Atlanta college students are less engaged in volunteering compared to their peers nationwide—this is largely due to time constraints, scheduling conflicts, and a lack of accessible opportunities. Our research showed a disconnect between students and the broader Atlanta community. Inspired by insights from the CEO of Hands On Atlanta, we explored the concept of lifestyle volunteering—casual, drop-in opportunities that fit into students’ daily routines.

We designed Volun-Near, a mobile app that helps students discover nearby, low-commitment volunteer options. The goal: make volunteering easier to fit into busy lives while building stronger community ties and long-term engagement.