Volunteer fair builds bridge between students and community

More than 40 community agencies will gather at McMaster on Tuesday, Sept. 19 to promote the many diverse volunteer opportunities they have to offer students and staff. The fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the MUSC Marketplace.

Representatives from organizations providing services related to animals, children, GLBTQ communities, health, immigrant and refugee communities, older persons, poverty, special needs and women in conflict with the law will be available to answer questions about their organizations and how to get involved. Many agencies offer individual opportunities as well as group opportunities that may be suitable for a family or a group of friends.

“Many students seek out volunteering as a way to explore future careers and build skills that are transferable to the workplace,” says Ruthanne Talbot, Community Education Coordinator in the Faculty of Social Sciences. “For other students, volunteering is simply a way to learn about and give back to the community.”

The Experiential Education office in the Faculty of Social Sciences also encourages students to explore volunteering as a hands-on link to academics. Several courses offered by the faculty allow students to complete community-based placements, and the fair gives these students an opportunity to find a placement that is appropriate for the course, or an agency that may be willing to work collaboratively with a student interested in conducting community-based research.

“Each year we build stronger and deeper relationships with the community,” says Talbot. “Our students have a chance to learn in an applied environment and agencies gain access to skilled and enthusiastic students who can help fulfill real needs in our community. The fair provides a bridge between McMaster and the community.”

Many of the same agencies return each year to the fair, pleased with the quality of students they have recruited in the past.

Lian Ellis, Coordinator of Volunteer Services at Brain Injury Services of Hamilton (BISH), says this about her McMaster student volunteers: “They aren't just reliable and committed, they can also be extremely innovative. Mac students have come to BISH with suggestions for [various] workshops and then arranged and implemented the sessions with great success. This introduction of new activities is a terrific bonus for staff as well as participants.”

Career Services will have a table at the fair to promote the volunteer referral service available through their office. During the academic year, students interested in volunteering can drop by Gilmour Hall 110 to meet with trained Peer Helpers and receive information about various volunteer opportunities available in the Hamilton area.

The fair is offered collaboratively by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Experiential Education, Career Services, Community Volunteer Action Group and Volunteer Hamilton.

If you are unable to visit the fair, but are interested in viewing some of the opportunities that are available, click here to visit the Volunteer Hamilton website.