About Our Community Partners
Community Partners: Service and Site Time Information
Terps for Change’s community partners focus on a range of social justice issues that impact UMD and the surrounding populations. Some partners have been working with Terps for Change volunteers for years, while others are just beginning their relationships with our program. Terps for Change volunteers are required to commit to doing 2-3 hours of service per week with their selected community partner from about the 3rd week of classes until the last week of classes. Below, you will find more specific information about each of our community partners organized by the primary social issue they address, including the weekly days and times that we will be working with them, and any additional requirements or guidelines for service. Please note that all sites will be taking place in person. Site days and times are subject to change until the semester starts.
Age & Ageism
Sites that address problems resulting from systemic societal prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of age.
Social Issue Intersections
Ability, Socioeconomic Inequity
What our partner does
Seabury Resources for the Aging's mission is to provide personalized, affordable services and housing options to help older adults in Washington, DC to live with independence and dignity. Their Age-in-Place program allows for their clients to continue living in their lifelong homes and apartments by providing volunteers to help with basic upkeep and maintenance that they cannot do themselves.
Find out more at: https://www.seaburyresources.org/
What volunteers will do
Volunteers will work in groups at the residences of elderly and aging community members. The service itself might include house cleanup, yard work, and other upkeep tasks! Volunteers should dress in clothes that they do not mind getting dirty, wear closed-toed shoes, and keep in mind that the sites may contain allergens (pets, dust, pollen, etc.). Volunteers should dress in layers for the weather and bring a reusable water bottle.
Fall 2024 Weekly Site Visit Days and Times
Fridays | 1:00-4:30 PM | In-person
**This includes travel time.
Transportation
Transportation is provided by Terps for Change from campus to the site.
Location:
Seabury Resources for the Aging, Age-in-Place Program
2501 18th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20018
COVID-19 Protocols
Volunteers must abide by UMD COVID-19 protocols at all times. Do not volunteer if you are feeling ill, as the seniors are often at higher risk of illness.
Other Guidelines
Liability form required.
Education
Sites that provide access to education outside the traditional classroom in order to respond to the systemic inequitable distribution of academic resources, particularly in communities that are historically and currently oppressed and underserved.
What our partner does
CASA de Maryland is an after-school youth leadership development program. The program provides a supportive environment where students from local PGCPS high schools can gain the confidence, skills, and knowledge they need to graduate and achieve their post-secondary dreams. The model aims to recognize the strengths of each individual as well as the collective power of group problem-solving and community organizing.
Find out more at: https://www.wearecasa.org/
What volunteers will do
Volunteers are needed to assist students with completing their homework and help with ongoing personal enrichment projects. Volunteers will get the opportunity to work closely with youth to develop meaningful relationships.
Fall 2024 Weekly Site Visit Days and Times
Tuesdays | 3:00-5:30 PM | In-person
Transportation
Transportation is provided by Terps for Change from campus to the site.
Location:
International High School
5150 Annapolis Rd
Bladensburg, MD 20710
COVID-19 Protocols
Volunteers must abide by UMD COVID-19 protocols at all times.
Other Guidelines
Liability form and CASA new volunteer form required.
What our partner does
Established in 1974, by the City of Greenbelt, Greenbelt CARES is a community based, family oriented counseling program dedicated to promoting responsible behavior and appropriate family management skills. The Vocational / Educational Counselor offers GED preparatory classes, an individual and group tutoring program to assist students in school, and an ODD JOBS/JOB BANK program, to help people with the world of work and help citizens with odd jobs around the community. There is also an Adult ESOL program to help those with low English proficiency. Greenbelt CARES provides an ESOL/conversational English class targeted towards adult learners living in the Springhill Lake/Franklin Park community who are interested in learning English. Participants come from a variety of countries including: El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Cameroon, Iraq, Iran and Taiwan.
Find out more at: https://www.greenbeltmd.gov/government/departments/greenbelt-cares
What volunteers will do
Students meet one-on-one with community members to tutor and reach any other goals they have set for themselves. Community members will either be from the GED program or the after-school tutoring program. Curricula and education plans are established by the full-time staff who will be there to supervise and help out.
Fall 2024 Weekly Site Visit Days and Times
Tuesdays | 3:15PM - 5:45PM | In-person
Transportation
Transportation is provided by Terps for Change from campus to the site.
Location
6101 Cherrywood Lane, Greenbelt, MD 20770
COVID-19 Protocols
Volunteers must abide by UMD COVID-19 protocols at all times.
Other Guidelines
Liability form and background check are required.
What our partner does
The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System has 18 libraries across Prince George’s County. Kids Achieve Club is housed under Intercultural Services, a department developing partnerships that serve the needs of the people who want to learn English or other languages. Kids Achieve Club is an online library program that offers first and second graders help with reading and homework. The model aims to recognize the strengths of each individual as well as the collective power of group problem solving and community organizing.
Find out more at: https://www.pgcmls.info/kidsachieve
What volunteers will do
Volunteers are needed to assist students with completing their homework and help with ongoing personal enrichment projects. Volunteers will get the opportunity to work closely with youth to develop a meaningful relationship.
Fall 2024 Weekly Site Visit Days and Times
Thursdays | 3:45-5:15 PM | In-person (New Carrollton)
Thursdays | 3:15-5:45 PM | In-person (Glenarden)
Transportation
Transportation is provided by Terps for Change from campus to the site.
Location
(PGCMLS New Carrollton Branch)
7414 Riverdale Rd, New Carrollton, MD 20784
(PGCMLS Glenarden Branch)
8724 Glenarden Pkwy, Glenarden, MD 20706
COVID-19 Protocols
Volunteers must abide by UMD COVID-19 protocols at all times.
Other Guidelines
Liability form, background check, and pre-service orientation required.
Environmental Conservation
Sites that work to protect natural resources for current and future generations.
Social Issue Intersections
Food Justice & Hunger
What our partner does
All 13,000 of the University of Maryland’s acres are managed by the Arboretum & Botanical Garden. An arboretum is a collection of trees and plants maintained for scientific and educational study and public enjoyment. Conservation, preservation, and education are at the heart of the Arboretum & Botanical Garden’s mission. On campus there are several gardens that include native plant species.
Find out more at: https://arboretum.umd.edu/
What volunteers will do
Volunteers will be working around campus to help maintain the gardens and landscaping of campus, while learning about conservation, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. Volunteers will be working alongside the campus arborists to plant native trees and shrubs on the perimeter of campus as part of a reforestation effort.
Fall 2024 Weekly Site Visit Days and Times
Saturdays (Reiley Garden (possible location changes) | 9:30 AM-11:00 AM | In-person
**This includes travel time.
Transportation
This site is on campus. Students who live off campus must arrange their own transportation to the site. Travel time above is allotted for students who are on campus to walk to the site.
COVID-19 Protocols
Volunteers must abide by UMD COVID-19 protocols at all times.
Other Guidelines
Liability form required.
What our partner does
David C. Driskell Community Park (formerly Magruder Park) is Hyattsville's major park facility and a favorite among the community! At 32 acres, the park is a remarkable hidden gem of green space. Unfortunately, Driskell Park is overrun with invasive species of plants. These invasive species have no local predators and tend to overrun native plants, disrupting the ecosystem and causing problems for both animals in the area and people in the community.
What volunteers will do
Volunteers will work with Hyattsville city park staff to identify and remove these invasive plants and pick up trash around the park. The staff members also make it a point to take time to appreciate the park and educate volunteers about environmental issues and conservation efforts, making the site an excellent learning experience!
Fall 2024 Weekly Site Visit Days and Times
Saturdays | 9:30 AM-12:30 PM | In-person
**This includes travel time.
Transportation
Transportation is provided by Terps for Change from campus to the site.
Location:
David C. Driskell Community Park
3911 Hamilton St., Hyattsville, MD 20781
COVID-19 Protocols
Volunteers must abide by UMD COVID-19 protocols at all times.
Other Guidelines
Liability form required.
Food Justice & Hunger
Sites that provide food resources to communities impacted by structural barriers to the human right of access to healthy food.
Social Issue Intersections
Environmental Conservation
What our partner does
TerpFarm is the University of Maryland's very own sustainable vegetable farm. Established in 2014 with funding from the Student Sustainability Grant Fund, TerpFarm is managed by the Department of Dining Services and produces fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to be served to diners on the College Park campus. Food produced on the farm is also donated on a weekly basis to the Campus Pantry program, aimed at improving food security within our campus community.
Find out more at: https://dining.umd.edu/terp-farm
What volunteers will do
This opportunity will consist of outdoor work at the Terp Farm location. Volunteers will be working on propagation (seeding plant trays, creating soil mixes) and other various duties.
Fall 2024 Weekly Site Visit Days and Times
Terp Farm | Saturdays | 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM | In-Person
**This includes transportation time.
Transportation
Transportation is provided by Terps for Change from campus to the site.
Location:
TerpFarm
2005 Largo Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
COVID-19 Protocols
Volunteers must abide by UMD COVID-19 protocols at all times.
Other Guidelines
Liability form required.
What our partner does
The Campus Pantry is the University of Maryland’s official emergency food service available to students and staff. Established in 2014, the Campus Pantry is managed by the Department of Dining Services and is housed at the University Health Center. The Pantry provides nonperishable foods and fresh produce donated from the UMD Terp Farm and Capital Area Food Bank, free of cost for UMD affiliates. The mission and vision is to alleviate food insecurity among students and staff in need.
Find out more at: http://campuspantry.umd.edu/
What volunteers will do
Volunteers for the pantry will assist the Campus Pantry Interns in donation pickups, organizing and stocking the shelves, developing marketing and awareness campaigns of the pantry, and possibly conducting food drives.
Fall 2024 Weekly Site Visit Days and Times
UMD Campus Pantry | Tuesdays | 9:00AM - 11:30 AM
UMD Campus Pantry | Tuesdays | 3:30-5:00 PM.
UMD Campus Pantry | Wednesdays market support | 10:30- 12:30 PM
UMD Campus Pantry | Wednesdays market support | 11:30-1:30 PM
UMD Campus Pantry |Wednesdays market support | 1:00-3:30 PM
UMD Campus Pantry| Thursdays | 9:00-11:30 AM
UMD Campus Pantry | Thursdays| 3:00-5:00PM
Transportation
This site is on campus. Students who live off campus must arrange their own transportation to the site.
COVID-19 Protocols
Volunteers must abide by UMD COVID-19 protocols at all times.
Other Guidelines
Liability form required.
Socioeconomic Inequity
Sites that provide access to resources that some lack due to the systemic inequitable distribution of wealth in our society.
What our partner does
A Wider Circle has the mission to end poverty, and they do not say no to anyone! AWC provides education and job preparedness, long-term support programs, and basic provision items.. Anyone in need can find help in the form of home furnishings, appropriate outfits for work, toys and games for kids, and much more, all at no cost to the clients.
Find out more at: https://awidercircle.org/
What volunteers will do
Volunteers will be part of A Wider Circle's Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, which furnishes the homes of about 20 families each day. Service includes helping to sort donations and prepare bundles of items for clients to take home.
Fall 2024 Weekly Site Visit Days and Times
A Wider Circle |Tuesdays| 2:30PM - 5:30PM | In-Person
**This includes transportation time.
Transportation
Transportation is provided by Terps for Change from campus to the site.
Location:
A Wider Circle, Center for Community Service
9159 Brookville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Partner’s COVID-19 Protocols
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for this site. Volunteers must show either their vaccine card or a photo/copy of their vaccine card upon the first site visit. Volunteers will be socially distant and wear a mask at all times while participating in service.
Other Partner Guidelines
Liability form required. Orientation will be completed in the first week of service.
