Features over 40 participating agencies, community service projects to engage attendees, blood drive and skin cancer screening, and recognition of disaster helpers and 153,000th volunteer
(Long Island, NY) In celebration of Make A Difference Day, the 8th annual Long Island Volunteer Fair will be held at Farmingdale State College from 10 am to 2 pm, Saturday, October 17, 2015. In conjunction with alumni weekend, over 40 nonprofit agencies will be staffing exhibits in Roosevelt Hall to recruit students, faculty, alumni, and community members for a wide array of volunteer activities including opportunities to work with animals, youth or seniors, to help at museums, soup kitchens, or shelters, to join an emergency preparedness group, become an advocate for special needs, or protect the environment. Organized by Farmingdale State College and the Long Island Volunteer Center, the fair provides a one-stop venue for attendees to connect to community needs, grow professional skill-sets, and pursue personal goals by giving back.
From the Make a Difference Day website: A USA TODAY initiative in collaboration with Points of Light and the Gannett Company, Make a Difference Day is over 20 years strong and is the nation’s largest day of community service. It is a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Millions of volunteers from across the nation will unite in a common mission to improve the lives of others. The stories told around Make A Difference Day show that anyone, regardless of age, location, or resources, can accomplish amazing things when they take on the problems they see in their community.
Service projects to engage attendees will include a coat and winter gear drive to benefit the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless and assembling comfort kits for homeless veterans and domestic violence victims to commemorate Domestic Violence Prevention Month. A blood drive will be conducted by American Red Cross as well as a skin cancer screening via a facial Derma Scan Machine by the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign. “Beacon of Hope” awards will be conveyed to exceptional volunteers who supported Superstorm Sandy relief and recovery efforts including representatives of nonprofit groups like Salvation Army and Island Harvest, faith based groups like Latter Day Saints and Crisis Response International, community organizations like Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Babylon and Long Beach COAD, plus others. The 153,000th Long Island volunteer who served under the New York State Volunteer Generational Campaign will also be recognized. Volunteer Fair sponsors include Capital One and Zurich NA with program support from EAC, Rebuilding Together Long Island, St. Vincent de Paul, and United Way of Long Island.
There is no charge to attend the fair. Refreshments will be provided. Easiest access to Roosevelt Hall at Farmingdale State College is off Melville Road. For more information, contact the Long Island Volunteer Center at (516) 564-5482, email volunteer_fair@longislandvolunteercenter.org, or visit www.longislandvolunteercenter.org.
