CSL Connections

💎 Bridging the gap in AR communities, one ARVA Diamond at a time 💎

Class of 2027 and beyond are now required to complete community service to earn a high school diploma in Arkansas (Act 237 of 2023, pages 38-39). The law includes that students will earn 15 hours of community service in 9th grade, and 20 hours of community service in each of the years for grades 10, 11, and 12 to equal 75 hours of service required for graduation.

Be sure to checkout the details in ARVA emails, the ARVA Handbook, as well as the Counselor Bytes Newsletter for ARVA High Schoolers. Got questions about this graduation requirement? Please reach out to your high school Counselor for guidance.

Check out the lineup below for great volunteer opportunities in a county near you.

Discuss the events with your Parent/Learning Coach & contact the venues for details.

Important: These are hosted by the listed organization, not ARVA led events. If volunteering, you must first sign up so they can plan for you and provide you with important information.

When reaching out to the organizations, you will need to provide the Name & Date of Volunteer Opportunity student is signing up for, Students' First and Last name, Students' Age, and a good Phone Number and Personal Email so they can contact you. (Not students' ARVA school email)

The Michele D. Hunter Pantry in Lexa needs your help!

They are looking for students who can volunteer Monday-Friday.

• Monday 8am-2pm OR choose a time: 8-10am, 10am-12pm, 12-2pm

• Tuesday 8am-2pm OR choose a time: 8-10am, 10am-12pm, 12-2pm

• Wednesday 8am-12pm AND/OR 2-6pm

• Thursday 8am-2pm OR choose a time: 8-10am, 10am-12pm, 12-2pm

• Friday 8am-2pm OR choose a time: 8-10am, 10am-12pm, 12-2pm

Where: 586 Phillips 241 Rd Lexa AR

Bring a friend & roll up your sleeves to help.

Plenty of community service days/hours available. She would love to have a regular group of ARVA students volunteer. It would be GREAT to have the same people on the same shift each week if possible. They need at least 3 per shift on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and on Wednesdays at least 3 per shift.

Please review, complete/sign and bring the following forms with you.

2023 Youth Volunteer Consent Release Form.docxLinks to an external site.

Volunteer Confidentiality Policy.docLinks to an external site.

Adult Volunteer form needed only if participating with student: 2023 Adult Volunteer Consent Release Form.docx

Interested in volunteering? Have questions about the opportunities?

Contact Teresa Wilson at twilson@arkansasfoodbank.org or 870-714-6256

The Litter Kits are available at CALS branch locations.

For volunteers who live outside of Little Rock, there are still Litter Clean Up Kits available to them. They can report hours to Keep Arkansas Beautiful through their service learning report form and add their school contact to the form - https://keeparkansasbeautiful.com/service-learning/

Please ensure to take an ARVA CSL Verification Form with you so the organizer can complete their portion of the form, including your tasks completed/hours served.

The Forrest City Area Humane Society's strives to shelter, protect, and defend animals under our care, to educate the public on proper pet care and ownership, to investigate and prosecute animal abuse in the local community, and to raise funds to support the programs that make this work possible.

The FCAHS has a great need for volunteers! There are so many things that a volunteer can do for the animals. They need to be bathed. walked, petted, socialized, and just plain loved! There are also lots of errands and other tasks that are needed.

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Whether you would like to volunteer to work with the animals or to just help with the endless tasks that are always needed, your donation of time and talent will be appreciated by the FCAHS and by the four-footed animals that are in our care. Learn more here: Volunteer | Forrest City Area Humane Society

For details/questions and to express your interest in volunteering, please contact Ruth Ann Vowan at ravfcahs@gmail.com or via phone at 870-270-7670.

The Friendship Baptist Church in Marianna could use your help with their mobile food pantry. They will be there from 10am-3pm distributing food packages to families as they drive in to pick up those blessings.

With this being on a Thursday, live classes are still a priority. The church would love if you can come and volunteer before or after live classes have been completed.

Where: 3712 Hwy 1 Marianna, AR 72360

If interested in volunteering, Contact Karen Sullivan at karee.sull@gmail.com to sign up and provide:

• Name & Date of Volunteer Opportunity student is signing up for
• Students' First and Last name
• Students' Age
• Phone Number
• Personal email (Not students' ARVA school email)

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Details to Be Announced

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Volunteers 13+ years of age are welcome.

If interested in volunteering, Contact Teresa Wilson at twilson@arkansasfoodbank.org or 870-714-6256 to sign up and provide:

• Name & Date of Volunteer Opportunity student is signing up for
• Students' First and Last name
• Students' Age
• Phone Number
• Personal email (Not students' ARVA school email)

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Our Arkansas State Parks system would not be what it is today without the dedication of volunteers throughout the years. In fact, early records indicate that Dr. T.W. Hardison was the first state park volunteer. He was the first chairman of the State Parks Commission and it was through his dedication and efforts that our first state park, Petit Jean State Park, was created. The rest of the story is our legacy.

You can be a part of this incredible legacy and a steward of The Natural State’s parks. Just click the link below to fill out the short form expressing your interest. The park(s) you choose will contact you about volunteer opportunities in your area that you decide are a good fit. It’s as easy as that. You might be contacted about a cleanup to preserve a park’s scenic beauty or a work day to improve or repair a recreation facility or campground. No matter how you help, volunteering at your Arkansas State Parks is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and make a difference.

Thank you for your willingness to serve as a state park volunteer and be a vital part of the Arkansas State Parks tradition and heritage. https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/about/volunteer

Additional Volunteer Opportunities are Available Here:

Volunteers can register a cleanup event or sign up to participate in a scheduled event at KeepArkansasBeautiful.com. Keep Arkansas Beautiful provides T-shirts as well as supplies to aid cleanup efforts on a “first come, first serve” basis. Requests must be made at least 14 days before the cleanup event date.

For cleanup dates & to get involved: https://www.keeparkansasbeautiful.com/get-involved/cleanups/calendar-of-events/

For information on how to participate in the Great Arkansas Cleanup or for more events, go to KeepArkansasBeautiful.com.

It is that time of year to spread joy with The Red Kettle Campaign! It is set up during the holiday season to collect funds to be used to help those who might be struggling.

If Volunteer is under 18, an adult must be present while student is serving.

If interested in volunteering, contact Maurica Dooley at mauricadooley@gmail.com or 501-412-2869 to sign up and provide:

• Date & Time(s) student is signing up for
• Students' First and Last name
• Students' Age/Grade
• Phone Number
• Personal email (Not students' ARVA school email)

Volunteers are needed for their annual project with Toys for Tots. They need all the volunteers they can get to assist with the preparations, shopping & distribution during some or all of the times listed below.

For details/questions and to express your interest in volunteering, please contact Tiffany Billingsley at 901-830-8146.

Keep checking back for more Community Service Opportunities near you...