There are six hospitals/clinics in the Lubbock community, and many volunteers serve in various capacities within those facilities. One such hospital volunteering opportunity is the Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Volunteer Services program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). This volunteer service program began in 1988 and hundreds of volunteers have served the Health Sciences Center by supporting its ongoing mission of providing the highest quality education, research and patient care to people of Lubbock and West Texas.

Volunteers at the Health Sciences Center do not serve an inpatient population but actively participate in the School of Medicine’s many Outpatient Clinics, Basic Science Departments and support service areas. Volunteers may choose to be a greeter, clinic or clerical assistant or a lab assistant. Whatever service area you choose, you will receive thorough training in a general orientation session as well as specific training in the department of your choice.

Each volunteer is scheduled to work at least one 3-4 hour shift each week. When you work your shift, you may also receive a ticket that qualifies you for a free meal in the cafeteria. TTUHSC is located on 4th Street between Texas Tech Parkway and Indiana Ave., facing north toward 4th Street. The facility is connected by walkways to the University Medical Center hospital on the south side. Parking permits enable volunteers to park in visitor and student parking areas. Come try a different kind of medical volunteering! If you are interested in this volunteering opportunity, please contact the RSVP office at 743-7787.

Volunteer Opportunities: Shalom Readers needs volunteers for an after-school program held at Asbury United Methodist Church (just south of the 19th Street Senior Center) for children who attend Dupre Elementary School. The program encourages students to read, provides homework assistance and individual tutoring, a nutritious snack and meal, and a safe place for children to gather after school. The program is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00pm to 5:00 pm. You can volunteer one or both days, and you do not have to be a former educator in order to participate. If you are interested, please contact the RSVP office at 743-7787.

The Lubbock Memorial Arboretum provides horticultural education to the public and serves as a laboratory for studying existing plants, as well as testing and evaluating new plants that can be grown in rugged West Texas. Due to the often severely dry conditions in the West Texas area, the population of Lubbock County needs information about how to grow and maintain drought-resistant plants. It is also a living museum that exhibits the best trees, shrubs, vines and other ornamental plants in a tranquil area for the pleasure and education of the community.

The Arboretum must rely on a corps of volunteers to maintain the grounds and to educate the public about water conservation, horticulture and landscaping techniques. Volunteers work with expert horticulturists to maintain the gardens and the Interpretive Center. Volunteers plant, fertilize and prune the vegetation, plan and conduct regularly scheduled educational programs, and at times serve as guides for public tours of the gardens. If you would like to support the work of the Arboretum but don’t want to garden, there is a place for you in the gift shop. Whatever your passion – be it trees, roses or simply a quiet place to walk, don’t let the opportunity to support your arboretum pass you by. Spring is just around the corner! If you are interested in this volunteering opportunity, please contact RSVP at 743-7787. Remember: Today is a good day to volunteer!