To get students connected with service opportunities in their collegiate backyard, the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement is hosting its bi-annual volunteer fair on Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Don Taft University Center Spine.
The fair will feature tables from community affiliates in the Ft. Lauderdale area who will talk with students about projects and service opportunities for individual students and student organizations. This year’s organizations include Flamingo Gardens, Habitat for Humanity, the Orange Bowl Ambassador Program, Feeding South Florida, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County and the Mental Health Association of Southeast Florida.
Stephanie Schoeder, graduate assistant for the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, said that the office wanted to make sure the community affiliates could relate to students’ interests.
Mariah Knowles, sophomore finance major, attended the volunteer fair last fall and said that she liked the variety of organizations that were present. She said that she particularly enjoyed talking to the representatives from Junior Achievement of South Florida, a non-profit organization that teaches students financial literacy. After speaking with representatives at the fair, she served with the organization.
“I think service is an important part of everyone’s life, and if you have an opportunity to serve, take it,” she said. “This fair gives you the opportunity to find people you can serve with that you’ll enjoy working with and to find an organization that matches your passions and interests.”
Schoeder said that for this semester’s fair, she’s been trying to get more service-oriented student organizations to table so that students can be more informed about places on campus to get involved. For Schoeder, service is a thoroughly rewarding activity.
“You’re not doing it for yourself, but you always feel very satisfied after you’re finished working because you get to see what you’ve accomplished and how much you’re able to help other people,” she said. “I know some people do it for the serve hours or as a resume builder, but the interactions that you have when you do service are more valuable than those tangible things.”
Schoeder said that students should come with an open mind, be willing to look over the different opportunities and sign up for something they’re interested in.
“You get to learn about the different ways that these organizations are helping out the community, and if you want to have an impact, you can be a part of that,” she said.
Knowles said she would recommend the event to other students.
“The fair is very casual,” she said. “The variety is good…I got to learn about different needs in the community that I didn’t know existed.”
To learn more about the volunteer fair, contact the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement at 954-262-7195 or slce@nova.edu.
Photo Caption: At the fair, community affiliates explain different volunteer projects their organizations need help with.
Photo Credit: S. Schoeder
