Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer? Then look at the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation for an activity that suits your interests. Visitors frequently write great reviews and are typically happy to find such a natural oasis that's free. Our volunteers often engage with visitors to help them have a better experience. You may wish to read our Strategic Plan 2025 for a better feel of our purpose and how you may fit in. Depending upon your interests, physical abilitieis, and time available, we have something for you. The most common volunteer activies include processing memberships, answering phones, supporting the Executive Director's team and working in the Gift Shop. Gift Shop workers greet people, help them find unique items, and handling the transactions. They are our membership ambassadors, often the first people to explain our membership programs. For those interested in our Holiday Lights in the Gardens fundraising event, there are a broad range of activities, some more physically demanding than others. Volunteers the night of the event greet people at the entrances, process their donations, and give them directions. Volunteers show up around 5:00 pm for their instructions and assignments. Our gates open at 5:30. We start closing down the 4 entrances around 9:00. Its a great opportunity to meet and work with like minded people. Please consider becoming part of our volunteer team. Then there are the Workshop Elves. The Elves (we accept regular people for this as well) meet every third Saturday starting in March. The Workshop is air conditioned and the Elves can sit to do their work in 3 hour shifts. And, no, we don't wear Elf costumes! Around late September through late November, the "Installation Elves" take over. While our electrical crew does the work hanging lignts in trees, our Installer Elves place display items, decorate the gardens, and set up signage. It does require walking, physical movement, carrying items, and being outdoors. Typically, we work on Thursdays and Saturdays. We remove and store the displays starting the day after Holiday Lights ends, wrapping up the dismantling by January 31. If you enjoy being outdoors in the Gardens, this is a great opportunity. Volunteers may also choose to assist on public and member only events such as Pumpkin Fest, Valentine's Day, Annual Meeting, and Membership Events. You may volunteer for joining one of our several committees related to the Gardens. If interested in the Gift Shop or other activities, just give us a call at 727-753-7840 or send us an email from Contact Us . Please let us know your interest so we may have the correct person respond.