Choosing to Give Through Volunteering

Published by The Maneater ~ Blythe Terrell                                                                                   December 6, 2002
           

Choosing to Give Through Volunteering
Many Columbia agencies offer students volunteer opportunities.

Caroline & Company
www.carolineandcompany.com

For some students, the gift of time may be all they can afford this holiday season. This fits the needs of charities and nonprofit organizations, said Barb Carman, spokeswoman for Caroline & Company.

The company provides a listing on its web site of nonprofit organizations needing volunteers.

"Obviously it's the holiday season, and obviously people are looking for places they can contribute financially or service-wise," Carman said. "Students may not have cash, but when finals are over they may be able to contribute time."

Voluntary Action Center
449-6959

Columbia's Voluntary Action Center has a list of volunteer opportunities and runs an adopt-a-family program.

Campus organizations adopting families include some Greek chapters, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team and the engineering dean's office, said Cindy Mustard, executive director of the center.

Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority has adopted the family of a member of the nationwide sorority, President Kristin Morin said. The sorority, which is also holding a clothing drive, does a holiday philanthropy project each year.

"Last year we adopted a family and helped Toys for Tots," Morin said. "We changed it because we realized needs change every year."

All 1,150 families have sponsors, but the center is looking for volunteers Dec. 9 to 18 for gift processing.

"We have to unload and sort gifts and then have families pick them up," Mustard said. "Volunteers are basically unloading cars and loading them back up."

Boone County Council on Aging
443-1111

Students who do not mind a bit of housework have places where they can volunteer. The Boone County Council on Aging is seeking snow shovelers for winter months, Volunteer Coordinator Pat Jones said.

Seize the Day
446-2221

Seize the Day is another program that helps the elderly. Volunteers spend time with older people who need company or help around the house, said Robin Reuben, who runs the program from her home.

Volunteers for the program tend to be long-term, but Reuben said she would like holiday help. "We have fewer volunteers around the holidays because people go out of town," Reuben said. "It would be nice to have people who want to volunteer only during that time if they'll be here over the holiday."

Central Missouri Food Bank
874-7848

Central Missouri Food Bank needs help organizing and running its food pantry, Assistant Pantry Coordinator Jared Douglas said.

"We want people to volunteer whenever they can," Douglas said. "You can walk in and work that day."

Use Less Stuff campaign
874-6271

Students interested in the environment can volunteer for Columbia's Public Works Volunteer Program's Use Less Stuff campaign, which raises awareness of how much is wasted over the holidays, spokeswoman Christine Gardner said.