Matchmaker for volunteers
Student Senate program pairs volunteer workers with those needing help
Cindy Petersen
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: News
Volunteers are sometimes hard to find, especially when they are in such a high demand.
Kirkwood Community College's Student Senate is doing its part by encouraging students to become more active in volunteering. It has started a program that will help match volunteers with those in need.
Chris Poole, human services major and community service coordinator for Student Senate, said this is the first year a position has been dedicated to matching volunteers with organizations. "We're finding a higher need for volunteers, not just at Kirkwood but throughout the entire community," Poole said.
Poole recently organized a group of Kirkwood students to volunteer at a Halloween party for the Four Oaks center for children Cedar Rapids. "We had about 13 volunteers who helped at a dance and a 'haunted hallway.' We all had a great time doing it," he said.
Ariel Orellana, a first-year mechanical engineer major from Guatemala, helped out at the Halloween party.
"This was the first time I've really done any volunteering in the community. It made me feel good that I could help these children have a good Halloween," he said.
Poole said volunteer service on a resume could make the difference in landing your dream job. "Employers look at that. It shows them the kind of person you are, someone who's willing to help others and better your community," he said.
Poole said he has helped students fulfill community service requirements by matching them with organizations.
"One of the ways we do that is through a Web site that we put together this year. It will make it much easier to match volunteer opportunities," he said.
For more information contact Poole at 936-3417 or go to the Kirkwood Web site, www.kirkwood.edu/studentsenate, and look under volunteer opportunities.
Kirkwood Community College's Student Senate is doing its part by encouraging students to become more active in volunteering. It has started a program that will help match volunteers with those in need.
Chris Poole, human services major and community service coordinator for Student Senate, said this is the first year a position has been dedicated to matching volunteers with organizations. "We're finding a higher need for volunteers, not just at Kirkwood but throughout the entire community," Poole said.
Poole recently organized a group of Kirkwood students to volunteer at a Halloween party for the Four Oaks center for children Cedar Rapids. "We had about 13 volunteers who helped at a dance and a 'haunted hallway.' We all had a great time doing it," he said.
Ariel Orellana, a first-year mechanical engineer major from Guatemala, helped out at the Halloween party.
"This was the first time I've really done any volunteering in the community. It made me feel good that I could help these children have a good Halloween," he said.
Poole said volunteer service on a resume could make the difference in landing your dream job. "Employers look at that. It shows them the kind of person you are, someone who's willing to help others and better your community," he said.
Poole said he has helped students fulfill community service requirements by matching them with organizations.
"One of the ways we do that is through a Web site that we put together this year. It will make it much easier to match volunteer opportunities," he said.
For more information contact Poole at 936-3417 or go to the Kirkwood Web site, www.kirkwood.edu/studentsenate, and look under volunteer opportunities.
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