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Show BEYOND CAMPUS 5 The staff for the Center of Civic Engagement discusses future volunteer opportunities and upcoming events. The staff includes Julie Tille, Karson Ellers, Robyn Jones, Emily Johnson, Seamus Branch and Madeline Gere. Student volunteer opportunities include work at the Salt Lake City Road Home, Utah Food Bank and events on Westminster s campus. Three places to volunteer for the holidays Students look to get involved during the season of giving MOLLY ARNOLD STAFF REPORTER I I With Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwan-za- a and Christmas around the corner, many students are looking for ways to give back to their community, and places throughout the valley are looking for volunteers. Students who are looking to help this season have plenty of options, including the Salt Lake City Road Home, Utah Food Bank and events on Westminsters campus. These establishments are particularly good for college students since all three always have opportunities, are close to campus and already employ many Westminster students in volunteer services. Tve fed the homeless a few times, said Abby Sebastian, senior nursing major. They are always super appreciative of our time, and I always feel like I brightened their day. Hie Salt Lake City Road Home The Road Home hosts many events throughout the holidays for students to get involved in. One such event is called Candy Cane Corner, which starts on Nov. 30 and goes until Dec. 23. families can go It is where and shop for Christmas items and buy for their kids without actually having to pay for it, said Robyn Jones, junior psychology major and student event coordinator for the low-inco- Center of Civic Engagement. For this event, The Road Home is look ing for volunteers to sort donations and wrap gifts. For students who do not have time to volunteer, The Road Home also accepts clothing, toys and household item donations. The Road Home also creates turkey for Thanksgiving, which are for single men, women boxes and families who live The in-hou- se. include a grocery store gift card boxes ($5, $10 or $20), a roasting pan for turkey, canned veg- One way students can get involved with the food bank is by signing up for Meals on Wheels. If Westminster students have cars, once a month you can take a meal to a couple of people that are close to where you live or PEOPLE just near the food bank, said Jones, UNDERESTIMATE coordinator event for the Center of THE CHANGE Civic Engagement. Students can YOU CAN CREATE also participate in the Utah Human BY WORKING Race on Thanksgiv- OFTEN HARD WITHIN A ing Day, a 5K10K race that benefits the Utah Food Bank. etables, stuffing mix, instant COMMUNITY. potatoes, gravy mix and cranEvery sponsorberry sauce. SEAMUS BRANCH This year, The ship dollar and regSTUDENT SERVICE COORDINATOR istration fee raised Road Home needs from the Utah Huabout 200 boxes and will accept donations until Nov. 20. man Race goes to provide food and service "The Utah Food Bank to Utah communities statewide, according The holidays are a crazy time for the to the Utah Food Banks official website. Events Utah Food Bank as far as processing food and getting food out to families, said SeaIf students want to get in the mood for the holidays, Nov. 18 from 4 to 7 p.m., we mus Branch, student service coordinator and are helping out the Neighborhood House, SLICE (Student Leaders in Civic Engagement) coordinator for the Center of Civic Jones said. Its their annual holiday dinner and literacy celebration, so we will be help Engagement. On-Camp- us ing the clients that come and use the Neighborhood House. During this event, students will help with dinner and pass out books to the young students. to help create and give out hygiene kits with the Rowland Hall school community for the holidays. There is also an option opportunities for students to get involved. If the holidays arent These are just a few enough motivation, many students can look at volunteer work as a learning experience. People often underestimate the change you can create by working hard within a community, said Branch, student service coordinator. Its really cool to see positive things happen in your community that affect you, and you know that youre a part of that and see momentum build. Students can also use this opportunity to help get a job after college. Students should volunteer because number one, you can put that on your resume, said Jones, student event coordinator. It helps you get into grad schools especially if youre working with a specific organization. For more information, search for the Center for Civic Engagement on Westminsters website and click Get involved. |