Volunteer Fair Brings Out UNCP's Best

"It's going great!" said Talena Chavis, who was recruiting volunteers to be Angels for a Day. "A whole sorority just signed up."

Members of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority signed up to be companions for elderly people in Robeson County with the Native Angels Homecare Agency. They will visit with and do light housework for elderly shut-ins, Ms. Chavis said.

UNCP students participating in the LSOP program performed almost 5,000 hours of community service last year at schools, hospitals, churches, nursing homes, animal shelter and more. Abdul Ghaffar, who directs the Leadership Service Opportunities Program (LSOP) on campus, expects even more this year from the growing program.

"My hope is that our LSOP students will perform 10,000 hours of community service this year," Mr. Ghaffar said. "People who do not believe that college students care about their communities should see this."

On Wednesday, hundreds of students signed up at booths representing more than 30 community service agencies.

"It was a very good turnout this year for both agencies and students," said coordinator Lisa Schaeffer, who is director of Career Services. Anthony Petty, AmeriCorps recruiter, agreed.

"I go to a lot of volunteer fairs like this," said AmeriCorps North Carolina recruiter Anthony Petty, "but this is a very good one. AmeriCorps is the domestic Peace Corps, so it is a good fit for young people in transition."

"It's working," said Frances Thomas, recruiter for Reading for Success, an elementary reading program of the Robeson County Church and Community Center. "Students are signing up."

The Volunteer Fair was sponsored by Student Activities and Career Services. To contact LSOP to volunteer or to find volunteers, call 910.521.6207.

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