National Volunteer Week: The Power of Student Volunteering
Written by: roxane perret, volunteer relations coordinator, heart of florida united way
Volunteering for local non-profits offers students different benefits such as social networking, resume building skills, and leadership experience. Through volunteering, students are able to learn skills such as interpersonal skills, empathy, and communication. These skills are a starting point and critical part of their future professional careers.
Past volunteering opportunities for students through Heart of Florida United Way’s (HFUW) volunteer program include making mental health kits and snack packs for the Central Florida community. These volunteering opportunities allow students to have a direct impact on their community, all while receiving community service hours. Through HFUW and local non-profits' volunteering opportunities, students can receive credit for community service hours for scholarships. Scholarships can directly increase their chances of attending university and have access to higher education opportunities.
For example, the Bright Futures Scholarship, a critical scholarship in the Florida education system which covers between 75% to 100% of college tuition, requires 100 hours of volunteering hours. Providing accessible volunteering opportunities for students increases their likelihood of receiving scholarships.
HFUW’s mission is to stand up for the education, health, basic needs and financial stability of every person in Central Florida. Through offering volunteering opportunities, HFUW impacts students’ access to education and financial stability as scholarships lower the cost of higher education.
HFUW’s annual volunteering opportunities include Community Baby Shower in June and Thanksgiving Project in November. Community Baby Shower focuses on providing resources and support to new families in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. Thanksgiving Project focuses on providing meals for families during the Thanksgiving season. Other volunteering opportunities may be open throughout the year depending on needs and events.
In 2025, 6,000 meal kits were given to Central Florida families through the Thanksgiving Project program. In 2026, Community Baby Shower is projected to support 150 families in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. Volunteers are needed for the success of these.
Please find all volunteering opportunities here: Volunteer with Heart of Florida United Way
If you have questions about HFUW’s volunteering program, please reach out to Roxane Perret, Volunteer Relations Coordinator at Heart of Florida United Way, roxane.perret@hfuw.org.
