Opportunities From: Alachua County

We are looking for volunteers to help with our upcoming adoption event with Parks Motor Group of Gainesville. You can meet us at the event (3333 N Main Street Gainesville, FL 32609) to help set up and to walk dogs at 8:45am. The event lasts until 1pm but we understand if you can't stay the whole time. Your time is appreciated!

This opportunity is required for new volunteers. We will go over our policies, have a hands-on demonstration, and a tour of the building.

This opportunity is required for new volunteers. We will go over our policies, have a hands-on demonstration, and a tour of the building. If your session starts before 10:30am please contact the Site Supervisor to gain access through the main gate. 

Help the Alachua County Forever program document plant, animal, and fungi species on one of the county’s newest preserves. Experience with wildlife and plant identification, and use of the apps iNaturalist and eBird are helpful but not required. Participants will receive a brief iNaturalist tutorial and explore the preserve with Alachua County Environmental Specialists. Species recorded during the bioblitz will be included in the management plan for Tuscawilla Headwaters Preserve and iNaturalist observations will be included in the City Nature Challenge project for Alachua County.

Meet at 9AM at Barr Hammock Preserve South Trailhead at 300 SE 175th Ave Micanopy, FL 32667 and carpool to Tuscawilla Headwaters Preserve. Parking at Tuscawilla Headwaters Preserve is limited. The terrain is hilly and uneven. Please bring drinking water and wear shoes and clothing comfortable for off trail hiking. There are no restrooms on site.

Trail monitors are our eyes and ears within the preserves. They check our trail heads for brochures and clean up any branches or trash left behind. They walk the trails to report any needs (tree down, trimming/mowing needed, maintenance required on infrastructure).

We are seeking volunteers at least 55 years young to help special needs children in your community by providing them with the love, encouragement, support and assistance they need. Our Foster Grandparent Volunteers go into classrooms or child care centers during the school/center hours.

For more information on how to become a Foster Grandparent, please call (352) 264-6730.

Eligibility: 

Benefits:

Funded by the AmeriCorps Seniors and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.

Caring and compassionate people looking to make a difference in our community and in the lives of those hurt by sexual violence can volunteer with the Alachua County Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center.  Our program has two volunteer tracks to pursue - serve as a Helpline Counselor, answering our 24/7 rape crisis helpline, or a Community Ambassador, promoting awareness at community events.

Volunteer Helpline Counselors answer our program's 24/7 helpline, covering evening, weekend, and holiday shifts when our offices are closed.  Volunteers carry a County-issued cell phone and respond to victims and citizens in our community seeking crisis counseling and resources. Callers range from victims in crisis to friends and family members seeking information on how to support their loved one.

Potential helpline volunteers must successfully complete 40 hours of online and in-person training, comprised of roleplays, readings, and quizzes, under the supervision of program staff.  In-person training takes place at the program's offices at 218 SE 24th Street, Gainesville, FL.  Potential volunteers must complete a level 2 background check, which is paid for by the program, before beginning their service.

Upon graduating training, volunteers must commit to a minimum of 36 helpline shifts over the course of 9 months.

For more information on becoming a Helpline Counselor, contact Cassandra Moore at (352) 264-6767. 

Complete an online application: http://alachuacounty.us/depts/css/victimservices/pages/volunteerinfo.aspx

Every year Alachua County Veteran Services partners with community agencies to host a Memorial Day Event at the Evergreen Cemetery. This year's event will be held on May 25, 2026 and the program will start at 10am. Volunteer opportunities may include assisting with set up, take down and parking within the hours of 8am to 1pm. Even if this opportunity is not for you, feel free to attend to support the veteran community. 

See website for the volunteer application: http://alachuacounty.us/depts/css/victimservices/pages/volunteerinfo.aspx

Caring and compassionate people looking to make a difference in our community and in the lives of those hurt by sexual violence can volunteer with the Alachua County Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center.  Our program has two volunteer tracks to pursue - serve as a Helpline Counselor, answering our 24/7 rape crisis helpline, or a Community Ambassador, promoting awareness at community events.

​Volunteer Community Ambassadors assist program outreach staff by representing our agency at local outreach events, explaining program services to community leaders, and generally promoting awareness about sexual violence and local resources.  Additionally, volunteers help organize and prepare for events and assist staff with performing general office duties as needed.

Ambassadors must complete a short in-house training, which takes place at our program's offices located at 218 SE 24th Street, Gainesville, FL.  Potential volunteers must complete a level 2 background check, which is paid for by the program, before beginning their service.

Upon completing their training, Community Ambassadors are expected to participate in 2 hours of outreach work each week.

For more information on becoming a Community Ambassador, contact Bethan O'Connor at boconnor@alachuacounty.us.

Please join us as we Celebrate Earth Day

A picture is worth a thousand words! Motivate the community to protect our environment by capturing inspiring images of our local wetlands, lakes, springs, wildlife, and other natural resources. Document county events, and help us expand our messaging with your images in county communications and marketing campaigns.

The Alachua County Solid Waste & Resource Recovery Department, in collaboration with the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, invites residents to participate in the Community Reuse & Recycle Day on Saturday April 18, 2026 from 9 AM to Noon. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this free one stop Spring clean out, donation and HazWaste Recycling Event.

Non-profit organizations will be onsite to receive the following items:

No appointment is necessary. The event will be held from 9 am to 12 noon at the Santa Fe College NW Campus, Parking Lot 10 on North Road, directly in front of the Zoo entrance. Signs and volunteers will be on site, to direct cars in a one-way traffic pattern through the lot, allowing for safe and efficient offloading of donations and HazWaste materials.

Santa Fe College (SFC) Saints Share Wear, Haven Attic Resale Store, Tools for Schools, SFC Saints Food Share and Alachua County Household Hazardous Waste, will all be on hand to help unload and accept items at this convenient drive-thru event. In honor of Earth Day and in conjunction with the Zoo’s Party for the Planet, donors will receive a discount voucher for Zoo Admission while supplies last!

The Zoo will have special events, food trucks and informational tabling. “The Community Reuse & Recycle Day at Santa Fe, gives residents the opportunity to take action locally, to help their neighbors, protect valuable resources, encourage reuse, and reduce what we send to the landfill.”, says Alanna Carinio, Alachua County Office of Waste Alternatives Public Education Program Coordinator.

For more information, contact the Alachua County Office of Waste Alternatives at 352-338-3233.

*Please be advised: Collection space for Hazardous Waste will be limited at this event, first come first served until the County trailer is full at which point we will direct guests to our Rural Collection Centers and Main facility for free drop off. Residential household hazardous waste is accepted year round in Alachua County, at free drop off locations found here: Alachua County Hazardous Waste

Santa Fe College Saints Share Wear

Any gently-used clothing, shoes, and accessories. All ages and sizes.

Please note that for safety reasons they cannot accept the following: underwear or swimsuits that have been worn (no tags), safety equipment such as helmets, knee pads, goggles, anything stained, soiled, moldy, or mildewed.

Haven Attic Resale Store

All donations of clothing, electronics/small appliances, holiday decor, housewares/home decor, furniture, books, and artwork.

Tools for Schools

New and gently used school, office and art supplies. Facial tissue and unexpired hand sanitizer.

Santa Fe College Saints Food Share

Any food that is non-perishable/shelf stable, unopened, and unexpired. They also have a diaper bank and a small assortment of unopened personal care and household items, so they can accept those as well.

Alachua County Household Hazardous Waste

Time to clean out the garage! Don’t send harmful household hazardous waste to the landfill, bring it to the Community Reuse & Recycle Day at Santa Fe College. Staff will be on site to safely unload your items.

BRING THESE ITEMS:
Paints & Paint Thinners
Aerosol Cans
Oil Filters & Automotive Fluids (oil, gasoline, brake fluid, radiator fluid, etc.)
Computers, TVs & Electronics (small appliances such as microwaves are okay)
Solvents, Corrosives, Pool Chemicals & Household cleaners
Fertilizers, Insecticides, Herbicides, Pesticides & Poisons
Batteries (all types: car, rechargeable, alkaline, button)
Fluorescent Lamps, CFL Light Bulbs & Christmas Lights
Sharps (syringes, needles, lancets, etc.)
Pharmaceuticals (pills, medicines) & OTC Meds
Roof Tar and Driveway Sealer
Used Cooking Oil, Propane tanks, and Thermostats

DO NOT BRING:
A/C Units & Large Appliances
Tires, Construction Debris, Pallets, Pressure Treated Wood
Recyclables, Scrap Metal, Yard Waste or Household Garbage

The Alachua County Solid Waste & Resource Recovery Department provides FREE household hazardous waste disposal to help prevent accidental exposure to individuals or our environment when toxic materials are improperly discarded. Materials collected at this event will be recycled, neutralized, or sent to a hazardous waste incinerator for proper disposal. For more information on accepted items, visit AlachuaCountyHazWaste.us or call 352-334-0440.

We need volunteers at this event to help unload vehicles, sort items and assist our non-profits with loading their trucks. Please contact our office asap to register to volunteer for one or both of these events. We welcome groups and individuals. We are happy to sign student volunteer hours forms. Must be able to safely lift, bend and carry items (buddy system for heavy items), and follow verbal directions. Contact us through the webform below or call Alanna Carinio, Public Education Program Coordinator at 352-548-1278 with questions.

For those that prefer the cuddly kitties, we have a chance for you to help staff clean our adoptable cats. We will provide training and and support until you feel comfortable to do it yourself. You're welcome to provide enrichment while you clean and play with them once the cleaning is done. This is will be highly appreciated and needed during kitten season (March-November). Cleaning times will be Tuesday - Saturday from 8am-10am. We want our kitties looking and feeling their best before our adopters come in!

Have you ever been curious about what goes into a foster program? This is a great way to learn! You can aid the Foster Program Coordinator with prepping supplies, gathering pictures and information for foster pleas, and helping with sending animals into their new temporary home. 

This opportunity will give you a chance to run dogs to and from play group. Don't worry you get to watch them play too! This is a big assistance to staff as they try to get as many dogs into play groups as possible. There will be a short training session in the beginning and then we will start the fun! 

Requirements

- Long pants and close-toed shoes

This opportunity focuses on walking and rotating dogs either through our play yard or on the walking trail. This shift is in the mornings from 8am-10am. 

Requirements

- Long pants and close-toed shoes

Highly Recommend 

- Water bottle

- Treat pouch (we can provide treats)

- Poop bags (we can provide dependent on supply)

This opportunity focuses on walking and rotating dogs either through our play yard or on the walking trail. This shift is in the afternoons from 3:00pm - 5:00pm.

Requirements

- Long pants and close-toed shoes

Highly Recommend 

- Water bottle

- Treat pouch (we can provide treats)

- Poop bags (we can provide dependent on supply)

At ACAR, we strive to get our dogs as much time outside of the shelter as possible to give them a break from the stress of the kennels and to get better behavior notes to get a more accurate depiction of who the dog is outside of this environment. We welcome our volunteers to take a dog on an offsite adventure to any dog-friendly location of their choosing (with the exception of off-leash dog parks). This includes nature trails, stores, restaurants, even your house! If you want to keep the adventure going, our volunteers can also take the dog home for a doggy sleepover and return the next day. All supplies will be provided. 

Requirements:

How to participate:

Welcome back! This is for veteran volunteers that are dusting off the ole dog walking shoes or are ready for some kitty snuggles. We'd love to update you on anything new and exciting going on with the volunteer program. If none of the available dates/times are suitable, please email acaroutreach@alachuacounty.us to schedule an individual time and date. We are thrilled to have you back at the shelter to help out our furry friends. 

*This is not for new volunteers. New volunteers please sign up for a Training Session for a full orientation*

The Alachua County Crisis Center offers 24/7 crisis and suicide intervention services to all residents of Alachua County. These services include 24/7 crisis phone counseling and mobile response care teams, as well as emergency walk-in services and ongoing counseling during regular business hours. Additionally, the Crisis Center provides support during community trauma responses and community education and outreach.

The Alachua County Crisis Center is accepting applicants for Volunteer Crisis Line Counselors. The training includes 80 hours of in-depth training in active listening, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention. Training is held over Zoom and starts with an initial Saturday followed by Tuesday and Thursday evenings for eight weeks.

The Saving My Alachua annual environmental art contest is open to all K-12 students enrolled in public, private, or home schools in Alachua County. The contest is a great way for kids to learn more about their local environment while showing off their artistic talents.

Volunteers are crucial to the success of this popular program! Our volunteers can assist with a variety of tasks including curating artwork, organizing the awards ceremony, and drafting content for the calendar. Dates and times are flexible (with the exception of the Awards Ceremony, which takes place near Earth Day). We can use help during our work hours 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

Inspire wonder and capture the magic of our natural resources with youth and adults in our educational programs! Volunteers will work with schools, community centers, and camps to inspire the next generation of scientists and environmental advocates. Programs focus on pollution prevention, water conservation, and springs protection.

Help us reach the community at fun and interactive events! Volunteers will represent the Environmental Protection Department, tabling to connect with residents and promote educational campaigns. Availability on weekends is crucial to reach our community.

Help us care for rain gardens at public elementary and middle schools! This may include working alongside enthusiastic students!

Duties Include: 

Work with us to protect our community's precious water resources! Volunteer activities may include: