Each month we provide information on different opportunities students have to get involved on campus and in the community. These opportunities range from simple on-campus clubs and organizations to immersion trips throughout the country, or even world, over breaks. Since Sustainability is such a broad topic, we try to provide a large selection of options for Missouri State students. For this installment of Get Involved, we are focusing on volunteer opportunities students can participate in over winter break, and even an option that will be available over spring break. Please read on to see if any of these options are of interest to you.
GivePulse
Many opportunities within the Springfield community (and possibly within your hometown) can be found through Give Pulse. Give Pulse is a service-learning platform that enables anyone to find, list, and track community service in their community.
You may be thinking that it’ll be hard tracking different opportunities down. To make things easier, the Missouri State Center for Community Engagement already has an account, and every student has access to it! You don’t need an account, you can just follow the link here.
So without further adieu, here are a few organizations and opportunities you can sign up for!
1. The Springfield Victory Mission Donation Center
This organization has numerous volunteer opportunities open from now through March. Tasks include sorting, stocking, delivering, and volunteering at the thrift store. There are multiple shift options as well.
2. The Northwest Project
The Northwest Project needs volunteers to help make and serve dinner, assist with childcare, prepare groceries, and general cleanup. These shifts run from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm every Thursday.
They are also looking for people to help spread the word about their organization! You can find details for this opportunity as well as contact information on Give Pulse. Don’t forget to wear comfortable walking shoes!
3. Heart of the West Side
Every Monday night, Heart of the West Side serves a community dinner. They would like volunteers to help serve dinner, assist with child care, and general cleanup. This opportunity typically runs from 5:00 pm to around 8:00 pm. You can find more details and sign up on Give Pulse!
Challenge yourself!
Martin Luther King Day of Service is quickly approaching as well. On January 15th 2018, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, students will be able to create positive change in Springfield. There are multiple agencies taking part in this day of service, so keep your eyes peeled on Give Pulse to find the one you would most like to help. Challenge yourself and see how much you can do in one day to make a difference!
Want to know more?
We sent a few questions to Alex Johnson, the director of Community Involvement and Service. Here’s what he had to say!
What does community involvement and service mean to you?
I believe that everyone has something unique to contribute to society, and that college is one of the best places to learn new things and step outside the comfort zone. Community involvement and service is an avenue students can take to explore career options, develop new skills, and learn more about their unique abilities to create positive change.
I’ve already listed GivePulse, but where else can students find community service opportunities?
GivePulse is probably one of the best ways to find ways to serve, as it is a community-wide platform, but we know that not all local agencies use it. My suggestion to students, if they do not find what they are looking for on GivePulse, is to start with an issue they would like to address and search from there. Our community has a great array of community leaders addressing many issues, and the Center for Community Engagement is here as a resource for students to connect with those leaders. Stop by PSU 131 to chat with the CCE staff about your interests.
What motivates you to give back to the community through volunteer work?
I am motivated to serve alongside our Springfield neighbors because I know we share a vision for a stronger community. My goal is to not just connect students with non-profit agencies, but to use those experiences to critically reflect upon and analyze issues affecting our community
What’s the best way for students to contact Community Involvement and Service?
To get plugged in to Community Involvement and Service events, students can send me an email at AlexJohnson@missouristate.edu, visit our Facebook page: Center for Community Engagement, or go to our website: missouristate.edu/volunteer.
Contact the Team
Not finding what you’re looking for? No problem! You can find a link to the Community Involvement and Service page here. You can also reach Alex Johnson, the director of Community Involvement and Service, at (417) 836-5774 or via email at AlexJohnson@MissouriState.edu. You can also find their office in Plaster Student Union room 131.