51 ways to give back this month.

I think volunteering is one of the best ways to make new connections in Cola. On top of the feel-good vibes you get when you give back, volunteering can help you uncover a new skill, explore your interests or make new friends. Oh, and earn local art.

And October – the real start of Fall – is kind of the perfect month to reboot + give back.

Columbia City Serve thinks so, too. The new city-wide volunteer initiative for the month of October was announced a couple weeks ago. Since then, they’ve received dozens of project submissions from local citizens + organizations… and now there are 34 volunteer opportunities (with 1,000+ individual spots) in October, listed all in one place, thanks to City of Columbia + United Way of the Midlands.

Along with City Serve, here are a few additional ways to make a difference locally over the next month.

Great American Whiskey Fair | Sept. 28 | set up, event work + break down | email for info

Ronald McDonald House A Fine Affair: Black Jack and Bubbles | Sept. 28 | roles TBD | email for info

Knight of Honor Gala | Sept. 28 | roles TBD | email for info

Rosewood Art + Music Festival | Sept. 30 | set up, break down

Harley Owner's Group annual Poker Run for Palmetto Place | Sept. 30 | hand out poker chips

Hall of Horrors Haunted Attraction | Sept. 30-Oct. 31 | performer or event monitor

Trustus Theatre | Sept-Oct. | theatre usher | email for info

Nephron Pharmaceuticals afternoon + weekend workers ($) | Sept.-Oct. | folding boxes | email for info

Transitions Homeless Center with United Way YLS | Oct. 8 | serve dinner | email for info

Oktoberfest Columbia | Oct. 9-15 | food prep, bartend, roaming pretzel sales

Jam Room Music Festival | Oct. 14 | Maintenance, survey-taker, breakdown

Palmetto Health Foundation Walk for Life/Famously Hot Pink Half 2017 | Oct. 14 | event registration

SC Pride Festival | Oct. 20-22 | set up, break down, festival booth + bev sales

30th Annual Chili Cook-Off in Five Points | Oct. 21 | roles TBD | email for info

HomeWorks of S.C. with United Way YLS | Oct. 21 | roles TBD | email for info

2017 Walk to End Alzheimer's | Oct. 21 | registration, garden activities, greeter + more

Andy Mineo Friends & Family Tour | Oct. 25 | world vision volunteer

Plenty of local nonprofit organizations need ongoing help – Pets Inc., S.C. State Museum, Lexington Medical Center, Midlands Reading Consortium, Pawmetto Lifeline, SBP, Senior Resources, Carolina Wildlife Center, Homestead Hospice + Richland County Court Appointed Special Advocates, just to name a few.

Here’s a pretty extensive list of nonprofits in the Midlands (from Midlands Gives last year) to scope out + see if they need help.

You can also volunteer your time at places like Goodwill, which helps provide career training, employment services + job placement in communities across the Midlands.

It’s gonna feel real good / gonna make a difference / gonna make it right...

-Chloe