Volunteer Opportunities
Serve Your Community
Volunteering is one of the ways our students gain real-world experience working in nutrition and health fields. Many of our students gain valuable experience from these organizations focused on nutrition, health and food systems. Explore ongoing volunteer experiences below and find short-term opportunities in our weekly DHN Digest.
Finding Ways to Give Back
Girls on the Run
A nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. Coaches teach an experience-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running, at weekly practices. Running Buddies attend practices and run/walk with third through eighth graders at each lesson. This 10-week session begins in September and runs through November.
Samaritan's Touch
A student-run physical therapy clinic that works with an under-served population of patients, many of whom may not have access to other forms of healthcare, do not have insurance, and/or may speak little to no English. Students can volunteer, observe and learn about physical therapy practices in a unique setting.
Seedleaf
Seedleaf increases the amount, affordability, nutritional value and sustainability of food available to people at risk of hunger. Programs include composting, gardening, cooking and SEEDS (Service, Education and Entrepreneurship in Downtown).
The Lexington Nutrition Clinic at the Salvation Army
The Lexington Nutrition Clinic is held twice a month at the Salvation Army for under-served and homeless populations. Undergraduate dietetics student volunteers are needed to serve as interviewers and to shadow a registered dietitian or physician to learn about nutrition counseling. Learn about barriers this population faces and how nutritional plans are modified.
The Refuge Clinic
A nonprofit that provides a comprehensive primary medical care, oral surgery, physical therapy, diabetes education, nutrition counseling, gynecological care, psychiatric care, and counseling to both the uninsured and underinsured population in the community.
Community Action Council
Central Kentucky Community Action Council changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. CAC cares about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. For info about volunteering, contact Kendra OoNorasak.
Foodchain
FoodChain believes that all people deserve access to fresh, locally-sourced food. It is our mission to model a path towards a more connected and equitable food system. Through education and demonstration of sustainable food systems, Foodchain is forging links between the Lexington community and fresh food by providing real, innovative solutions to address food insecurity here in our community.
Glean KY
Glean Kentucky bridges the gap between programs working with food-insecure populations and sources of excess fresh fruits and vegetables. Every day, our volunteers pick up produce that can’t be sold but is otherwise perfectly edible and deliver it to one of over 100 partner recipient sites in the communities where they serve.
God's Pantry
Hunger can affect anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender, urban and rural dwellers alike. Together with more than 450 food pantries and meal programs, God’s Pantry Food Bank works to alleviate hunger in Central and Eastern Kentucky during this time of crisis. They offer multiple ways to get involved through volunteering such as food donation centers, intake and processing centers, and food recovery from local businesses.
Journi's Hope
Journi’s Hope wants all families, no matter where their stories originate, to succeed and achieve their full potential to share their gifts with the community. Their team knows that no matter the language, no matter the culture, and no matter the history, all families deserve equal access to resources to help them achieve their family dreams. Journi's Hope strives to uplift immigrant, refugee, and minority families with nourishment and love.
The Nathaniel Mission
The Nathaniel Mission seeks to transform the city of Lexington and the lives of our neighbors through investing ourselves in acts of generosity, service, support, and love. For over 75 years, The Nathaniel Mission has been a partner in the work of restoring dignity and honor to those marginalized and overlooked in urban Lexington.
Volunteer Match
Students can get involved with additional organizations by visiting their website and signing up for Volunteer Match.
