The first annual Community Engagement Fair gave students a chance to explore volunteer opportunities this past Monday.
The event was hosted by the new Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement, a conglomerate program of the original Leadership Development Center and the added community service-based program.
"We usually do this with the School of Management, but this year with our expansion, we decided it was a good time to do it on our own," said Terri Frysh, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Center.
Sixteen local organizations and four on-campus organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Western New York and Alpha Phi Omega set up booths to recruit student volunteers.
Ashlee Dawson, a sophomore biomedical sciences major, thinks that participating in volunteer activities related to her career field will be a resume-builder. She hopes to become a pediatrician and plans on taking advantage of Kaleida Health's childcare development activities to get hands-on experience.
"There were a lot of useful volunteer opportunities here. I always meant to volunteer but I never go out into the community looking for it, so when they bring it here it makes it that much easier," Dawson said. "I want to be a pediatrician, so volunteering in the child field is what I have to be doing right now."
Just as students depend on volunteer work for resumes, non-profit organizations depend on student volunteers to keep their programs going.
"I don't think any non-profit organization could exist without volunteers. I think it's also good to start volunteering at a younger age to get a sense of what it's like to help others and get involved in the community," said Tami Gabri, a representative for the American Cancer Society. "I think the fair did very well for us."
According to Gabri, students volunteering for the American Cancer Society become part of a planning committee that helps put events such as the Relay for Life and Daffodil Days together.
Vive la Casa, an organization for world refugees, also depends heavily on volunteers to provide services to refugees in Buffalo, according to recruiter Tom Tripp.
"Whatever time (volunteers) can put in is very valuable and helps us expand our network," Tripp said. "Our clients are escaping some kind of political unrest or political changes. We house them, feed them and we give them legal advice as to how to enter Canada or the US."
Students could help by processing refugees, interacting with the children by reading to them and playing games, and also by preparing and serving food, Tripp explained.
According to Tripp, student volunteers can help the Buffalo community through Vive la Casa by helping them to give the city a good reputation as a welcoming and caring place.
For Frysh, the fair is designed to show the positive influence the University has on the surrounding community.
"The idea is that we want to show how UB students have an impact on the community and bring in a lot of organizations to encourage students to volunteer," she said. "This is a centralized location for students to see where they can volunteer."
Frysh estimated that about 75 students walked through the fair, gathering information and eating the complimentary popcorn, cookies and brownies.
"I think (the turnout) was okay. I think students that were here really wanted to be here to find ways to volunteer...there was sincere interest," she said.
However, Frysh hopes that attendance and outside participation will increase as the fair acquires more of a following on campus.
"Hopefully, as it continues, students will know and look for it each year. I think there is potential to always have more agencies, so there is room to grow," Frysh said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
