Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley
partners with UNI

Volunteering Creates Opportunities at UNI
Nikki Davidson
NI News Writer

It builds resumes, creates networking opportunities and gives back to the community, all the while giving a personal sense of satisfaction. It changes lives. It is the power of volunteering.

The Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley works with many different organizations seeking to solve the problems our community faces today. The center is currently connected with 57 organizations, acting as a referral service by helping volunteers find the organizations and events that fit their needs.

There is no single focus of the center; they connect to a diverse array of organizations like the Humane Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Salvation Army and the Cedar Valley Hospice. Opportunities of virtually every kind are brought to volunteers.

"I enjoy working with students, because its important to help students realize why volunteering is important,” said Lauren Pellymounter, assistant director of the VCCV. "I also like working with senior citizens and giving back to that age group because they have given us so much already. Volunteering is for everyone. You don’t need any experience to volunteer, it’s open to all ages, abilities, and anyone can do it."

The center reinforces this idea by sourcing volunteer work for senior citizens, families, groups, college students, youth and more.

This semester, the VCCV has started a three-semester long partnership with UNI to connect students with volunteer opportunities.

The center takes the guesswork out of calling several places in search for the ideal volunteer opportunity. The VCCV has begun outreach to students through e-mail, Facebook and MyUNIverse.

"Since VCCV partnered with UNI in January, I have talked to and placed about 60 students," stated Pellymounter.

The VCCV gives students a valuable tool for finding a volunteer opportunity for classes or learning experiences.

"Anyone, any major can find volunteer opportunities that fit not only with their major, but also with things that are totally different from what they might usually do," Pellymounter said. Volunteering might also turn an enjoyable activity into an internship, and eventually into a career.

Many students have the misconception that all volunteering is boring, but there a variety of opportunities that can be fun and inspiring.

"(Exceptional Person’s Inc.) once planned an Up With Families weekend which many family services majors took part in," states Pellymounter. "The students might have gone into it thinking it was going to be a long day of volunteering, but at the end of the day they came out having had lot of fun and made wonderful bonds with children.

"They realized that they could make a difference in someone’s life, even if it was only for a day," Pellymounter said.

Whatever experience an individual is involved in, volunteering has the ability to create lifelong memories that touch a life forever.

http://northern-iowan.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1050

on
Services

VCCV services offered on campus:

• Provide Volunteer Referral Services and Assistance for students, faculty and staff Click here to access available opportunities online
• Provide Service-Learning Support to faculty and their classes Email Lauren Pelleymounter
• Provide Presentations to faculty and staff about the success of volunteerism Email Lauren Pelleymounter
• Maintain a presence during University Summer Orientation to provide education about volunteerism to incoming students
• Provide support and sponsor the annual UNI Volunteer Fair Email Lauren Pelleymounter

Location and Times

Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley’s satellite office is located in the Innovative Teaching Technology Center (ITTC) 117 every Thursday during the academic year from 9:30 - 3:30. Contact Lauren Pelleymounter, Assistant Director at Email Lauren Pelleymounter or call (319) 272-2087 with questions.