Volunteers are important for any club, group or nonprofit organization to carry out their missions.
To help Frederick Community College students connect with an organization to donate their time to, a Volunteer Fair was held Sept. 13, in FCC’s student lounge.
American Red Cross Frederick chapter was one of the organizations on site. Senior Volunteer Recruitment Specialist Kristi Giles explained that she is looking for two students to fill out positions in Blood Services and Disaster Services.
“It’s fantastic,” she said on working at the Red Cross.
City of Frederick Department of Housing and Human Services has been using volunteers for more than 15 years, according to Business and Marketing Developer Michael Grogan.
Grogan said looking for volunteers for the City of Frederick Food Bank and the Community Table. The Community Table is the Frederick Soup Kitchen with a new name.
Grogan appreciates the community’s role in volunteering.
“It’s nice to get the community involved,” Grogan said.
He also said “doesn’t matter who they (volunteers) are involved with” and he encourages students to go out and volunteer anywhere they can.
Requirements for the Food Bank volunteers are keeping the shelves stocked, handing out food to needy families, maintenance such as cleaning and recycling.
Hours at the food bank are 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday.
The Community Table needs volunteers to provide meals in the evening seven nights a week from 5:30 to 6:30 P.M. Individual volunteers can help on weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday or groups of volunteers can come in on weekends and major holidays. Groups can be religious institutions, companies, civic groups, etc if anyone is interested contact Grogan by calling 240-409-9005. Volunteers must be 16 years or older, and volunteers 16-18 must be supervised by an adult.
Freshman Sara Linthicun, 20, who is majoring in graphic design, attended the volunteer fair for the first time. She said that it was fun walking around the tables to see what opportunities were available. She also said her schedule was filled up, but if she had more time, she would volunteer more.
Freshman Nasareth Henderson, who is majoring in nursing, was at the fair as a student ambassador.
“It makes me feel really good” Henderson said about being a student ambassador. “I’m an outgoing person and this is just a good way to meet people and connect with people to get opportunities.”
As a student ambassador, she is still new to the position as she started approximately a month ago, but as part of the role, Henderson would help around events like the Volunteer For she could take students on campus tours.
