Volunteer Opportunities

Our A-B Tech Therapy Dog program aims to spread compassion, empathy, and, most importantly, "pawsitivity" across our campus. Therapy Dog Teams (Dog & Owner) have regular routes on campus, visiting public areas and staff offices. The Teams also assist with special requests such as visiting classrooms before exams, counseling sessions, or special events on campus. Teams typically serve 1 hour once a week on our main campus. Therapy Dog teams are scheduled to ensure they are not in the same building or area at the same time as other teams.

Therapy Dog Teams must be certified by an accredited Therapy Dog Agency before starting. As of 2021, the Volunteer Program accepts Therapy Dog certification from the following agencies, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Therapy Dogs International, Pet Partners (previously Delta Society).

The Asheville Radio Museum, located on the main campus of A-B Tech Community College, traces the history of radio from the early days of spark-gap transmitters through the 1960s. Exhibits and artifacts include Atwater Kent, Philco, and Silvertone Radios.

Volunteers act as museum hosts, greeting visitors and answering questions. The museum is an excellent opportunity for volunteers who have an interest and experience in radios (Commercial and Ham Radios), history, and electronics. The museum is open Saturdays from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., and volunteers are encouraged to visit the museum before deciding to volunteer. To learn more, visit Asheville Radio Museum.

The Veteran’s Café is part of the Student Services Division at A-B Tech. A-B Tech recognizes that student veterans have unique challenges and greatly benefit from peer support and comradery; the Vet’s Café fills this need. The Café is a veteran’s only place where students can get a snack, do their homework, access computers, or hang out in a relaxed and supportive environment with other veterans.

Volunteers are the heart of the Café making sure it runs smoothly, and snacks and coffee are always in abundance. They also create and maintain a welcoming and supportive environment by providing a listening ear and sharing their life experiences with students. Some Vet’s Café volunteers even offer tutoring assistance during their shifts at the Café.

Responsibilities include being present in the Vet’s Café and building relationships with the students who come into the café and know about resources for Veterans and point students towards those resources.

Skills required are to have patience and understanding while volunteering at the café and to have good listening and computer skills. Must be 20 years of age or older and volunteers with military (either active duty or family member) experience are preferred.

Volunteers in the RESET Room are supporters of those in recovery or those wanting to get connected to resources for recovery. The RESET Room is a quiet space set aside for students in recovery of any kind to take a break from a busy and stressful day. For more information visit Addiction, Recovery, and Coping (ARC).