Organizations like Auburn Serves, Habitat for Humanity, LifeSouth Blood Centers, Women's Hope Medical Clinic, Project Uplift and many more lined the walls of the Student Center Friday morning between Starbucks and Chick-fil-A for a volunteer fair.
Mary Gray DeMetz, senior in accounting, and Caroline Taylor, senior in biomedical sciences, are project coordinators for IMPACT, or Individuals Moving People and Community Together. IMPACT is a part of the University's Office of Community Service.
"I think its a really good way to see outside of Auburn University and look at the bigger community," DeMetz said. "We're such a part of the community and the community really supports us so its good to give back."
IMPACT volunteers recorded over 8,000 hours last year, spending time with senior citizens at Azalea Retirement Home, children at Joyland Daycare and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County and at various other service activities. IMPACT strives to make volunteering as enjoyable as possible.
"You don't have to sign up. You can just show up whenever you want," Taylor said. "We just want to let people know that it's an easy way to volunteer. "
Jennifer Lolley, administrator of the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve and its Nature Center, and a team of volunteers hold environmental education programs targeted to elementary school children. Lolley said the Nature Center is visited by more than 5,000 students each year.
"We have 5.2 miles of trails on 120 acres, and its free," Lolley said. "This is for Auburn students so get out there and use it. It's a great way to de-stress and relax a little bit."
J.M. Anderson with Jean Dean Reading is Fundamental in Opelika focuses on elementary education as well. RIF is a nonprofit organization which distributes books to underprivileged children in Alabama.
"We help low-income families of kids who would not normally have books in their home," Anderson said. "The thought is that with them being able to read more early on in life, it's going to help their education as they progress."
Anderson said all the books are purchased by Jean Dean RIF and are shipped to a warehouse in Opelika where volunteers label and sort them.
"It's a national organization, but our warehouse does the entire state of Alabama so we have a lot of books come in," Anderson said. "We count them and figure out where they all go so no kid gets the same book twice."
I Am My Brother's Keeper is another nonprofit that provides educational, as well as exercise, programs and services to low-income families in Lee and Macon counties.
Frank Crisona volunteers at the Unity Wellness Center with HIV and AIDS patients.
"We help treat patients if they can not afford medicine, if they need assistance like social work, or even if they need basic health care," Crisona said. "If someone can afford the medicine but needs regular testing, we can provide that."
UWC volunteers help treat patients, provide them with transportation and assist social workers, nurses and doctors.
"We also provide education," Crisona said. "A lot of this is discounted and or free because a lot of our patients are on welfare or Medicare or Medicaid. We try and provide complete-package health care for all of our patients."
Another health-centric organization is the Joy to Life Foundation based in Montgomery. The foundation provides free mammograms to women who may not be able to afford them in central and southern Alabama counties.
"The average price of a mammogram is $100, and the Joy to Life Foundation has provided over 600 free mammograms to women all over Alabama," said volunteer Holly Shoemaker. "Of the more than 600 who have received free mammograms, 30 of the women were diagnosed with breast cancer and have successfully gone through treatment."
The Volunteer Fair was sponsored by Project Uplift. For more information regarding volunteer opportunities, visit www.auburn.edu/studen_info/project_uplift/ or reach Project Uplift at 334-844-4430.
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