Local Service Opportunities

red cross blood drive

On Wednesday, April 14th, from 12pm-5pm, we’ll roll up our sleeves and help save lives! St. Paul’s will once again proudly partner with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community and across the country!

According to the Red Cross, donors with all blood types are desperately needed in the ongoing pandemic, especially those with blood types O negative, A negative and B negative.

Sign up to donate blood here. If you would like to volunteer for the blood drive, please contact Nathan Simon about joining the team. There are many ways you can help, but most importantly, we hope you come out to donate! There’s no better feeling than knowing that your blood donation may give someone a second chance at life.

UW Frozen meals program

Our next door neighbors at Pres House (731 State St, Madison, WI 53703) are hosting the UW Frozen Meals Program. The mission of the UW Frozen Meals Program is to provide frozen meals at no cost to students who face food insecurity while simultaneously reducing food waste on campus. Last semester, the program gave away over 1000 meals to UW-Madison students!

St. Paul’s and other organizations in the UW-Madison community are committed to sending students to fill several one hour shifts each week. Each shift is staffed by two students, each from different organizations, and Pres House different questions and topics for conversation to build common ground. The goal is for students to get to know someone from a different community than their own.

View open shifts and sign up here. Please list “St. Paul’s Catholic Student Center” when the registration site asks you what “organization” you represent.

drive groceries for the river food pantry

After launching a free food delivery program, called River Delivers, last fall, The River Food Pantry has experienced unprecedented numbers of grocery delivery requests from local households who are unable to pick food up in person. In response, The River has partnered with RSVP of Dane County to help recruit more volunteer drivers to deliver food to our neighbors who need it most. 

River Delivers works with volunteers to schedule weekly deliveries of groceries and meals to Dane County residents who do not qualify for other delivery services and who lack transportation to the pantry for curbside distribution. 

RSVP volunteers for River Delivers will specifically serve seniors and people with disabilities. The RSVP volunteer position also offers mileage reimbursement at .56 cents/mile and additional liability insurance.

More information about volunteering for River Delivers can be found here. If interested, please contact Mary Schmelzer, RSVP Driver Services Co-Manager, at 608-441-7896 or