As this semester is quickly coming to a close, it is interesting to see how fast time flies by and how many columns I’ve actually written in such a short amount of time. For most, we are all anticipating both Thanksgiving and winter break and most importantly, the greatest point in any Wofford students’ school year: Interim.

Now, of course you should take full advantage during these points in your college career to: catch up on sleep, eat a good home cooked meal and meet up with friends from back at home, etc. While doing these things however, consider penciling in volunteering back at a local nonprofit or volunteer agency in your hometown or throughout Spartanburg during interim. Most non-profits or for-profit organizations take volunteers for either regular volunteer opportunities or seasonal opportunities– such as the holiday season.

In general, ways to get involved in your hometown are simple. I know you’re thinking, “Where do I start?” Well, here are a few places to begin searching if you’re interested:

Salvation Army:

You can volunteer at one of the local places in your hometown or serve as a bell ringer outside of a public places (i.e. grocery stores, shopping centers, pharmacies, etc.). The Salvation Army is always in need of volunteers also for their distribution centers and resale stores during this time of the year because of the high volume of need in the area.

For more information, feel free to visit: www.salvationarmyusa.org and browse under the ‘Ways to Help’ section to see how you can become more involved in the branch in your hometown.

Food Banks and Warehouses:

Many food banks and ware houses are in greater need of both volunteerism and donations– both food and clothing – from November to February; particularly when the temperature outside begins to decrease and when children who are in school are on holiday break and aren’t receiving a full daily meal. Volunteering at a food bank or warehouse distribution center can range from sorting or organizing can foods or non-perishables, lifting heavy boxes to sort canned goods, sorting clothes by color or size, and more. Seeing as there is an abundance of food banks and/or warehouses across America, to locate the one closest to you visit: www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/ and click the ‘Volunteer’ tab to learn more!

Homeless Shelters:

With the temperature decreasing during the holiday season, the homeless are greatly affected, and so too are homeless shelters.The lower the temperature, the more individuals coming in needing help. As scary as this sounds, volunteers can come in handy during this time of the year! Volunteer opportunities can include:

• Serving food to those who are in the shelter

• Preparing emergency kits to distribute to homeless persons

• Playing or conducting arts and crafts with children who are receiving help with their family

• Donating and/or organizing bedding materials for those to sleep on

• …the list continues!

To get connected with a location near you, visit: www.shelterlistings.org where you can sort shelters by state, city, county, as well as the type of shelter you are wanting to serve at, whether it may be a homeless shelter, halfway house, children’s home, emergency shelter center, etc.

MLK Day of Service:

If you are unable to serve in any capacity during your winter break, a perfect time to give back to your community would be no other than the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service –otherwise as MLK Day of Service. Cities all across the nation participate in this day (even making it a week long effort versus just serving for one day). Here in Spartanburg, the City of Spartanburg in conjunction with several non-profit organizations – one in particular being the United Way of the Piedmont– make this effort each year to be bigger and better than ever.

Opportunities include but are not limited to:

• Cleaning up local parks and playgrounds

• Cleaning up local gardens in the community

• Serving at the local soup kitchen

• Mentoring kids for a day

• Preparing meals for the homeless

• Building homes with Habitat for Humanity

• And the list goes on!

Junior Bonner Scholar and United Way of the Piedmont student coordinator Ryan Carter believes that this is an opportunity for students to become more involved and engaged in their community.

“It is a great way for people with diverse and varied backgrounds to come together under a common cause of community service,” said Carter.

For more information on how to plug yourself in to the community for MLK Day of Service, contact Ryan via email: [email protected] or visit the United Way Piedmont’s website, www.uwpiedmont.org/getconnected/ to learn more about the opportunities in the Spartanburg area for MLK Day of Service.

Throughout this, I hope that you take some time for both yourself and others in need during this holiday season. Remember, every minute, every thought and every effort count when it comes to making a difference in a community.