Community service projects are one of the most beneficial things that can be done to help a struggling community or people.
The only problem is that there aren’t enough volunteers to help keep organizations dedicated to serving the community actively running.
“If everyone just put in just a little bit of effort then we could really do a lot in this world,” said sophomore Kayla Kelly.
Kelly has been an active volunteer in different community service projects since she began her freshman year at Georgia State last fall.
Kelly actively inquired about ways she could participate around the area by attending campus organization fairs, volunteer fairs and even by looking at flyers posted around the school.
“There’s so many things to do on campus,” she said. “I would just stare at flyers all day and notice that there’s never a reason for me not to be doing anything.”
After searching Kelly finally decided to work with Habitat for Humanity through the campus organization GSU Build. She also participates with Circle K Club at Georgia State.
Both GSU Build and Circle K Club are service-based Georgia State organizations that partner with larger national or state organizations to provide service to the community.
Just like majority of campus organizations, information can be found through OrgSync, a website that connects students to various programs and organizations on campus.
If being dedicated to a single organization isn’t something that you’re able to make time for, the Office of Civic Engagement is the place to go to just find about different projects that are occurring throughout the year.
Civic Engagement partners up with various service-based organizations throughout the Atlanta area and has at least one project available for students to participate in every week.
“It’s pretty easy to volunteer. Just sign up and show up with a servant heart and open mind of course,” said Angelica Guilbeaux, Interfaith Ambassador at the Office of Civic Engagement.
Guilbeaux actively serves with the faith-based organization Interfaith. By participating in both Interfaith and Civic Engagement activities, Guillbeaux has notice the many opportunities serving has provided her.
“Volunteering can lead to so many paths,” she explained. “You may find a hidden passion through volunteering and you can make a lot of friends that share the same thoughts as you.”
Guillbeaux said that you don’t have to be religious to serve with Civic Engagement and that there’s always opportunities for everyone to serve.
“Civic Engagement is connected with many organizations that help different populations like those struggling with homelessness to sex trafficking victims to animals in abusive environments,” she said.
The Office of Civic Engangement is located in the University Center, there you can find a list of opportunities you can do that fit your schedule.
Making time for volunteering was something GSU graduate A’sheana White didn’t do until the end of her college career.
“If I knew what I know now I would have been looking for volunteer projects probably when I started college,” White said.
After graduating Georgia State this past May, White started volunteering at Raising Expectations Inc. in Atlanta.
White heard about the organization after attending a nonprofit volunteer & internship fair on campus.
“I really liked the company’s love for children and I wanted to do something where I could pour into someone else’s life I just never knew where to go or who to talk to or if I could even help as a student,” she said.
The Nonprofit Volunteer & Internship Fair is presented by the Office of Civic Engagement and University Career Services frequently throughout the school year with the purpose of pointing students to the organizations that they can volunteer at.
On Sept. 10-11 more than 34 non-profit organizations gathered in Dahlberg Hall for the fair, each one looking for students to join their team as either a volunteer or an intern. Although each organization was dedicated to a specific cause when it came to workers majority of the organizations were looking for anyone willing to learn and serve.
Kate Marsh, volunteer representative for the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless believes that everyone’s skills can be used in any field and encourages students to volunteer to help out the community.
“It’s important to remember that you’re not doing this for yourself—you’re doing it for someone else,” Marsh said. “The people you’re serving aren’t bad people, they’ve just been through bad events.”
Marsh, a former journalism student, volunteers at the Georgia Law Center for the Homeless, an organization that provides legal services to homeless individuals and families in the state.
“Even when I was looking to volunteer I was a bit worried because I didn’t have any experience in the field, but I wanted to do it and when I got started volunteering I loved it.”
There are many volunteer opportunities around campus you just have to pursue them.
If you are ready to volunteer with the Office of Civic Engagement you can visit their website service.gsu.edu to search for events or visit the office located in 429 University Center. Go to the office to pick up flyers or talk with a staff member who will help point you to projects and organizations that fit your interest.
