Volunteer & Leadership Opportunities
Hub for student-centered volunteering & leadership development
Volunteer Now! / Service To Go Boxes
— Flexible projects for individuals, RSOs, departments—just grab a box, complete tasks
(e.g., assembling care kits, writing letters)—fits 15 min to 1 hr time slots .
Local Agency Placements
Ongoing volunteer roles across Coles County in sectors like animal care, elderly support,
health services, advocacy/crisis response, nature/historic preservation, developmental
disabilities, youth mentoring, and food insecurity/alleviation.
PLAY After‑School Program
Weekly, small group homework help and socio-emotional mentoring at local elementary
schools (e.g., Salvation Army, Ashmore, Carl Sandburg, Jefferson)
Panther Service Day
Annual one-day blitz where 200+ Panthers volunteer on campus & off-site (e.g., Ashmore
Community, Douglas Hart Nature Center, Hazel Anne Farms). Projects include landscaping,
painting, pantry support, trail restoration, and more.
Jumpstart (August move‑in): freshmen/transfer groups volunteer across ~22 local service projects.
Panthers & Families in Action (Fall Family Weekend): service projects for students and families.
Hunger Action Month (November): month-long awareness, food drives and fundraising to tackle local poverty.
MLK Day of Service (January): day of community action in Dr. King’s spirit.
Summer Student‑Staff Opportunity (June 7–Aug 5)
Paid student staff position assisting with Summer Meals (Mon–Thu mornings) and managing
Thursday evening hours at the Charleston Food Pantry
Youth Mentoring Roles
– Youth Mentoring via agencies like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Amigos & Friends, Mattoon YMCA, Charleston
Parks & Rec—roles include coaching youth sports, teen programming, events, and office
support
How to Get Involved
Visit the Office of Leadership & Engagement
– MLK Jr. Union, 3rd floor or email volunteer@eiu.edu / call 217‑581‑3967 .
Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form to find matches to your passions
Request a Service‑to‑Go Box for group/small-scale volunteering
Apply for Summer Staff role before the Spring deadline (~April) ahead of the program starting June 7
Leadership Skills You’ll Develop
- Project planning & execution
- Time management & communication
- Civic responsibility & ethical decision‑making
- Fundraising, event coordination, public speaking
- Mentorship & community engagement