AWARE (Always Wanted A Riding Experience) Inc. provides therapeutic horseback riding and sports riding for children and adults with special needs. Organizers say the experience is incredibly rewarding for the organization's riders and volunteers. 1708 Centerpoint Road, San Marcos 512-754-6773 www.awaresmtx.org Bobcat Build was started 13 years ago as a way for Texas State University students to thank the San Marcos community. About 4,000 students are expected to attend the 13th annual Bobcat Build on March 28, comprising more than 200 job sites and various community service projects. 601 University Drive, LBJ Student Center 4–7.1, San Marcos 512-245-4245 www.bobcatbuild.txstate.edu Twitter: @bobcatbuild Volunteer opportunities abound for individuals of all ages and walks of life at Central Texas Medical Center. From the auxiliary to hospice to junior volunteers, internships and residencies, volunteerism extends CTMC's healing ministry. 1301 Wonder World Drive, San Marcos 512-753-3685 (general), 512-754-6159 (hospice) www.ctmc.org Twitter: @ctmc_sanmarcos Chrysalis Art Foundation is a nonprofit serving Central Texas. Its mission is helping emerging artists with success mentoring and show and sale opportunities. Volunteer opportunities include event planning, social media management and community art projects. 1645-D Main St., PMB 16, Buda 512-557-8880 www.chrysalisartfoundation.org Twitter: @chrysalisart1 Circle of Living Hope is a Child Placing Agency licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. It recruits, trains and verifies foster families to provide family-based therapeutic care to abused and neglected children from birth to 21 years of age. Volunteer opportunities include assisting with office duties and providing child care. 1216 Estival Drive, Kyle 512-216-9615 www.colh.org Twitter: @colh_inc The Commemorative Air Force–Central Texas Wing restores and operates vintage aircraft to tell the story of sacrifices made to secure our freedom. Volunteer opportunities include working at the organization's library, museum or gift shop as well as planning and producing various events. San Marcos Airport 1841 Airport Drive, San Marcos 512-396-1943 www.cafcentex.com Daughters of the Republic of Texas is a statewide nonprofit organization whose members descend from those living in Texas prior to 1846. The local Moon-McGehee Chapter promotes historic preservation and education. 512-353-8734 www.sanmarcosdrt.org Dick's Classic Garage is a nonprofit automotive museum dedicated to the preservation and display of the American automobile. The organization, which possesses some of the rarest cars in the world, seeks volunteers who can help guide tours and work events. 120 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos 512-878-2406 www.dicksclassicgarage.com Twitter: @dickscarmuseum Hands of Hope is an adult educational program targeting under-educated and disadvantaged women, teaching them life and employment skills to move them toward self-sufficiency. Ten week sessions provide a broad curriculum of life skills and pre-job training in a context in which volunteer women help women. The program is free and transportation and childcare are provided. 325 W. McCarty Lane, San Marcos 512-618-0723 www.handsofhopesanmarcos.org Hays–Caldwell Women's Center welcomes compassionate, caring men and women who want to make a difference for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Trained volunteers respond to hospital calls, answer the hotline, provide childcare and help with special events. P.O. Box 234, San Marcos 512-396-3404 www.hcwc.org Twitter: @hcwcenter The Hays Communities Family YMCA is dedicated to building programs for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Volunteer opportunities include coaching and officiating youth sports, planning and executing programs and events and leading the organization through board service. 465 Buda Sportsplex Drive, Buda 512-523-0099 www.austinymca.org Twitter: @ymcaaustinhays Hays County 4-H focuses on the development of head, heart, hands and health to help youth reach their fullest potential. Hays County 4-H includes nine 4-H clubs and a variety of school and community programs. Volunteers serve as project leaders, activity coordinators and judges. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Hays County 1253 Civic Center Loop, San Marcos 512-393-2120 https://hays4-h.blogspot.com Established in 1984, the Hays County Food Bank is a nonprofit organization committed to providing food to underprivileged families and individuals in the greater Hays County area. Volunteer opportunities are needed to help with driving, gardening and farming, warehouse and distribution operations, front office and client services, special projects and events. 220 Herndon St., San Marcos 512-392-8300 www.haysfoodbank.org Twitter: @haysfoodbank Keep San Marcos Beautiful strives to educate and engage San Marcos residents and visitors to take responsibility for improving the community environment. The organization focuses on litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification. Volunteer programs include adopt-a-spot, community beautification events and educational outreach. 630 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos 512-393-8407 www.sanmarcostx.gov The Hays County Emergency Services District No. 5, also known as the Kyle Fire Department, is made up of volunteers and paid firefighters. The department responds to more than 2,800 emergency response calls per year. The KFD Volunteer Program conducts a Volunteer Academy at least twice per year and has volunteer training on the first and third Monday evenings and the third Saturday morning of each month. 210 W. Moore St., Kyle 512-268-3131 www.kylefire.com Twitter: @kylefd PALS relies on foster volunteers to save kittens and nursing mother cats. Foster assignments are 4–8 weeks in length, and the organization provides foster volunteers with supplies and instructions. Fosters provide space, time and attention to the animals. P.O. Box 401, San Marcos 512-923-6785 www.preventalitter.com Twitter: @palscentx PAWS Shelter of Central Texas is a nonprofit organization providing care and love to homeless, abandoned and abused animals in Kyle. The organization relies on the assistance of caring and hard-working volunteers in all of its programs. 500 E. FM 150, Kyle 512-268-1611 www.pawsshelter.org Twitter: @pawsshelter San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance is creating an interconnected system of parks and natural areas in and around San Marcos. The organization needs volunteer help with trail work, restoration and natural area monitoring. Outreach efforts include social media support, hikes and administrative activities as well as working with community leaders and landowners. 107 E. Hopkins St., Ste. 123 A, San Marcos 512-392-7457 www.smgreenbelt.org The San Marcos River Foundation protects public access and preserves the flow, purity and natural beauty of the San Marcos River, its watershed and estuaries, with the help of volunteers. Volunteers help clean up riverbanks, plant native plants, remove invasives and do other tasks to assist SMRF at events and meetings. 222 W. San Antonio St., San Marcos 512-787-6392 www.sanmarcosriver.org School Fuel provide lunches to 411 children at three San Marcos CISD elementary schools including Mendez, Bowie and DeZavala. Secretary Nancy Smith said the program is currently most in need of volunteers to pack lunches. A volunteer with a pick-up truck is also being sought to help deliver meals to the schools each Friday. 102 Wonder World Drive, Ste. 304–120 512-557-7740 www.schoolfuelsanmarcos.org or https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4ca9ac23a1f85-thursday Southside Community Center has been helping Hays County's impoverished since 1927. The organization provides a family homeless shelter and after-school programs for youth and assists those living in poverty with rent and bill payments, housing rehabilitation and more. Volunteers help serve and prepare meals, among other duties. 518 S. Guadalupe St., San Marcos 512-392-6694 www.southsidecommunitycenter.org United Way of Hays County, together with community partners, advances the common good by investing in and developing programs that address Hays County's critical needs in education, income stability and health. Each year, UWHC and 30 partner programs serve more than 50,000 county residents. Volunteers are needed to tutor children in grades 1–3 for 1-hour per week for a minimum of 10 weeks. P.O. Box 1728, San Marcos 512-353-1420 www.unitedwayhaysco.org Twitter: @uwhaysco This guide is not a comprehensive list of all area organizations that need volunteers. If your organization is not included, email us at [email protected], and we will add it to our online list. For more San Marcos, Buda or Kyle volunteer opportunities visit: impactnews.com/volunteerguide