For students trying to get involved at Auburn, volunteering is a way to get plugged in to not only the University but also the city itself. It involves giving back to a community in need, and several organizations search for volunteers of every skill set throughout the year.
Esperanza House
Esperanza House on Opelika Road is an organization focused on fostering the education and spiritual growth of local Hispanic children. Their goal is to help dozens of Hispanic families in Lee County by providing afterschool tutoring, medical care and food distribution.
“So, [volunteers] come in, tutor the kids, but it’s not just tutoring,” said Abby Upshaw, assistant director of Esperanza House. “It’s a way to form relationships with these kids. We, yes, help them with their education, but also that’s a great opportunity to meet them, know them.”
Esperanza House volunteers can help with their medical bus where families can get checked out by nurses and assist with distributing food boxes to families provided by food banks.
CARE Humane Society
Another volunteer spot in Auburn is the CARE Humane Society, a no-kill animal shelter. CARE stands for compassion, adoption, rescue and education, which is the overall mission of this adoption shelter.
Volunteers run many of their day-to-day activities, including dog walking, kennel cleaning, animal transportation and doggy dates, which is when volunteers take a dog off the property to go on a fun adventure.
“Really wherever, like, you’re willing to help out, we accept it,” said Audrey Salazar, CARE volunteer coordinator. “We just have so many animals that need the extra love and attention, and a volunteer can make a dog’s day just so much better.”
The Food Bank of East Alabama
At the Food Bank of East Alabama, volunteers help prepare, organize, pack and distribute food donated or collected from food drives.
“The work that we do is not elegant or fancy work at all, but you know what you’re doing is actually helping to feed people,” said Martha Henk, executive director of the Food Bank of East Alabama.
The Food Bank also packs food boxes for senior centers and packs backpacks for elementary students, who need help over the weekends and do not have access to food outside of school meals.
“I would just encourage [students] to try out different volunteer opportunities, and then once they find the one that they love, commit to it,” Henk said.
This article is featured in The Auburn Plainsman's Summer 2026 print edition.
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Katelyn Smith, junior in journalism, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since Fall 2025. Smith previously served as a Lifestyle Writer and Lifestyle Editor. She is currently serving as the Assistant Lifestyle Editor.
