Volunteerism

Are you ready to SERVE? From donating blood to tutoring to service trips, there's a way for everyone to make a difference!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:

Heidi Orchard
Year: Senior
Hometown: Sussex, WI
Major: Communication

Community/Volunteer Involvement: I have been participating in Service Saturdays since my sophomore year. I don't mind taking time out of my Saturday morning to volunteer, it's fun. Another reason I do it is because it offers me lots of difference experiences that all give back to the community. It's about seeing the difference you had a part in making, and that is an amazing experience all in itself.

Best Volunteer Experience: It is difficult to pick one. But the one I look most forward to is Make a Difference Day because you actually get to meet the people that you are helping. You can tell when talking to them it means the world to them. I get so happy to see them so full of gratitude, and I couldn't ask for anything else.

Volunteer Words of Wisdom: My advice is to try volunteering once ... it is contagious and you will want to do it again. My favorite quote is pretty long one about what "life is" and here are some parts that may tie into my volunteering times:

"Life is a duty ... perform it. Life is a challenge ... meet it. Life is an opportunity ... take it."

I work in the residence halls and since I've started I have tried to get students involved in giving back to the community. Sometimes just watching their experiences is just as rewarding as volunteering.

SERVE in ACTION:

This past September, volunteers picked produce at two local farms - Biodiversity and White Feather Organics - and then delivered the produce to Operation Bootstrap. The group of volunteers learned about the importance of having fresh food available at food pantries for people who are in a food emergency.