Volunteer Fair at CSN
By Amber Sampson
College of Southern Nevada students and volunteer organizations gathered September 11 at Cheyenne campus for the 2013 Volunteer Fair to seek ways to help and recruit members.
CSN Serves, the volunteer and service-learning unit of Student Life and Leadership Development, sponsored the event. According to Alejandra Romero, service-learning volunteer coordinator, the department works with over 20 non-profit organizations and connects students with various volunteer programs.
“When you graduate, you’re not just going to get a job offered,” Romero said. “You need to start building a network. You need help to build those resume skills that you’ll need when you get out in your field to make you credible.” One way to do that is to volunteer.
In addition, students seeking scholarships should consider helping organizations. According to Romero, 90 percent of scholarships require students to explain what they have done for the community.
CSN student Marvin Cantorna volunteered for Operation Homefront, which helps families of service members and wounded warriors with financial and food assistance. Cantorna flexed his leadership skills by helping others and enhanced his resume with volunteerism.
Whether it’s hiking Mount Charleston trails with US Forest Service, feeding and clothing the homeless with Las Vegas Rescue Mission, or helping a family adopt its first puppy with The Animal Foundation, students gain experience and develop their skills.
The Fair welcomed organizations from many sectors including: health centers, such as Infinity Hospice Care; domestic violence charities, such as Safe Nest; and house building organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity.
Infinity Hospice Care Volunteer Coordinator Dee Dee Williams says it impacts volunteers internally.
“It’s definitely educational but also life changing because you get to be there for somebody in their final stages,” Williams said. “So basically you could be the last person who makes them laugh or smile and so people enjoy that. They get a feeling of being needed.”
For more information on how to get involved, students can visit www.csn.edu/csnserves.
Coyote Student News at the College of Southern Nevada 