The Heart of Texas Peace Corps Association (HoTPCA) is committed to offering service opportunities that engage and unite the Peace Corps community in Central Texas. Many of our HoTPCA members are returned volunteers who have shown their dedication to continuing to serve the community beyond their close of service (COS) date.
The HoTPCA Volunteer Committee, chaired by Mariel Stotts (Nicaragua 2013-2015), organizes occasional volunteer activities for general membership, holds at least one volunteering-related event per quarter, recruits and manages volunteers for HoTPCA events, and recognizes volunteer activism throughout the year.
On Saturday, July 21, HoTPCA members volunteered at the Austin Animal Center to help walk dogs and socialize cats before the shelter opened to the public that day. Austin Animal Center runs the largest No Kill municipal animal shelter in the United States, providing shelter to more than 18,000 animals each year and animal protection services to all of Austin and Travis County. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who joined our Volunteer Chair Mariel Stotts (left) on Saturday morning!
Additionally, huge thanks to all of the above-pictured volunteers who came out to HoTPCA’s recent school garden workday organized by event host Michele Hockett Cooper (Kazakhstan 2011). It’s amazing what 10 people can accomplish in just 2 hours! The garden looks amazing – it’s ready for students who will arrive back at school in less than a month. The students and staff are so grateful to those who were able to volunteer.
Contact Mariel if you are interested in learning about the next volunteer opportunity or serving as an event host for a future service event!