Students attend Volunteer Fair

Many students attended the Volunteer Fair in the LBC Monday.

The fair informed students of volunteer opportunities around New Orleans. Hands On New Orleans, the American Red Cross, Green Light New Orleans and many other organizations were on-hand to discuss their service efforts.

This year marked the fair’s first appearance at Tulane. Area Director Luella Williams, who planned the event, said that the university started the fair this year in hopes of creating a greater connection between Tulane and the outside community in New Orleans.

“I’m hoping that students will find an organization that they’re committed to working with, and that they will maybe form a bond with the city,” Williams said

The fair seemed to be on track to help students do just that. Students’ reactions to the fair were positive.

“I liked it,” freshman Sarah Powell said. “I thought it was informative, quick and to the point.”

The fair also appeared effective in helping students find organizations they were interested in.

“I want to do the American Red Cross and the Wild and Water Swimming,” Powell said. “I like kids, and [with Wild and Water Swimming] you can teach kids to swim. The Red Cross is interactive with people, and that’s what I like to do.”

Organizations with volunteering hours that were convenient for students were a draw. Freshman Clara Dupont said that she was interested in getting involved with Second Harvest Food Bank.

“Their schedules were really flexible, and they had a lot of different things you can do with the organization,” she said. “I liked that they had weekday hours, not just early weekend mornings.”

The organizations that participated in the fair also found it helpful.

“This was a good opportunity for us,” said Kristin H. Flach, a school and youth coordinator for the American Red Cross. “We’re always looking for volunteers — we survive on volunteers.”

The fair provided an opportunity for fledgling campus organizations to grow. Sophomore Drew Levinson, co-president of the Tulane Red Cross Club, is currently trying to reestablish the club on campus.

“Tulane had one, and it fizzled out,” Levinson said. “We’re getting it started again.”

The fair provided an opportunity for the club, which has just finished writing its constitution, to come closer to its goal of building up membership by the spring semester.

Students have mixed feelings about the availability of volunteer opportunities on campus.

“With the volunteer fair and with the club fair, you find out about so many groups you can work with,” Dupont said.

Freshman Erica Barnes agreed.

“Classes require volunteer work, so that’s a way to get involved,” Barnes said.

Some students, however, feel that it can be difficult to get involved in community service at Tulane.

“It’s not easy [to get involved], but it’s possible,” said Powell. “Figuring out who to reach is the hard part.”