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Psychology Department

MTSU Department of Psychology

Volunteer Opportunities

MTSU Student Volunteer Opportunities

Health & Wellness Related Opportunities

Crisis Intervention Opportunities

Opportunities to Work with the Elderly

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Opportunities to Work with Children and Families

Opportunities to Work with Adults

Opportunities for Other Community Involvement

American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a fun-filled event designed to celebrate survivorship, caregivers, and raise money for research and programs of your American Cancer Society. During the event, teams of people gather and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. Relay For Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day, cancer will be eliminated. Student organizations and departments can participate as teams and students, faculty, staff and community members can also participate as individuals. Also students interested in helping plan the event can serve on the Relay for Life Committee. The committee is formed and officers elected each fall.

• When: March/April each year

• Where: Recreation Center MTSU

• Contact: Dianna Rust, Faculty Advisor, Dianna.Rust@Mtsu.edu

For more information go to www.relayforlife.org/mtsu

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Nashville CARES AIDS Walk
The oldest and largest private non-profit AIDS organization in Tennessee, Nashville CARES is also Middle Tennessee’s leading provider of HIV prevention and care services.

  • When: September of each year
  • Where: Bicentennial State Park Mall, Nashville
  • Contact: Susan Kastan, 615-259-4866

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Nashville CARES
Nashville CARES is Tennessee’s leading community-based AIDS service organization. Its mission is to promote and participate in a comprehensive and compassionate response to HIV and AIDS infection through education, advocacy, and supportive services. Volunteers are needed to provide services to men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Volunteer departments include:

Client ServicesDevelopmentEducationAdministrationContact
ClericalSpecial EventsFirst-person speakersComputer trouble-shooting615-259-4866 or
Data EntryData EntryCommunity outreachFront-desk receptionist800-845-4266
Friendly visitorMail AssistantEducational eventsClerical 
Food Pantry    

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American Red Cross
Each year more than 345 local residents serve as Heart of Tennessee Red Cross volunteers meeting local community needs — helping people in emergencies, working to increase the local blood supply, teaching first aid and CPR courses, delivering emergency messages to members of the military, and organizing programs for the community.

  • Contact: 615.893.4272 x. 103

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Rape & Sexual Abuse Center
Numerous volunteer opportunities are available, including Crisis Line Counselor, Hospital Accompaniment, Smart Kids/Safe Kids Program, Research Specialists, and Administrative Support. Additional situational volunteer opportunities, including Center Representatives, Community Outreach, Child’s Friend, Events Specialist, and Service Volunteer, and a group volunteer opportunity that involves helping maintain the Center.

  • Contact: 615-259-9055 ext. 318

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Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services
Provides Crisis Intervention, Therapeutic Services, Advocacy, and Prevention Education. Volunteer opportunities include crisis hotline, office/administration work, court advocacy, and community outreach.

  • Location: 1423 Kensington Square Court
  • Contact: 615-896-7377

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St. Clair Senior Center
The St. Clair Street Senior Center, located at 325 St. Clair St. in Murfreesboro, offers a variety of services and activities for individuals in the community age 60 and over. It is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and during other special occasions. Volunteer opportunities include:

  • Home visitation & telephone reassurance
  • Help with dances, banquets, parties
  • Meals on Wheels program
  • Contact: Dee Brown, 615-848-2550

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Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring is an interactive museum and environmental center created for the children and families of Middle Tennessee and is dedicated to promoting excellence in education through hands-on exhibits and programs. Through volunteering you can:

Create and restore hands-on exhibit itemsStimulate young minds by presenting challenging educational programs
Sharpen your kitchen skills teaching a class on nutritious cookingIncrease your own knowledge in the areas of science, art and culture
Gain valuable public speaking experienceBecome involved in your community

For more info, contact: Dr. Tom Brinthaupt (Tom.Brinthaupt@mtsu.edu) 

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The Family Center

Volunteers are critical to the Family Center’s mission of breaking multi-generational cycles of child abuse, neglect and trauma. Our vision is for a resilient community where all children thrive. Child abuse, neglect, and trauma are recognized as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and are a serious public health concern that causes lifetime physical, psychological, and behavioral problems for children and impacts communities for generations.

As change agents, we’re dedicated to providing a safe space where parents and children can connect and grow through a two-generational approach to learning. Our evidence-based programs provide guidance and support as families navigate new strategies for coping with trauma and move forward with confidence and purpose. Volunteers provide roles that can’t always be met by staff members, augmenting the vital work we do in the communities we serve.

Following are some of the volunteer opportunities available:

Volunteering with Parents and Children:Other ways to help:
Parenting Seminars Program Coordinator/ Ambassador/ Childcare/ FacilitatorOffice Support/ Facilities Maintenance
Positive Parenting & Positive Parenting Plus Children’s Coach/Class Host/ Class Prep Coordinator/ Enrollment CoordinatorEvent Planning/ Fundraising
Nurturing Families Coach Assistant/ Observation RaterBoard Members
If you are interested in volunteering and learning more about upcoming opportunities, please email: volunteer@familycentertn.org.  Or call the Nashville office, 615-333-2644.

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Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational, Christian housing organization. They build simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those who lack adequate shelter.

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Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is “dedicated to caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, loving the unlovable, and befriending the friendless.”

Locally, volunteers are needed for the Shelter Kitchen, office, and emergency disaster crew. Around the holiday season, there are many opportunities for volunteerism with the Angel Tree Toy Drive and the Red Kettle Campaign.

  • Contact: 615-895-7071
  • Location: 1137 W. Main St., Murfreesboro, TN 37129

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Special Kids
A non-profit Christian agency providing nursing and rehabilitation services to special needs children. Special Kids’ objectives are “to provide continuity of care for all clients through a coordinated multi-discipline approach, assist clients in achieving and maintaining their optimal health status and improve the quality of life for that client and their family.” Volunteers are needed with fundraising activities such as the Middle Half Fun Run and full-time volunteer programs such as KITES.

  • Contact: 615-809-2632; 2132 E. Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130

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Greenhouse Ministries
A faith-based, inter-denominational, non-profit organization offering life transformation as volunteers make themselves available to encourage and motivate the clients, to inspire them to dream and make better choices and needed changes in their lives, to promote wholeness, and to give back to others in the community. Greenhouse Ministries is also heavily involved in disaster relief.

A variety of volunteer opportunities exist. Volunteers for programs such as the “Shoes for Orphans Souls” Drive, “School Back Pack” drive, and food drive are needed. Volunteers are also needed for GED training, mentoring, food delivery, furniture pickup/delivery, and a variety of other services.

  • Location: 307 S Academy St. Murfreesboro, TN 37130
  • Contact: 615-494-0499

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Junior Achievement
The world’s largest and fastest growing non-profit organization dedicated to educating young people about business, economics, and free enterprise. Classroom volunteers teach JA’s programs in both the United States and in nearly 100 countries worldwide.

Programs span grades K-12, with age-appropriate curricula designed to teach elementary students about their roles as individuals, workers, and consumers, and to prepare middle grade and high school students for key economic and workforce issues they will face. In addition to bringing the free enterprise system to life in the classroom, Junior Achievement programs teach youngsters the importance of staying in school. The organization also offers programs for children who may have difficulty graduating from high school. Trained volunteers from the community teach all Junior Achievement classroom programs at no charge to the public schools.

  • Office: 120 Powell Place, Nashville
  • Phone: (615) 383-9500

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CASA of Rutherford County
We are a small non-profit agency with a paid staff of two and a volunteer staff of approximately 35. Our mission is to provide trained volunteer advocates to represent and promote the best interests of abused and neglected Rutherford County children who are brought before juvenile court. The advocates will work to ensure that the Court recognizes the rights of the children to safe, permanent, and loving homes.

  • Contact: (615) 904-6996

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Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
Big Brothers Big Sisters creates one-to-one friendships between children who need a positive role model and caring adult volunteers. They share everyday activities – catching a fish for the first time or reading a book all the way through – which blossom into a relationship that expands the child’s horizons and helps them to make better decisions, improve their school work, and establish goals for themselves.

Becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister is easy. Visit the website at https://mentorakid.org/become-a-big/ 

The decision to become a Big Brother or Big Sister is a significant one… the initial commitment is for one year. But we assure you this will be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever encounter. Specific site based programs are in some cases for one school year rather than the calendar year.

  • Location: 1704 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 130 Nashville, Tennessee 37203
  • Phone: (615) 329-9191

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Read to Succeed
A community literacy collaborative in Rutherford County that promotes reading with an emphasis on family literacy. This non-profit initiative supports literacy programs and fosters awareness of the importance of reading. This program is in need of individuals, business groups, civic organizations, and social clubs who are interested in serving the community.

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Meals on Wheels
Meals-On-Wheels, and other senior meal delivery or non-profit congregate meal programs, provide meals to millions of seniors throughout the United States. Through such programs, seniors who could not, or would not, otherwise eat properly are provided with services that help them live a healthy and enjoyable life. Volunteers are necessary to any local non-profit senior meal program and you don’t have to be a good cook or have a lot of time in order to volunteer. Program volunteers do more than drive from door to door. Volunteers are needed to help prepare and package dinners to be delivered, organize schedules, make phone calls, load delivery vehicles, and deliver meals. Several locations serve as congregate sites in Nashville

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Youth Villages
Youth Villages works with emotionally and behaviorally troubled children. Their programs promote helping children in the least invasive environment; preferable in their own homes. Youth Villages has a committed staff that focus on caring for children in the community.

The Nashville office provides intensive in-home services, foster care and adoption, transitional living and crisis services and the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative.

Youth Villages has a variety of mentoring and volunteer opportunities.

  • Contact: (615) 250-7200
  • Location: 3310 Perimeter Hill Drive, Nashville

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Room In the Inn
24-resident short-term homeless shelter which provides food and housing.

  • Contact: (615) 251-9791

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Nashville Adult Literacy Council
Long-term volunteer opportunities lasting 6 months or longer are available. Become a tutor and teach an adult how to read. Volunteer adult tutors attend 14 hours of required training and help out 4 hours per week.

  • Location: 4805 Park Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209
  • Telephone: (615) 298-8060

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Rutherford County PAWS
Animal shelter serving county’s homeless, unwanted animals and animal law enforcement. Volunteers needed to walk dogs, clean, and assist trainers. Application allows for flexible scheduling.

  • Contact: 615-898-7740

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The Nashville Zoo
Volunteers are an integral component of Nashville Zoo. They are dedicated individuals providing much of the manpower needed for daily operations, programs, special projects and events. From fundraising and education to maintenance and assisting animal staff, you, as a Zoo volunteer, can get involved at a level that fits your time and commitment ability.

The Volunteer Corps gives volunteers ages 18 and older the opportunity to experience a deeper level of involvement with the Zoo. They have the privilege to volunteer alongside Zoo staff in areas throughout the Zoo and assist them with daily operations, animal care or special events.

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Contact Us

Department of Psychology
Academic Classroom Building (ACB)
Suite 240

Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30PM,
Monday-Friday

Phone: (615) 898-2706

psychology@mtsu.edu