The Volunteer and Community Partnership Fair can be a way for students to learn about more than 80 local non-profit organizations, which happens to be one reason why sophomore Jennifer Rudy will be attending.
“I’m pretty excited to go to it, especially because I have already done volunteer work before,” Rudy said. “I think it is a great opportunity for everyone.”
The fair is Tuesday in the Union Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be the Office of Service Learning’s fourth time hosting the event. Before the fair starts, there will be a morning workshop from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. on social media.
“The fair is open to everyone to offer professional development and connections for those who seek it,” said Jane Rosser, director of service learning.
There are a few returning organizations along with a handful of new ones who will be attending, she said.
“We support the organizations getting connected with our campus and this workshop is also a great way for that,” Rosser said.
Rosser said she recommends students to attend both the workshop and the fair.
“This is a great opportunity for both organizations and the students because people respond really well when meeting face-to-face, plus it is a great way to become aware of opportunities students may not have thought of before,” Rosser said.
Rudy did volunteer work this past year at a soup kitchen and it made her realize there are more volunteer opportunities.
She encourages everyone to volunteer at some point in their lives.
Since Rudy has volunteered in the past, she believes the fair is a good way to help shed light on other volunteer options.
She will be doing volunteer work for Pet Rescue, which is a non-profit organization that rescues injured or abandoned animals, this year. This is where Rudy would like to commit a fair amount of time to.
Because so many majors require internships before graduation, this could be students’ chance to start looking. However, students also may be in search of an internship that is paid, which is not always going to be the case.
“Many students want the money but need experience before that,” Rosser said. “These organizations will do just that for them.”
Sophomore Melissa Goige said students should take on this opportunity.
“I think I am going to attend,” she said. “You don’t really hear a lot about volunteer opportunities on campus so I think it will definitely make me more aware and inform me of what there is out there,” she said.
Regardless of the reasons students attend, Rosser said 400 to 500 students usually stop by.
“Organizations return because of the turn out and the help they receive,” Rosser said. “I encourage students to at least stop by.”
