The Volunteer Center at Arkansas State University has officially been implemented this semester.
Run by the Leadership Center and funded by ASU, the center will work as an information hotspot for students who are looking to volunteer in the community.
The center is lead by the coordinator of student services and ASU alumna, Jodie Cherry.
"Service learning is an awesome way to grow as a person and usually when you volunteer, you end up feeling better about yourself in the end. Sometimes you are even more affected than the people you are helping which is a really cool thing." Cherry said.
21 nonprofit organizations have already shown interest in working with the center.
Organizations like "Help Portrait" worked with the center during winter break and saw a tremendous turnout from the Jonesboro community.
The event revolved around giving free family portraits to those who can't afford to have one done.
Senior biology student Rebekah Lauren Hickman of Bay is one of 11 students picked to participate in another program titled "Alternative Spring break" hosted by the Volunteer Center.
The program will give the selected students the opportunity to travel to New Orleans to help give back to the less fortunate.
"When Katrina hit I was too young to really contribute. Now that I am in college, I can do my best to help make a difference." Hickman said. "It is important to volunteer because so many people need help. Whether it is cleaning up your local park, helping during a blood drive or lending a hand in the cleaning up of a natural disaster, every little bit makes a difference. You never know whose life you could be impacting. Volunteering makes all the difference."
Senior biology major Grant Cagle was another pick for the alternative spring break.
"To give hope is one of the greatest gifts someone can give. I just personally feel that it enriches my life in such a way that cannot be described." Cagle said.
Cagle started a volunteering organization far before the center started.
"I started a volunteer organization because I felt at the time that is was difficult for students interested in pursing a professional career to get resume builders and volunteer activities to assist in gaining admittance to post-undergraduate schools. I started working on it my sophomore year, and its taken until now for it to really take off."
The students will benefit from the center's availability Cagle said.
"It will be incredibly easy to get in an ongoing community project that can last and help build personal relationships with all kinds of people. I also think that volunteering is just a great way to give back and become selfless, humble, and remain level-headed."
The 21 nonprofits that have already signed up with the center are: American Red Cross, Children's Advocacy Center, City Youth, East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging, Families Outreach, Foundation of the Arts, Girls Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Help Portrait, Helping Hands Food Pantry, Hispanic Community Services Inc. Literacy League, March of Dimes, NEA charitable Foundation, NEA Food Bank, Pregnancy Resource Center, Salvation Army, Special Olympics, UAMS Volunteer Network, Untied Way, Women's Discovery Center and Women's Crisis Center.
The center will evolve into a registered student organization in March with Cherry as the head advisor.
A panel of students will be picked to serve on the board. The students will become mediators between the non-profits and students who want to volunteer.
The ASU Polar Plunge is the next event planned by the center.
It will take place on the 28th at the Grove Clubhouse at 5 p.m.
Anyone can participate.
"You have to raise 50 dollars to plunge, and if you are too chicken to jump we also have the chili contest." Cherry said.
Participants will jump into a cold pool with proceeds going to the Special Olympics.
Volunteers and participants for the plunge are still needed.
With the tagline ‘Make A Statement' Cherry said the center hopes to show the world the economic impact that ASU has on its community.
There will also be a class offered next semester taught by Cherry titled "Volunteerism and Community Service."
The course will be a 1000 level class and will be two credit hours. The course will focus on going out and helping the community.
"This is definitely an ideal job for me, I am really passionate about service to others and being able to help people." Cherry said.
For additional information, contact the Leadership Center on the second floor of the Carl R. Reng Student Union.
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