Want to volunteer in Chemung County, but don't know where to start? This event will help.
Looking to give back something to the community, but unsure of where to start or what might be a good fit?
A new event happening this week has you covered.
A Community Volunteer Fair is set for Wednesday, Sept. 11 from 2-7 p.m. at Meals on Wheels located at 409 William St. in Elmira.
The first-ever event is being put together by the Chemung Volunteer Action Corps program at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chemung County. The free Volunteer Fair will showcase volunteer opportunities available in the area.
“In talking with our community partners and our advisory committee, the idea of a volunteer fair came up,” said Jackie Spencer, Community & Economic Vitality Resource Educator at CCE-Chemung. “The organizations that rely on volunteers are in need of more volunteers. We need more people to get involved in the community. We’re going to have some fun while we’re doing it.”
The event will feature free refreshments and door prizes. About a dozen volunteer organizations have signed up for the fair so far, including Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, Arnot Health, Chemung County Dept. of Aging and Long-Term Care, Community Dispute Resolution Center, Chemung County Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Alzheimer's Association, Faith in Action STNY, Arctic League and 4H Master Gardeners.
Spencer said the goal of the event is to connect potential volunteers with organizations that need help and fit their interests. The Community Volunteer Fair is aimed at all age groups.
Spencer said many volunteer organizations are in need of a new crop of people to step forward and keep them strong.
“We have a lot of really amazing, highly dedicated folks that provide a lot of volunteer services but there’s always a need for more,” she said. "We want to do anything we can to help people connect and get involved in some way.
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“Historically we’ve focused on older adults., but we’re looking for adults of any age that want to learn about ways to get involved in the community.”
To sign your organization up for the event, contact Spencer at 607-734-4453 ext. 216 or [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Community Volunteer Fair Sept. 11 in Elmira to showcase opportunities