Volunteer

DONATE A MEAL OR FOOD

We serve meals to 90 people each Wednesday night, September through May, and can use help with all or part of any meal. This can include preparing and delivering a meal, donating funds for a meal, or seeking donations from restaurants or grocers. We also seek non-perishable snacks for tutoring nights.

COVID-19 update: Adult Odyssey classes have been switched to in-person while Odyssey Junior classes remain online. Due to UW-Madison protocol, we will not be able to accept any donated meals at this time. As an alternative, we are accepting monetary donations that can be put towards purchasing pre-packaged meals for in-person classes, or grocery gift cards given to Odyssey Junior families. Please click HERE to donate.  

Invite us to Speak to your Group

Odyssey depends on grassroots support! Volunteers can help us to spread the word by inviting us to speak to a business, church, service club, or group of friends. Whenever possible we invite an Odyssey student to attend and to share their own story.

Tutor Adult Students / Alumni

Odyssey hosts tutoring sessions on Monday and Tuesday evenings in the UW South Madison Partnership classroom but can sometimes make tutoring connections with students at other times. We seek tutors with skills in writing/ literacy, math, science, foreign language, and English as a Second Language.

COVID-19 update: All tutoring is happening virtually for the 2021-2022 year. 

Mentor Adult Students / Alumni

Odyssey is in the pilot phase of a mentorship program for students and alumni. If you would like to receive more information when we are ready to expand the program, please fill out the volunteer interest form.

Childcare/ Child Enrichment

Volunteers care for young children and work with older children (providing homework help, playing games, or doing crafts) on Monday and Tuesday evenings when parents attend tutoring at the UW South Madison Partnership classroom.

COVID-19 update: All tutoring is happening virtually for the 2021-2022 year, so there will be no need for in-person childcare assistance.

HOST A BENEFIT

Odyssey supporters have hosted benefits in their homes and other community spaces, inviting friends to learn about our program, meet students, and support Odyssey. Program staff can help with invitations and other logistics.

COVID-19 update: We are suspending all in-person benefits throughout spring 2022. However, we are happy to discuss possibilities for the future.

Professional Services for Students

We can use pro bono services from attorneys, physicians/dentists, social workers, and others, to help students facing legal, medical, housing, and other challenges.

Research Support

Volunteers can help to research a variety of topics including potential funders and programmatic ideas.

Administrative Support

We can sometimes use help with typing, mailings, and other administrative tasks in our office at 2238 S. Park St.

Photography or Videography

Help to capture photographs and/or video, especially from the Odyssey Junior classrooms on Wednesday evenings at Villager Mall, 2238 S. Park St.

COVID-19 update: Adult Odyssey classes have been switched to in-person while Odyssey Junior classes remain online, so there is no need for Odyssey Junior photographers/videographers at this time. 

Volunteer for Odyssey Beyond Bars

Odyssey Beyond Bars (OBB) is part of the UW Odyssey Project that targets incarcerated populations. We seek volunteer tutors with experience in writing and literacy skill development. Tutors must complete background checks and training, which OBB will provide in coordination with the Dept. of Corrections. We also seek volunteers to assist with administrative work, fundraising, and research.