Knights Who Serve

Knights Who Serve is a student-run organization that is committed to inspiring students to form a lasting bond with the communities in their lives, while learning and living out the value and importance of serving others.

History of the Organization
Knights Who Serve originally began as the Volunteer Action Center (VAC) and was established in 1994 with a focus on the Wartburg College mission statement. The underlying idea was to match student’s talents with community needs. The group is coordinated by a student director with oversight from the Service-Learning Coordinator. The organization has a set of annual events, along with fulfilling requests from the community.

Phone:  (319) 352-8641
Email: knightswhoserve@wartburg.edu
Location: Student Center HUB

Our Community Partners work with a wide variety of social issues and have a variety of volunteer needs. Whether you are looking to volunteer one time or make a sustained commitment to one agency, we can help you make the connection. Below is just a sampling of the community partners we work with on a regular basis.

If you are a community partner seeking the assistance of Wartburg Volunteers please complete the online request form.

Paperwork
Some sites require an application or additional paperwork prior to volunteering. Consult with a Knights Who Serve staff member to see what paperwork you might need to complete.  

Each semester, Knights Who Serve receives many requests from community members and non-profits who are looking for volunteers. If you are interested in any of the opportunities below, please contact knightswhoserve@wartburg.edu for more information. 

  • Childcare assistant Childcare assistants and/or substitute for in-home child care. Substitute and assistants must pass a DHS background check. Substitutes must also be CPR and 1st Aid certified; but the organization can help reimburse the cost of classes if they are needed.
  • Iowa College AmeriCorps Program (ICAP) was created to increase levels of volunteerism among college students in Iowa as part of their academic experience, while engaging them in their local campus community. Members help meet the greatest needs in their local campus community by volunteering 300 hours of service during an academic year. Upon successful completion of service ICAP members receive a $1,132 Education Award.
  • Working with ElderlyThere is an ongoing need for volunteers from 10 am-12 pm on Saturdays at Bartels.  They would like to have a few volunteers to come give manicures to the residents.

Need help finding a volunteer opportunity?
To request the assistance of the VAC in helping you find a volunteer opportunity please complete the Student Volunteer Placement Request Form. A staff member from the Volunteer Action Center will follow-up with you within 24 hours.

Knights Who Serve recognizes that there are many student volunteer hours that go undocumented each year. In order for us to capture the most accurate estimate of how many volunteer hours Wartburg students give in a year we need your help!

Whether you volunteered by yourself, with a team, or another student group, please let us know what you did! This information is utilized by Student Life when applying for national awards like the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

  • Student Volunteer Hours Report Form
    Please use this form to report any volunteer projects you, your athletic team or your student group (student organization, Res Hall Floor, etc) has organized or responded to. Any service participated in as an organized activity of Knights Who Serve, i.e. MLK Day, or a service-learning class does not need to be reported on this form. Questions may be directed to vac@wartburg.edu or x8641. 

Annual Events

American Red Cross Blood Drives: Twice a year the Volunteer Action Center teams up with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive. These blood drives give students, as well as faculty and staff, a chance to save a life by donating blood right on campus. The main goal of these blood drives is to capture those first-time givers and keep them coming back year after year.

Cans for a Cause: This is a program that gives student organizations around Wartburg College an opportunity to help with campus sustainability while earning money for their organization. Student groups volunteer to collect redeemable cans from around campus, in return the student organization will receive the deposits from the cans.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Week: Celebrated the 3rd week of January, this annual event brings together students, faculty and staff through service projects.