Fall fair, CSIL provides opportunities for MTSU students to volunteer

Katie Peachey, right, a Middle Tennessee State University alumna and volunteer with the Beesley Animal Foundation, provides information for Nirvana Tawadrous, 17, and George Abdalla, 20, both from Smyrna, Tenn., during the annual fall Volunteer Fair held Oct. 10 in the Student Union Commons. Tawadrous is a freshman biochemistry major and Abdalla is a sophomore criminal justice major. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

Dozens of Middle Tennessee State University students attended the annual Volunteer Fair held in the Student Union Commons earlier this month, and those unable to attend still have an opportunity to get involved in both on- and off-campus efforts.

MTSU students were able to connect with more than 20 Murfreesboro, Rutherford County and campus agencies attending the fair for potential opportunities to volunteer this semester and in the future.

As Middle Tennessee State University senior Thi Da, left, of Nashville, Tenn., observes, Erin Aden collects a brochure for Musicians on Call, while Orenda Senior, program coordinator for the Murfreesboro, Tenn., organization, answers questions and registers potential volunteers during the annual Volunteer Fair Oct. 10 in the Student Union Commons. (MTSU photo by Randy Weiler)

The Volunteer Fair is held during the fall of each academic year, giving students an opportunity to assist a variety of agencies, ministries and campus organizations with their efforts to meet individual needs in the community.

Special Kids Therapy and Nursing Center, Musicians on Call, the Beesley Animal Foundation, United Way, Room in the Inn and the MTSU Stormwater Program were among the agencies attending the four-hour event earlier this month.

Jackie Victory, director, Center for Student Involvement and Leadership — Jackie Victory

“The Volunteer Fair provided area agencies the opportunity to recruit students for one-time or ongoing volunteer opportunities,” said Jackie Victory, MTSU director of Student Organizations and Service in the Center for Involvement and Leadership, or CSIL.

“At the end of the day, I followed up with many of our agencies who were in attendance and all of them said they found 20 to 30 solid volunteers,” Victory added. “To me, this is a success in that we were able to connect students with the Greater Murfreesboro community.”

MTSU senior Thi Da, an industrial organizational psychology major from Nashville, Tennessee, found a potential way to volunteer with Nashville International Center for Empowerment.

“I really liked the refugee organization and being able to give back and help them speak English,” Da said.

Students looking for volunteer opportunities can visit https://www.mtsu.edu/sos/ and click on the “Volunteer” icon.

For more information, contact the Center for Involvement and Leadership at 615-898-5812.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)