This extraordinarily fine museum of visual arts needs volunteers to work in many capacities. Things are always happening at this lively center, and volunteers are needed to serve as docents, work the information desk, handle publicity and run the gift shop. The museum constantly has new projects underway, such as exhibitions, educational and children's outreach programs and special events. If you love the visual arts, this is a wonderful place to offer your volunteer services.

Established in 1981, this nonprofit volunteer organization is Brunswick County's primary arts information and funding source. Nonprofit arts funding is channeled to this group from the North Carolina Arts Council. With money received each year, the Brunswick Arts Council provides financial assistance to approximately 18 local nonprofit arts groups through Grassroots Arts Program grants; sponsors community events such as Concert by the Sea; and publishes a directory of Brunswick County artists and art groups as well as sponsoring the Brunswick County Arts Council Art Show. The council also raises funds privately through its annual Miniature Masterpiece Gala. This funding provides assistance to individual artists and arts-related groups. Recently, the council partnered with the Brunswick County Board of Education to help introduce arts-integrated programs to all county schools. This valuable resource for local arts information is available through the organization, the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce, (910) 457-6964, and the Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, (800) 426-6644. Membership in the council is open to all interested citizens. The Brunswick Arts Council offers a range of programs, including cultural symposiums, programs for the classroom, bus trips to regional art venues, and more. Brunswick Arts Council's president, Gary Halberstadt, has recently established a fifth distinct operating division as a means to broaden its footprint throughout Brunswick County. Divisions include the new Multicultural Programs Division, Student Art Education/Appreciation, Performing Arts, Literary Arts, and Visual Arts. Halberstadt invites anyone interested in participating in an operating division to contact him in writing or to attend a council meeting, which is held on the second Monday of every month at 5:30 PM at the Administration Building of Brunswick Community College. Public attendance is invited as well.

As of November 2008, Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity has completed 23 homes for deserving families in need of suitable housing, and two construction projects are underway. Homes are built by volunteers, and no interest loans are extended to partner families who meet the minimum income requirements. Qualified homeowners provide their own sweat equity in the form of helping to build their home or volunteering in other ways to serve their community. Committees needing volunteers include family selection, family support, grant writing, construction, site selection, fund-raising and helping in both the Ocean Isle and Southport Restores.

Founded in 1987, Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity serves New Hanover County, northeastern Brunswick County and Pender County by creating affordable homes for qualified families to purchase. To date, nearly 80 homes have been built, making home ownership a reality for many families who might not have been able to own their home otherwise. Volunteers are part of the essence of this group and aid the overall organization by creating fund-raising events, working in the HomeStore or with the Family Selection Committee or simply by providing on site labor. If you’re older than 16 and want to help improve your community, Habitat is a great place to begin.

Friends of the Oak Island Lighthouse was formed to preserve the lighthouse and surrounding grounds, which were gifted to the Town of Caswell Beach by the federal government. Volunteers with expertise in education, fund-raising, retailing, special events and more are needed to assist with preservation, promotion, maintenance and public tours. Lighthouse tours up one level (12 steps) — for anyone age 7 and older — are conducted every Wednesday and Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM during the summer season (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Tours to the top of the lighthouse (up 131 ships ladder steps) — for anyone 10 and older — are conducted year round with at least two weeks notice and can be requested at www.oakislandlighthouse.org/tours.htm.

Volunteers interested in preserving the architectural heritage of the region are invited to work in these areas: public relations, membership, office work, events, photography, education, preservation action and urban properties. There is a yearly gala, the primary fund raiser, that relies on lots of volunteers for logistics, publicity, entertainment, food and everything else required to throw a major party and auction. The organization sponsors a home tour during Azalea Festival in April, a Repair Affair in spring and a 5K run in September.

Volunteers are needed for publicity, fund raising, membership drives and planning at this venerable organization, which seeks to accurately preserve the history of the area. Volunteers also work as docents and archivists in the society's home, the Latimer House. The society sponsors the annual Olde Wilmington by Candlelight Tour of Homes and the Secret Garden Tour.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport displays fascinating artifacts related to the maritime history of the Cape Fear Area (see our Attractions chapter). Volunteers are needed for conducting tours, summer programs and monthly adult programs.

Run by the Old Baldy Foundation, the Smith Island Museum is a replica of the historic lightkeeper's cottage. The $3 fee for touring the lighthouse is collected here, and the building houses artifacts and small items for sale. Volunteers are needed to staff the museum, to help with fund-raising and to give lectures and educational programs.

The Southport Visitors Center is a great place to stop and rest in the rockers on the porch. Inside is a fascinating wall display of the history of the area and included in the decor are historical artifacts. There are also films shown here. The center has ongoing recruitment for volunteers to work seasonal hours. These volunteers answer questions, provide visitors with brochures and maps of the self-guided walking tour, and sometimes sit in the rockers and shoot the breeze with folks eager to hear the old stories about the town of Southport.

Providing guidance and fostering smart development in historic downtown Wilmington, this nonprofit organization grew out of the effort years ago to revitalize the formerly flagging section of town. Now that downtown is booming, the group advocates planned economic growth and development in downtown. They also allow community members to get involved in keeping this historic portion of our community from the many pitfalls that come with a population explosion. From the Cape Fear Riverwalk to the burgeoning NOFO neighborhood, this group has their sights set on helping the Port City grow at a reasonable and prudent pace. Each year they host a Black and White Ball, for which volunteers are always welcome.

This sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation center does a tremendous job caring for sick and injured sea turtles. The center has cared for and released dozens of sea turtles back into the sea. The all-volunteer staff is responsible for the feeding and daily care of the resident patients. Volunteers also monitor the Topsail Island beaches every day during the summer nesting season.

BARK's mission is to promote responsible pet ownership through education, including organizing and sponsoring pet therapy and children's education programs. The organization also assists pet owners in need through donations of pet food to the Meals on Wheels 4 Pets run by the Brunswick County Social Services Department. Monetary donations as well as unopened bags of dog and cat food are welcome. Strutt Your Mutt, an annual fund-raising event held each September at Franklin Square Park in Southport, includes a free children's dog show sponsored by Southport Parks and Recreation.

The aquarium utilizes volunteers in numerous ways, from giving guided tours to helping with on-site tasks. Volunteers can give talks by the touch tank for kids who want to get their hands on some smaller aquatic life. They can also assist in diving tasks, provided they're certified and in good health. Other volunteer opportunities include cleaning tanks, diet preparation and animal feeding, among other things. The major requirement for these positions is a positive attitude and a love of marine life.

The Oak Island Feral Cats Club, staffed by volunteers and supported by donations, strives to reduce the feral cat population of the island using humane means. The club has traps to lend as well as instruction and assistance in their use. Once the cat is trapped, it is spayed/neutered and vaccinated, then returned to the area where it was trapped. These cats can be identified by the small notch in one ear. Businesses can volunteer to keep donation boxes on their counters. Individuals can call (910) 278-5481 to request traps. Interested parties are welcome to attend meetings held the fourth Thursday of every month at 6:30 PM at the Oak Island Recreation Center.

Operation Topcat provides free spaying and neutering for Topsail Island stray and feral cats. Since 1995, their bi-weekly clinic has treated more than a thousand cats and has placed hundreds of cats into loving homes. For volunteer information email Operation Topcat at otopcatnc@aol.com.

Paw's Place is a 5-acre, no-kill, nonprofit domestic animal facility, operating entirely on donations and volunteers. Paw's Place saves dogs and cats that have been abandoned, abused and neglected and nurses them back to health. They find loving homes for as many of these animals as they can and provide a sanctuary for those that are unable to be adopted. Volunteer opportunities are available in, but not limited to the following areas: cleaning kennels; feeding, walking, grooming, bathing and playing with dogs and puppies; maintaining the grounds; fixing kennels and cages; caring for feral cats; caring for ducks and plants in the memorial garden; making food runs; and helping with adoption days, fund-raisers and other projects.

Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter is the only state and federally licensed facility in Brunswick County that cares for injured or orphaned wild birds. Medical care, safety from predators, food and shelter from the elements are provided. When a bird is able to care for itself, it is released to the wild. The shelter makes every effort to rehabilitate an endangered species and every bird is treated with respect and caring. Some of the birds that have been rehabilitated through the efforts of the shelter include: a mute swan, a yellow crowned night heron, a falcon, a screech owl, a barred owl, a common loon, a brown pelican and a baby eastern screech owl. In addition to the donation of funds and supplies such as towels, cleaning materials and kennels, volunteers are needed to help care for the birds or to maintain and repair equipment.

SOAR is nonprofit, no-kill, animal rescue shelter that accommodates lost, abandoned and injured dogs and cats. They provide shelter, medical treatment, food and daily care and are open to the public on Saturdays between 10 AM and 2 PM. To visit at any other time, call for an appointment. Volunteers are needed in all areas for the care and feeding of these animals.