Please join us on Friday, December 5, from 10:00 am to Noon, for the Holiday Volunteer Fair & Day of Service sponsored by Long Island Volunteer Center, an affiliate of HandsOn Network and the Farmingdale State College Office of Community and Civic Engagement to be held at the college's Campus Center. December 5 is also International Volunteer Day (https://www.unv.org/.../International-Volunteer-Day-overview)! Local community organizations will be recruiting volunteers to help expand their programs and services. There is no charge to attend and all ages are welcome. In addition, youth will be eligible for community service hours. Service activities around the Crayon Initiative and drives to secure food, toys, and books will be conducted. As an added feature to the day, 60 Bridges students will be participating. The program coordinator shared that "Bridges is a joint program between the Oceanside and Uniondale school districts designed to foster leadership skills and constructive conversation. This year, our Year of Giving, students are volunteering in a variety of fashions as they learn the value of giving back. Our hope is that the kids find opportunities to serve their community which they enjoy and carry with them into adulthood."
Volunteers expand the needed programming and impact of nonprofit organizations across Long Island which touch the lives of the most vulnerable and maintain a safety net for so many unable to care for themselves particularly those who are food or housing insecure. Volunteers also actively contribute to cultural arts, education, emergency services, environment, health and literacy among other important aspects of community life on Long Island. While the people and program numbers are staggering, the economic impact is also tremendous—many volunteers in New York not only contribute their time (which according to independentsector.org is valued at $38.48 per hour), they also regularly donate to nonprofit fundraising, donate new and gently used goods they have locally purchased and use their own means of transportation to get to and from volunteer assignments. But the intrinsic value of volunteering is most felt within—finding a passion and living it through service brings out the best in ourselves. It is said “volunteering isn’t nice, it’s necessary.” Volunteers should take a bow on International Volunteer Day and know they are not only the backbone of the nonprofit sector but also that the consequences of their selfless acts are felt every day across the spectrum of Long Island life. Any questions, please call 516-564-5482 or email info@longislandvolunteercenter.org.