to volunteer with different aspects of the event.

For more information, visit https://community.rutgers.edu/programs-services/program-directory/big-chill-5k. 

RU Dance Marathon

The Rutgers University Dance Marathon (RUDM) is a student-run philanthropic event that unites the Rutgers community in an effort to raise money and increase awareness for the Embrace Kids Foundation. It is a university-wide tradition comprised of volunteers who champion a commitment to service, leadership development, and fun. The Honors College sponsors a team of students who dance and volunteer each year. Please see guidelines below for earning service hours through RUDM:

• All service hours towards Dance Marathon will count toward Rutgers-approved opportunities
• Students will receive 1 HC Serves Hour for participating in a Dance Marathon Info Session
• All students who join Dance Marathon (team of their choice) and raise the $200 minimum will receive 5 HC Serves hours
• Students can receive a maximum of 12 HC Serves hours for participating in RUDM-related activities

For more information and to join the Honors College team, visit marathon.rutgers.edu.

Relay for Life (Colleges Against Cancer)

In more than 5,200 communities and 20 countries, Relay For Life events comprise the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The Rutgers University Relay For Life event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society Colleges Against Cancer, a nationwide collaboration of college students, faculty, and staff dedicated to saving lives from cancer by initiating and supporting programs of the American Cancer Society in college communities. The Honors College sponsors a team of students who volunteer each year.

• All service hours towards Relay for Life will count toward Rutgers-approved opportunities
• Students will receive 1 HC Serves Hour for participating in a Relay for Life Info Session
• All students who join Relay for Life (team of their choice) and raise the $15 minimum will receive 1 HC Serves hour
• Students can receive a maximum of 12 HC Serves hours for participating in Relay for Life-related activities, including fundraising and the event itself

Rutgers Alternative Breaks

The Rutgers University Alternative Winter Break and Spring Break programs provide groups of Rutgers University undergraduate students with a semester-long experience centered on community service. Participants learn about a particular community issue within the United States during five weeks of pre-trip meetings and a volunteer break excursion.

For more information, visit https://sca.rutgers.edu/alternative-breaks. 

Rutgers Service-Learning Abroad

The Center for Global Education’s Service Learning Abroad program allows students to travel abroad and engage with local community members in meaningful, community-driven service that is connected to the topics of the course through regular reflection sessions led by experienced Rutgers faculty. Strong community partnerships and intensive pre-departure preparation create conditions for intense cross-cultural learning while also seeking to engender respect and reciprocity between students and the communities that host them.

For more information, visit: global.rutgers.edu/study-abroad.

RUPA Community Service Events

Students can participate in the Rutgers University Programming Association (RUPA) community service events. RUPA community service events include Scarlet Day of Service, Winter Wishes, and more. Please note that Scarlet Day of Service will not be held during the Fall 2022 semester.

For more information, visit rupa.rutgers.edu.

Special Friends Day

An annual event held at the Cook/Douglass Recreation Center, Special Friends Day provides special needs youth ages 6 to 21 a day of fun with Rutgers University students. Each participant has two friends escorting him or her throughout the day. Activities include arts and crafts, games, food and beverages, access to the pool facility, and take-home items. Registration is limited to 100 participants.

For more information, visit community.rutgers.edu/programs-services/program-directory/special-friends-day.

Backpack Tutoring

Backpack Tutoring is a nonprofit organization based in Highland Park that seeks to complement and support the education of students through free, personalized tutoring and online resources. Honors College students will have the opportunity to provide tutoring services in a variety of subjects to students (K-12) via Zoom. Volunteers are asked to provide at least 1 hour of tutoring service per week. Click here to learn more.

Collaborative Center Programs: Rutgers Bonner Leaders and Civic Voices

Rutgers Bonner Leaders at Rutgers–New Brunswick are part of the national Bonner Foundation Network of college students who are committed to community service and social justice. At Rutgers, Bonner Leaders are involved in every major New Brunswick community event as they learn to serve within an orientation to social change.

CIVIC VOICES is a community-based audio project developed by George Street Playhouse and Rutgers Collaborative Center for Community Engagement. Designed to better understand the unique, diverse voices of communities throughout New Jersey, CIVIC VOICES encourages civic engagement by strengthening community discourse through theatre arts.

Learn more about getting involved with Collaborative Center Programs at nbdiversity.rutgers.edu/collaborative-center-programs.

College Avenue Community Church: Five Loaves Food Pantry

If interested, please connect with Reverend Shepler at douglas.shepler@gmail.com. 

College Avenue Community Church: SRC Thrift Shop

If interested, please connect with Reverend Shepler at douglas.shepler@gmail.com.

College Avenue Community Church: Two Fishes Student Brunch Program

Server volunteers for the Two Fishes Student Brunch Program are needed for Monday through Friday throughout the academic year. We serve from 11am through 2pm every day. High school age and older are elligible and courtesy and cleanliness are the only prerequisites to serving. Preparation volunteers are also needed one hour before and one hour after the serving hours. Sign up for volunteer hours here.

The Conversation Tree: Community Based Language Partnerships

Support local community organizations offering English as a Second Language (ESL) services by serving as a conversation partner or small-group facilitator in conjunction with taking a 3-credit Community-Based Language-Learning class offered through the Graduate School of Education. In the course, students will engage in service learning opportunity and participate in informal conversation practice with local members of the community who are looking for opportunities to practice English, Mandarin, Spanish and/or Arabic. Email Dr. Mary Curran at mary.curran@gse.rutgers.edu for more information and/or a special permission number.

Elijah’s Promise

Elijah’s Promise envisions a community where no one goes hungry for lack of food or funds, where a good meal is a nutritious meal, where our community learns to steward natural and financial resources wisely, and where we make opportunity available to those who seek it. They are currently looking for volunteers that can also be careful and mindful about being in a kitchen and dealing with food.

If interested, please sign up via https://elijahspromise.galaxydigital.com.

Future Scholars Mentoring Program

Rutgers Future Scholars Mentoring Program is dedicated to a student’s success and ultimate graduation by offering support through middle school years and admissions help and scholarship aid through high school. Apply to advise and mentor these academically promising first-generation middle and high school students in low-income New Brunswick and Piscataway schools.

For more information, visit futurescholars.rutgers.edu.

Greater Brunswick Charter School

The Greater Brunswick Charter School provides students with a high standard education that incorporates individual interests and learning styles, and nurtures intellectual, social, emotional, and physical well-being within a learning environment. The school is conveniently located at 429 Joyce Kilmer Avenue and is looking for volunteers during after-school hours. If interested in learning more about these volunteer opportunities, please connect with Lilia Fabila-Guilbot at lilia.fabila-guilbot@greaterbrunswick.org or (732)448-1052.

Interfaith Rise Refugee Resettlement Agency

Interfaith Rise is a Refugee Resettlement Agency located in Highland Park. Looking for volunteers to help at our donation center. Volunteers will be able to help us sort and put away new donations, pack household items for incoming families’ apartments, and assist in reorganizing existing donations. This is a great opportunity for individuals or groups! If interested, connect with Fida at fida@interfaithrise.org or Rachel at rachel@interfaithrise.org.

New Brunswick Free Public Library

The New Brunswick Free Public Library traces its roots back to the 1796 Union Library Company. The present library, incorporated in 1890, has been serving the community for over a century from its Carnegie building (completed in 1903) on Livingston Avenue. The library staff includes more than ten professional librarians, under the direction of a Board of Trustees. Library users can visit during open hours, telephone or email the library with questions, and/or utilize online resources from home. The library is an electronic doorway while still having a multitude of books, periodicals, and audio/video materials. In addition to online databases, the library has microfilms of New Brunswick newspapers including the Home News from 1783 until today. A digitization project has made many of these newspapers available online. An extensive New Brunswick collection includes maps, reproducible pictures, slides, and pamphlets from New Brunswick and the surrounding communities.

Learn more about volunteering opportunities with New Brunswick Free Public Library at nbfpl.org/about/volunteering.

New Brunswick English SDA Church Food Pantry

For more information, please connect with Jacques Noseal at jacques.noseal@nbsdac.com.

New Brunswick Tomorrow

For more than 40 years, New Brunswick Tomorrow has driven social revitalization for the city by taking on the issues that matter most to city residents and families Working side by side with committed partners, we focus on addressing some of the city’s most pressing issues by setting goals, turning goals into plans, and plans into action, ultimately helping residents improve their quality of life.

For more information, nbtomorrow.org or connect with us at livewellnb@gmail.com.

One Health Gardening at the Cook Organic Garden

Meet faculty from Rutgers and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, talk about One Health and environmental topics, learn about gardening and health, and ready the Cook Organic Garden for donation. Interested in volunteering? Sign up using this form or contact Catherine Chen at cmchen@rwjms.rutgers.edu.

The Petey Greene Program

Founded in 2008, the Petey Greene Program (PGP) supports the academic goals of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people through high-quality volunteer tutoring programs, while educating volunteers on the injustice manifest in our carceral system and encouraging them to engage in justice-oriented activism to reimagine the criminal legal system.

Learn more about volunteering with PGP at peteygreene.org/become-a-volunteer.

Radiant Church Pop-up Food Pantry

The Radiant Church in Piscataway is looking for volunteers for their new pop up food pantry.  Roles may require standing/walking for lon periods of time as well as some heavy lifting (10+ lbs).  If interested, please sign up here:  https://radiantchurchnj.com/pop-up-food-pantry/. For more information, connect with Lori at loric@radiantchurchnj.com.

River Road Rescue

We are always in search of responsible individuals who are committed to helping us serve the community.  We accept people from all walks of life and with various backgrounds of training.  Shifts available every day of the week. If interested, please reference our website for further information and application links at https://www.riverroadrescue.org/join-our-team.

RU Pilot Me

RU PILOT ME is a community service-based organization motivated to enrich the experiences of youth in the surrounding New Brunswick community. The program's one-on-one service is geared towards providing a safe and educational environment for the children and aiding their social/verbal development.

For more information, visit rutgers.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/pilotme.

Rutgers Pre-College Initiatives & College Success Community

Pre-Colleges Initiatives and College Success is looking for Rutgers students who can commit to mentor local youth during the day and after school.  For more information and to apply, go here:  https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a2T66BGKTLlwdka.

Rutgers Student Food Pantry

Students can participate in the Give Where You Live Committee's community service events. Give Where You Live community service events include New Brunswick Clean Up, Project Night Night, and more.

For more information, visit ruoffcampus.rutgers.edu/food.

Scarlet Paws Animal Welfare Network

Looking for volunteers who have compassion for animals and interest in helping the campus and community cat population in various ways from hands on to web design, outreach, social media, event attendance and planning.  Opportunities available weekdays/early evenings and weekends.  Scarlet Paws will match you with your area of interest.

If interested, please connect with MaryAnn Cancio at mcancio@comcast.net.

School of Arts and Sciences Honors Tutoring Program

Through the SASHP Tutoring Program, students in the SAS Honors Program and Honors College volunteer their time and knowledge to provide one-on-one tutoring for Rutgers students needing help in a wide range of academic subjects. Tutors choose the subjects and times in which they can offer assistance.

For questions about the Tutoring Program, please visit sashonors.rutgers.edu/student-life/leadership/tutoring-project.

Suydam Street Reformed Church Food Pantry

For more information, please connect with Merlin Mathew at merlinm@radiantchurchnj.com.

Unity Square Food Pantry

For more information, please connect with Mairelys Concepcion at mconcepcion@ccdom.org or (732)545-0329.