There are dozens of ways to engage in community service or pursue your interests in the Golden Isles. Whatever your passion – rescuing animals, being an environmental steward, working on community beautification, participating in road races, honing (or learning) a skill or raising money for a worthy cause – you can do it here. And if that’s not enough good news, getting involved is good for both the psyche and the soul, particularly if you’ve recently undergone a life-altering event.
Whatever the reason, it’s good to be involved. You’ll be happier, healthier and have a ton of friends with whom to enjoy life.
I haven’t had time to count all the ways there are to become involved, but the opportunities are plentiful, and you can always be as involved or as hands-off as you want to be. Obviously, there isn’t room to list all the various organizations and volunteer opportunities in the Golden Isles, but we’ve picked a few for you to consider. See more opportunities at coastalillustrated.com.
Golden Isles Track Club
If “active” is your middle name, the Golden Isles Track Club is a great way to meet people, learn the area at the street level and engage in as much or as little socializing as you like. This group doesn’t only run for fun, they perform community service, fund scholarships, attend outdoor concerts, have parties and enjoy each other’s company. Even though they’re a long-standing group, new members are always welcome. The nonprofit organization is committed to promoting exercise as fun for the young and “young at heart.” Not limited to runners, Golden Isles Track Club welcomes walkers, joggers, and cyclists, and people of all speeds and exercise levels. The club is a member of the Road Runners Club of America. Learn more about them by visiting goldenislestrack.club.
Keep Golden Isles Beautiful
Keep Golden Isles Beautiful is a volunteer and a community-based educational organization that depends on monetary, in-kind and volunteer support from individuals, businesses, local governments, civic/community organizations and schools to provide litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, community greening, water resource and educational programming and activities to Brunswick and Glynn County citizens. The organization has infinite volunteer opportunities either through one of its many scheduled events or just by clicking on the link and asking how you can help. Visit kgib.org for more info.
Island Newcomers Club
If you are new to St. Simons or Sea Island, this should be your first stop. This well-oiled machine of an organization works to introduce newcomers to the Golden Isles and each other. There are interest groups for most everything from book clubs and bowling to dining (both in and out) and golf, in addition to monthly Newcomers Nights Out, Island Adventures, volunteering and other fun activities. The club is a group of St. Simons and Sea Island residents open to couples, singles, men and women. There is a detailed listing of membership requirements and upcoming activities on the club’s webpage at islandnewcomers.org. Info: membership@islandnewcomers.org.
Golden Isles Duplicate Bridge
This busy club plays at the Golden Isles Bridge Center, 114 Skylane Court, on St. Simons Island. This is an American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) club and offers “friendly and competitive bridge to players of all levels.” More of the club’s activities can be viewed on its Facebook Page – Golden Isles Duplicate Bridge – and for more information, you can reach them at jeffeyyoung@yahoo.com, 802-363-8039 or by visiting the website at bridgewebs.com/goldenisles
Auxiliary Hospice of the Golden Isles
Perhaps the biggest event the auxiliary is known for is the annual Wine, Women and Shoes, which has taken place at both The Cloister and Frederica Golf Club in the past. This is THE event for women who love wine, shoes, socializing, and most importantly Hospice of the Golden Isles, the oldest nonprofit hospice organization in the Golden Isles. This auxiliary supports HGI which provides tender, respectful, end-of-life and palliative care for people regardless of their ability to pay. At each holiday, the auxiliary provides gift cards and meals for underserved families whose loved ones are in the care of HGI. There are also a number of volunteer opportunities at HGI. For more info, visit auxiliaryhospicegi.org.
Southeast Georgia Health System Auxiliary
There are tons of volunteer opportunities for folks at the health system. Auxiliary members often work as greeters and help direct visitors and patients to where they need to go, in addition to being gift shop representatives. In addition to the auxiliary, there are volunteers who work with the Coastal Medical Access Project (CMAP), pet therapy, pastoral care and patient and resident visits. For full explanations of all the possibilities, visit sghs.org.
Kiwanis Club of Brunswick
Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Today, we stand with more than 550,000 members from K-Kids to Key Club to Kiwanis and many ages in between in 80 countries and geographic areas. Each community has different needs, and Kiwanis empowers members to pursue creative ways to serve the needs of children, such as fighting hunger, improving literacy and offering guidance. Kiwanis clubs host nearly 150,000 service projects each year.
Fundraisers and events support organizations including The Boys and Girls Club, Literary Contest for local public and private school students, scholarships, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Coastal Youth Symphony, YMCA, 4-H, Career Academy Foundation, House of Hope, Coastal Youth Soccer and others. For details, visit brunswick.kiwanisone.org
International Seafarers’ Center
Perhaps one of the area’s most unique ministries and volunteer opportunities, the International Seafarers’ Center assists those merchant marines from other countries who visit the Port of Brunswick. This ecumenical Christian nonprofit strives to be the “best hospitality and humanitarian organization in the global maritime industry,” and serves people of all faiths and ethnicities.
Volunteers do guided ship tours for visitors, ground tours for mariners, medical aid, store assistance, and help with administrative duties and special events. There are two centers for the mariners – one on Newcastle Street in Brunswick and the other on Colonel’s Island – where seafarers can by snacks, drinks and personal items. At the centers, mariners will also find a rec room and pool table, free Bibles, musical instruments, free clothing and free WiFi. The centers are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day a ship is in port. Visit seafarerscenter.org to learn how to help.
Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia
The humane society loves to have volunteers because they make a huge difference in preparing dogs and cats for their new forever homes. Volunteers are needed who are able to exercise and socialize the animals on a daily basis. According to the website, volunteers may also be asked to help with cleaning, offsite events, office help, yard work and other tasks, depending on their abilities and desire to perhaps interact less directly with animals. Other volunteer jobs include grooming and bathing dogs, working in the Lucky Dog retail store or Big Flea resale store and fostering an animal until it can be permanently placed. For more information, visit hsscg.org.
No Kill Glynn County
No Kill Glynn County (NKGC) works toward eliminating euthanasia by working to find homes for unwanted or homeless cats and dogs. NKGC is a 501c3, all-volunteer, nonprofit with zero paid staff or government funding. It is completely dependent on private grants and contributions. The volunteers are animal lovers who want to make a difference in their community. NKGC is a foster-based rescue; there is not a facility to house the animals. All NKGC’s animals are in foster homes until they have been adopted into their new forever homes. Since NKGC was founded, over 3,500 cats have been spayed or neutered, and thousands of cats have been adopted. Since 2020, more than 175 dogs have been saved from euthanasia. Details: nokillglynncounty.org.
Rotary International
Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. Its mission is to “provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through [the] fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders”. It is a non-political and non-religious organization. Membership is by invitation and based on various social factors. There are over 46,000 member clubs worldwide, with a membership of 1.4 million individuals, known as Rotarians. Many signature events, including Taps at Twilight and the annual Chili Cook-Off are sponsored by various local Rotary chapters.The Golden Isles has four Rotary Clubs:
• Brunswick Rotary - Founded in 1921, it is the oldest Rotary Club in Glynn County. The club meets at noon Thursdays at the Brunswick Country Club.
• St. Simons Island - This group meets at noon Tuesdays at the Best Western Place, on Main Street, St. Simons Island.
• Golden Isles – This is a breakfast group and meets at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays in the Kemble Conference Center at the Southeast Georgia Health System.
• Jekyll Island – The Jekyll Island Rotary meets at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesdays on the second floor of Tribuzio’s Grille, on Jekyll Island.
For more information, and links to the clubs, visit rotary.org.
