Community Engagement Opportunities

A national nonprofit, Breakthrough Collaborative is devoted to preparing high-achieving middle-school students, most of whom are of color and from low-income families, to enter and succeed in college-preparatory high school programs and college. Breakthrough students develop as highly motivated academic achievers who believe passionately in their ability to go to college. Breakthrough also recruits and trains outstanding high school and college students to become Breakthrough teaching fellows in a one-of-a-kind pre-professional teaching residency program. Breakthrough’s pre-professional teaching residency is highly selective and it has been ranked by the Princeton Review as a top 10 internship along with the White House, Google and MTV.

We are looking for students to serve as summer teaching fellows for our summer program. As a Breakthrough teaching fellow, you will receive extensive training, continuous support and the opportunity to lead a classroom while contributing to a dynamic, diverse community. You will practice persistence, creativity, and flexibility in collaboration with others. The Breakthrough teaching residency is one of the most rigorous and rewarding teaching experiences available to undergraduates in the US. Whether you have always dreamed of being in the classroom or are considering it for the first time, teaching at Breakthrough will help prepare you for a career in education while building skills that are transferable to any profession.

Brighter Bites is a non-profit that brings fresh produce and nutrition education to 20 under-resourced elementary schools in the Dallas area. On average about 200 families participate in our program at each school, receiving 20-25 lb per family/ per week.

General Service Needs
The produce, about 4000 lbs at each site, comes to the schools on pallets and needs to make its way into brown paper bags for each family to come pick up. That's where you come in! We need help packing these bags up for the families. We have volunteer opportunities Tuesday-Friday during the school year and Tuesday-Thursday during the summer.

We would love you to come volunteer at one of our baggings, where you will bag up fresh produce for under-resourced families.

Brighter Tomorrows provides safe shelter and services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Needs include: consistent volunteers to help at our administrative & counseling offices, thrift stores, and emergency shelters. Volunteers benefit from training sessions offered to staff/volunteers and from hands-on learning.

Tasks Available for UTS Students
Child care, office admin. work

Brother Bill's Helping Hand ministers to the Dallas community by ensuring the essentials of life, empowering through learning, and enriching relationships through faith, family, fitness, and finance.

General Service Needs
 • Grocery Store: Assist at any pantry location.
 • Garden: Help maintain the garden
 • Homework Help: Assist children with their homework.

 
Tasks Available for UTA Students:
• Grocery Store Support: Break down pallets, Restock shelves, and Bag produce for distribution.
• Assist neighbors with grocery selection and navigation.
• Help neighbors bag grocers and carry them to their vehicles.

Summary of what your organization does
Camp Fire invests in North Texas communities by providing out-of-school time and outdoor learning programs for children and youth while also offering workforce development programs for early childhood educators.
We envision a community in which every child has equitable access to the learning opportunities they need to succeed and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

General Service Needs
Work with the after-school programs students and help them thrive
Volunteer with our outdoor programs and help youth explore and discover nature
Work with our Early Education Apprenticeship Program to help prepare the next generation of early childhood educators

What tasks are available for UT Arlington students to help with?
- Career Speakers for our Teens in Action Program
- Additional assistance for Camp Fire Events
- Special Event assistance (event setup and tear down)
- Chaperone a field trip (working with children requires background check)
- Assist with Office Work
- Assist with a camp project
- Serve as a backup photographer
- Provide professional development on computer programs

Camp Summit is a year-round facility, offering one-week sessions in the summer and weekend sessions in the spring and fall, for children, youth, and adults who are physically challenged, developmentally delayed, or dual sensory impaired or who have multiple disabilities. Campers are encouraged to try new experiences in order to gain self-confidence, learn cooperation and communication, and increase personal independence in a safe and fun environment. The focus of the camp is on individual growth through accomplishing a variety of goals at levels specific to each individual’s needs, capabilities, and potential. Volunteer training is required.

Cancer Care Services is a non-profit organization that provides financial, emotional and social assistance to cancer patients and their families. Provides counseling, support groups, and case management for cancer patients. Volunteers needed for office work, client contact and to coordinate special events. Additional volunteer opportunities include Caring Companion, Special Event Assistant, Office Assistant, Phone Buddy, Speaker’s Bureau, Fundraising Assistant, and Mentors. Volunteer training required. We also offer quarterly orientations.

Cards For Cubs is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to give hope to kids in foster care and bring awareness to the foster care system. Every year we host an event that EVERYONE can participate in. We work with foster care agencies across the United States to help distribute your cards to kids that feel forgotten by the world. Let’s tell them that they are loved and cherished!

General Service Needs
Operations, marketing, business management, communications, research, statistics, social media, web development, and many more services.

Tasks Available for UTA Students
Tasks include but not limited to; 
Brand development, business strategies, event planning, web design, research, statistics, volunteer coordination, social media projects, and research projects.

CASA of Tarrant County (Child Advocates) provides trained, court-appointed volunteers to serve as court advocates for children in child abuse and neglect cases who have been placed in foster care. Volunteers will serve as independent voices in court on behalf of abused and neglected children’s best interests and in pursuit of safe, permanent homes. The volunteer will work with all parties involved in the assigned case and visit the child regularly. Volunteer training required (36 hours). A one year commitment is needed due to nature of each case.