Volunteer Columbia

10/19/2026

📢 The Bear Creek Run Half Marathon is this Saturday, October 24, and we need YOU to help power runners to the finish line! Whether you're handing out water or directing folks down the right path, volunteers make the event possible!

🕘 Pick your shift:
7:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Aid Station @ Blue Ridge Rd & Bear Creek Trail
7:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Aid Station @ Big Bear Blvd
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Aid Station @ Creasy Springs Trailhead
8:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Aid Station @ Cosmo Park
8:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Course Support @ Cosmo Park

📍 Route: Bear Creek Trail (Albert-Oakland Park 🔁 Cosmo Park)

Grab a friend, bring the enthusiasm, and volunteer!

📩 Email [email protected] to get involved.

10/15/2026

Here is another service opportunity at Again Street Park this Saturday!

Join us as we restore native plants to the headwaters of County House Branch Creek in Columbia's Again Street Park. This is the final activity associated with a Love Your Block Grant that paired invasive species removal events with native plantings. After removing many truckloads of honeysuckle, we're now ready to replant the area with native shrubs, trees, and flowers.

Come by 1200 Again Street Park from 9-11 am on Saturday October 17th to get your hands dirty!

These efforts are supported by Central Missouri Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, Missouri Conservation Corps and Volunteer Columbia

10/15/2026

🌳 Help Plant 31 Trees at Shepard Elementary! 🌳

Join community member Caleb Knerr to green up Shepard Boulevard Elementary! No heavy digging required—all holes are pre-excavated, and there will be quick demos on site.

📅 When: Saturday, Oct 17 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

📍 Where: Shepard Boulevard Elementary (2616 Shepard Blvd) – Meet at the north entrance doors.

🎒 Bring: Warm layers, work gloves, a water bottle, sturdy boots, and a shovel/wheelbarrow if you have one!

🅿️ Parking: West lots (upper or lower). Please watch for pedestrians setting up for the nearby 5K!

👉 Sign up to volunteer here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-AyQnmxbKiBjjx_W8WRMkaY88-EKP65xqVShJOJYJxl50EQ/viewform

Questions? Contact Caleb at [email protected]

10/12/2026

No tricks, just treats! 🎃

Check out all the ways to volunteer with the City of Columbia this fall! 🍂

10/08/2026

Want to support our local runners?! 🏃‍♂️🍂

We need volunteers for the Bear Creek Run Half Marathon on Saturday, Oct 24!

Volunteer shifts available for:
• Registration & Packet Pickup
• Course Support & Cheering
• Aid Stations
• Finish Line & Medals

📍 Route: Albert-Oakland Park 🔁 Cosmo Park

📩 Email [email protected] to sign up to volunteer!

09/28/2026

What a great evening at the Health In Nature Festival at the Sexton Greenspace on Wednesday, September 23. We enjoyed the soothing sounds of Craig Colorusso's Sunboxes, received information from more than 15 organizations and recognized 21 mini-grants completed through Love Your Block. Many thanks to the Missouri Dept. of Conservation and Danielle Fox for their leadership in organizing the event!

Thank you to Jason Garton with the City of Columbia Communications Department for these fantastic photos!

09/27/2026

What a great workday yesterday at Again Street Park led by our friends from the Missouri Conservation Corps. A group of 30+ students from the MU Homecoming Day of Service.

Join us for the next work day at Again Street Park on Saturday, October 17, 9-11 a.m., focused on planting native plants. This project will be led by Caleb O'Brien, a Love Your Block mini-grant winner.

09/25/2026

We hope to see you this Saturday, September 26th, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Again Street! Come be part of the awesome work being done to remove invasive plant species from the park! 💚

On Saturday in Again Street Park, Missouri Conservation Corps is hosting its first ever food drive for the The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri! Come and join us as we collect food for the Food Bank while battling invasive honeysuckle in the park. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a food donation in the high protein category, including canned chicken, tuna, beans, and peanut butter.

This will be the third volunteer event we have organized in Again Street Park this year, and our events are in partnership with Volunteer Columbia, Columbia Parks and Recreation, Love Your Block, and the fantastic neighbors of West Ash and Again Street! Missouri Conservation Corps is excited to bring the food drive to our honeysuckle event, and volunteers will enjoy pizza after our work in the park is done.

Come and join us on Saturday, September 26th, from 10 a.m. to noon in Columbia's Again Street Park, 1200 Again Street, for a unique volunteer event designed to restore native habitat in the park while also combatting hunger in our community!

To register or to learn more about this event, just visit our website and find our events calendar!

09/14/2026

📢 Fall fun is calling! Volunteer at the Heritage Festival!

Help make this annual Parks and Recreation event a success! Volunteers will assist with children’s activities and parking throughout the weekend.

📆 Saturday, September 19 & Sunday, September 20
🕘 2-3-hour volunteer shifts throughout each day
📍 Nifong Park, 2900 E Nifong Blvd

Ready to lend a hand? Reach out to us at [email protected]!

09/11/2026

Flock to our September Newsletter!🪿

Email from City of Columbia - Housing & Neighborhood Services Department Join us for the Health In Nature Festival - Sept. 23   Wrapping up Love Your Block The Love Your Block program has had two succ