Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to footer content

Jan and Bud Richter Center

Current and Upcoming Events

Get involved with the Richter Center! There are many opportunities to serve your local community below.

Fall 2024 Semester

Students at Community Service Opportunities Fair

August 28, 2024 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM In front of the Kennel Bookstore

The Fall Community Service Opportunities Fair, open to students, faculty and staff, will feature over 65 community and campus agencies sharing volunteer, internship, and job opportunities. Students are able to personally meet with representatives from local community benefit organizations to learn about volunteer opportunities that can assist in fulfilling service-learning requirements. A sampling of agencies that have participated in past events include: American Cancer Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Central CA Blood Center, Children's Hospital Central California, Fresno Fire Department, and Sierra Foothill Conservancy.

Current Service Opportunities

Student donating blood

Blood mobile on Fresno State campus

Blood Drive: Benefiting the Central California Blood Center

The Blood Drives will be on campus in the following locations on each of the below dates: RSU 107, Memorial Gardens and the Free Speech Area

  • September 17, 2024: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 
  • September 18, 2024: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 
  • September 19, 2024: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 
  • November 19, 2024: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 
  • November 20, 2024: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 
  • November 21, 2024: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

To donate blood you must be in good general health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be at least 17 years old. Photo ID is required at donor registration. Please eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids four hours prior to donation. Donating blood is not painful and takes less than an hour. YOUR donation could save up to three lives!

Get Connected: Become a Blood Center Ambassador! Support campus blood drives by spreading the word and volunteering at the blood drives. 

Blood Center Ambassador Interest Form

 

 

Jan and Bud Richter

 

jab abd bud richter formally dressed

The Fourth Annual Bud Richter Week of Service

November 2, 2024 through November 9, 2024

The Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning invites you to help us remember and honor Elmer “Bud” Richter by engaging in service during the week of November 2 - 9, 2024.  

On November 13, 2007 our center was established thanks to the generous pledge of $3.5 million from Dr. and Mrs. Richter. November 13th is also World Kindness Day, which reflects the motto that the Richters lived their lives by, “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” 

In January of 2021, Bud passed away and the impact he has had on Fresno State and our community cannot be overstated. He directly and indirectly touched thousands of lives and transformed our community and campus in many, many ways. 

Sign up for one of the opportunities below!

Name of Event: Terry’s House

Duties: Housekeeping, patio/balcony, and garden upkeep
Organization: Terry's House
Location: 2730 Fresno Street Fresno CA 93721
Date/Time: November 3, 2024 - November 8, 2024
Sign Up Link: https://www.communitymedical.org/locations/terrys-house/volunteer-for-terrys-house

Name of Event: Fall Learning Enrichment Day Camp

Duties: At risk youth will come together for a 6-hour day camp with motivational workshops, arts and crafts, recreation, guest speakers, break-out groups, lunch, talking sessions, public speaking opps, and final evaluations.
Organization: Boys 2 Men Girls 2 Women
Location: 4974 E Clinton Way, Fresno, CA 93727
Date/Time: November 9, 2024 from 10:00am - 4:00pm
Sign Up Link: boys2mengirls2women.org
Other Information: There will be a pre-event training on November 8, 2024 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.

Name of Event: Firewise Demonstration and Native Pollinator Garden Workday

Duties: We will be creating a Firewise Demonstration Garden that will be an example of how to have defensible space around your property to protect it from wildfires. We will also be planting a native pollinator habitat for monarch butterflies.
Organization: Sierra Resource Conservation District
Location: 33224 Auberry Rd. Auberry CA 93602
Date/Time: November 2, 2024 from 8:00am - 12:00pm
Sign Up Link: Email mpowers@sierrarcd.com to sign up to volunteer.
Other Information: Please wear closed toed shoes and clothing that you are not afraid to get dirty.

Name of Event: November Blood Drive Preparation Day

Duties: During this session, we will be creating posters, hanging up posters across campus, writing thank you cards to blood donors, making friendship bracelets, creating social media content, and more.
Organization: Richter Center and Central CA Blood Center
Location: Resnick Student Union, Room 207
Date/Time: November 7, 2024 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Sign Up Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvGMuStuNSmTYBsATgIvr7jFa9rqXrsVV2sdsTAVKQnjS1Hg/viewform?usp=sf_link
Other Information: You may sign up for 2:00pm - 3:00pm, 3:00pm - 4:00pm, or both!

Name of Event: Love-An-Alley Day

Duties: Litter and weed abatement for alleys in Central Fresno.
Organization: Beautify Fresno
Location: Kirk Elementary School, 2000 E Belgravia Ave, Fresno, CA 93706
Date/Time: November 9, 2024 from 9:00am - 11:00am
Sign Up Link: Register at BeautifyFresno.org after Oct. 16
Other Information: Beautify Fresno will provide all materials and will remove trash bags after the event.

Name of Event: Catholic Charities Food Pantry

Duties: Bagging food for Food / Turkey Distributions; Cleaning the parking lot and yardwork.
Organization: Catholic Charities
Location: 149 N Fulton Street Fresno, CA 93701
Date/Time: November 6, 2024 - November 7, 2024 from 10:00am - 12:00pm, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Sign Up Link: email: cnichols@ccdof.org

Name of Event: Cleanup at Fresno Discovery Center

Duties: Deep cleaning outside exhibits, pulling weeds in the garden, and cleaning the pond
Organization: Fresno Discovery Center
Location: Fresno Discovery Center, 1944 N Winery Ave, Fresno, CA 93703
Date/Time: November 2, 2024 from 9:00am - 12:00pm
Sign Up Link: https://www.fresnodiscoverycenter.org/volunteer
Other Information: Please leave a note when signing the volunteer application that you are part of the Bud Richter service week.

Name of Event: Poverello House

Duties: Volunteers will assist in the warehouse by sorting and labeling clothing for the clothing closet. Volunteers placed in the Papa Mike's Cafe will serve and bus tables. Additionally, some volunteers will help create hygiene kits for our on-campus shower facilities.
Organization: Poverello House
Location: 412 F St, Fresno, CA 93706
Date/Time: November 3, 2024 from 10:00am - 1:00pm
Sign Up Link: https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=0181&console_type=event_list&ht=1&event_id=445&res_code=HLWZKJ
Other Information: Dress code is required: shirt, jeans/slacks, closed toed shoes (NO crocs, pajamas, or shorts)

Name of Event: Poverello House Papa Mike's Cafe

Duties: Assist in kitchen, meal serving, and preparation.
Organization: Richter Center
Location: 412 F St, Fresno, CA 93706
Date/Time:  November 8, 2024 from 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Sign Up Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0f_lyjI7DjilXjYeaCIOvuG6HIMvwoDyvzP2Ho_dfzEMN6Q/viewform 
Other Information: Lunch will be provided.

Name of Event: Plant a Winter Garden at Dakota EcoGarden

Duties: This is an extraordinary opportunity to help serve our homeless community. You will work side by side with the residents who now have a place to call home. Dakota EcoGarden provides housing for the homeless and the residents upkeep a garden that provides their food. Join us as we plant our winter garden.
Organization: Dakota EcoGarden
Location: 2231 W Dakota Ave, Fresno, CA 93705
Date/Time: November 9, 2024 from 9:00am - 12:00pm
Sign Up Link: Email monarchimpowerment2021@gmail.com to sign up to volunteer.

Name of Event: Don Romsa Day of Service Food Distribution

Duties: Volunteers will help set up, hand out food, help people carry items to their cars, and clean up afterwards.
Organization: Bulldog Pantry
Location: 2311 E Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93710
Date/Time: November 9, 2024 from 8:00am - 11:30am
Sign Up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044ca5ae2ea7f85-food#/
Other Information: The sign ups for this event will be posted on November 4, 2024.

Name of Event: Veterans Home of California-Fresno

Duties: Volunteers will assist the Groundskeepers in maintaining a clean and welcoming environment for Veterans. By keeping the area neat and tidy, we ensure that Veterans can enjoy the beautiful scenery on Veterans Day. This effort honors their service, showing appreciation by creating a peaceful space and serving them in a meaningful way.
Organization: Richter Center
Location: 2811 W Cesar Chavez Blvd, Fresno, CA 93706
Date/Time: November 9, 2024 from 7:30am - 12:00pm
Sign Up Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0f_lyjI7DjilXjYeaCIOvuG6HIMvwoDyvzP2Ho_dfzEMN6Q/viewform 
Other Information: Lunch will be provided.

Name of Event: Stone Soup

Duties: Assist in facilitating STEAM activities and demonstrations for 2nd to 6th grade children and prepare/clean materials.
Organization: Richter Center
Location: 1345 E Bulldog Ln, Fresno, CA 93710 
Date/Time: November 9, 2024 from 7:30am - 1:00pm
Sign Up Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0f_lyjI7DjilXjYeaCIOvuG6HIMvwoDyvzP2Ho_dfzEMN6Q/viewform 
Other Information: Lunch will be provided.

 

 

Spring 2025 Semester

Students volunteering with trash clean up

When: January 29, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Where: The Ballroom of the Resnick Student Union  

When students partner with local community benefit organizations a unique opportunity arises for students to develop a better understanding of the comprehensive needs that exist in the community. These partnerships provide students with valuable learning experiences and community agencies with a valuable pool of potential volunteers, interns, and even employees.

During the Community Service Opportunities Fair students will have the opportunity to learn about volunteer, service-learning, internship and career opportunities offered through area community benefit organizations. 

Current Service Opportunities

 

Fresno State mascot donating blood

 

Benefiting the Central California Blood Center 

The Blood Drives will be held on campus on the below dates at the following locations: RSU 107, Memorial Gardens and the Free Speech Area

  • February 4, 2025: 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM (Free Dutch Bros.)
  • February 5, 2025: 9:00 A.M.- 4:00 P.M. (Free Giveaways)
  • February 6, 2025: 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. (Free Dutch Bros.)
  • April 29, 2025: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 
  • April 30, 2025: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 
  • May 1, 2025: 9:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. 

To donate blood you must be in good general health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be at least 17 years old. Photo ID is required at donor registration. Please eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids four hours prior to donation. Donating blood is not painful and takes less than an hour. YOUR donation could save up to three lives!

Get Connected: Become a Blood Center Ambassador! Support campus blood drives by spreading the word and volunteering at the blood drives.

Blood Center Ambassador Interest Form

 

student volunteers with shovels and wheelbarrows

The Fresno State Alternative Break Program has been providing students with opportunities to support the local community since 2001. Student teams work together at a variety of sites throughout the region. There are numerous benefits to participating in the Alternative Break Program, such as:

  • Developing leadership skills through team building, communication, and coordination.
  • Networking with other students and community benefit organizations.
  • Enhancing personal and professional development.
  • Completing 25-30 community service hours.
  • Making a difference in the lives of our community members!

This year's Alternative Spring Break is still under construction, check back for the dates! 

Learn More and Sign Up Here

 

students posing around art of life sign

Spring into Service is back! 

Recruitment for our Spring one-day service events is now OPEN! 

The Richter Center has two amazing one-day service opportunities coming up, and we’d love for you to be a part of them. Whether you’re passionate about helping animals or enjoy working with kids, there’s a meaningful way for you to give back and make a real impact in our Fresno community.

Service Project Options:

🐶 Friday, May 2 | 12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Valley Animal Center (3934 N Hayston Ave, Fresno, CA 93726)
Help out at the animal shelter and show some love to our furry friends. It’s a great way to give back and get your puppy fix.
Bonus: Meal provided!

🏀 Saturday, May 3 | 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Hidalgo Elementary School (3550 E Thomas Ave, Fresno, CA 93702)
Join Every Neighborhood Partnership for Saturday Sports! You’ll spend the morning playing games, making crafts, and creating fun memories with elementary school kids.
Bonus: Lunch provided!

A few things to note:

  • You’ll need to provide your own transportation to and from the site.
  • Please make sure you’re available for the full duration of the shift.
  • If you need to change your sign-up, click “Edit Response” on your form and email kferreira@csufresno.edu.

Please sign up below and let’s make a difference — together!

Sign Up Here!

See you out there!