Volunteer Center

All Volunteer Center articles are collected here.

Spring volunteer opportunities in the community and on the Twin Cities campus

Working with Great River Greening, the Silver Gopher Service Corps is recruiting volunteers to photograph plants, insects, and critters and then crowdsource species identification with the iNaturalist app.

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Silver Gopher Service Corps logo

Andy Phelan enjoys keeping his mind active during tax season

For the past six years, UMRA member Andrew “Andy” Phelan has been part of the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide team of volunteers that provides free tax assistance and preparation service to millions of taxpayers throughout the United States. 

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Andy Phelan, URVC volunteer

Variety and flexibility suit him

UMRA member Scott Elton started volunteering with Habitat for Humanity eight years before he retired from the University in 2016. Photo by Dennis Chick.

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Scott Elton, Habitat for Humanity volunteer. Photo by Dennis Chick.

Silver Gopher Service Corps by the numbers

UMRA members have logged nearly 200 hours of volunteer service to the University and broader community through the Silver Gopher Service Corps since its launch six months ago. 

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Silver Gophers, 4 at Sneak Preview 2023-07-13. Photo Deanne Magnusson

Campus Sneak Preview Days

Sneak Preview Days have been happening at the University for many years. This year, adding 18 UMRA Silver Gopher Service Corps volunteers put a new twist on the welcome. Who better to provide a friendly greeting and lend a helping hand than those of us who have spent our careers at the University?

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Silver Gopher Service Corps volunteers enjoyed welcoming prospective freshmen and their families participating in the 2023 Summer Sneak Preview Days on the U of M Twin Cities campus.

Silver Gophers volunteer to help children experiencing food insecurity

Nearly 20 members of UMRA’s Silver Gopher Service Corps met as a team in mid-April to pack food for school children facing food insecurity at home in Minnesota. The food-packing event, held at the Every Meal Volunteer Center in Roseville, was superbly organized. It felt “good to be involved in a worthy cause,” said Clif Ware, one of the volunteers.

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Silver Gopher volunteers at Every Meal, 2023.04.20

Silver Gopher Service Corps steps up to help fill the Class of 2027

An enthusiastic group of stalwart retirees trudged through snow, ice, and wind to greet future students and their families on the University’s first-ever Newly Admitted Students Welcome Day, hosted by the Office of Admissions.

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UMRA's Silver Gopher Service Corps made its debut for Newly Admitted Students Welcome Day on April 1, 2023.

Join the Silver Gopher Service Corps

Service to the University and community is a key element in UMRA’s mission, and our members have frequently asked about opportunities to team up with colleagues on activities. In response to these queries, UMRA’s new “Silver Gopher Service Corps” is making its debut in April.

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Silver Gopher Service Corps logo

Finding purpose through volunteering

Of all her volunteer experiences, Jeanne Jacobson says she especially finds satisfaction in seeing students learn and come to belong to their communities.

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Jeanne Jacobson

For Terry Smith, volunteering is both selfish and selfless

After 40 years at 3M, Terry Smith retired and put his science and language talents to work as a tutor. His volunteering also reflects his other passions: cooking, food availability, and food waste.

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Terry Smith

A 'powerfully gentle' leader

UMRA Past President Jerry Rinehart retired from the University as vice provost and dean of students. He is admired for being a “powerfully gentle” leader, and he continues to be an exemplar of service to others.

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Jerry Reinhart

International Institute welcomes retiree volunteers

Leaders of the University Retirees Volunteer Center have identified an important volunteer opportunity at the International Institute of Minnesota: helping refugees and asylum seekers complete the complicated paperwork required for visa applications and becoming U.S. citizens.

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international institute members

An exceptional postlude to a long career

David Hunter, M.D., retired U of M Medical School professor and interventional radiologist, typically volunteers more than 200 hours annually by participating in University Retirees Volunteer Center opportunities, including Help at Your Door and Academic Integrity Matters.

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David Hunter

URVC welcomes new leadership

The University Retirees Volunteer Center welcomes three new members to the new URVC Management Committee.

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Reconnecting with a shared commitment to service

The University of Minnesota Retirees Association and the University Retirees Volunteer Center have agreed to reconnect as a single organization to broaden and expand volunteer service opportunities for U of M retirees.

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