The smile on a person who was handed what could’ve been their first meal in weeks makes it all worthwhile.
“Seeing the smile on the faces of the people we are helping and their happiness just really melts my heart,” said Dominique Altif, Volunteer UCF member and graduating senior.
For students and members involved with Volunteer UCF (VUCF), it is not only the experience they receive but also the reactions they get from those they are helping that makes volunteerism their passion.
“I love that UCF gives you so many opportunities to help out the community,” said Kassidy James, a sophomore at UCF. “Volunteer UCF is involved with Knights Give Back, which I participated in this year. It was amazing to see how some things so small like doing laundry and folding linens for people in need can really help.”
Volunteer UCF is an organization that was developed to help students gain access to volunteer opportunities. Involved with over 200 community organizations, Volunteer UCF has many options to pique anyone’s interests. From working with animals to educating children, VUCF gives students a chance to use their skills through volunteer work, while at the same time learning new ones.
“Volunteer UCF is here for the students,” said Iqra Bhatti, VUCF director of marketing. “While there is a lot that students can learn in the classroom and through textbooks, VUCF is bringing an outside experience through what we provide to students. It is an intellectual, educational and physical learning experience that gives students the opportunity to learn more about themselves and about the world.”
VUCF has a wide variety of chances for students to volunteer, whether it is just for a day or an entire week. Through the Alternative Break Program, during both winter and spring breaks students will get the chance to travel either nationally or internationally and work as a team to learn about issues and provide service to those in need around the world.
“Speaking from my experience, there is a lot to learn and grow from through volunteering,” Bhatti added. “Through our events and travel you get a lot of different opportunities to network and really raise your own self-awareness.”
Nearly every day, VUCF has events to help students give service to their community. Beach clean ups, painting homes, and providing food for the homeless are just a few of the many easy ways for students to help, even if it’s just for one day. VUCF also looks to provide networking opportunities between faculty, students, and those in the community through their larger events such as Pegasus Palooza, Knights Give Back, and Day and Knight of Service.
“Students can benefit from volunteering further than just making someone’s day,” said student Jake Reiner. “It’s a great way to meet people, and it looks good on a resume for future applications.”
Programs such as the annual Hunger Banquet even provide students with the chance to live like the people they are there to help. As students fill the Pegasus Ballroom, they pull from a hat the type of life they will live for the night, with options ranging from living like a millionaire to sleeping on a newspaper. This interactive experience creates understanding during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which will take place mid-November.
“You could end up living rich or homeless, but it’s a fun night and really teaches students a lot,” said VUCF member Maryam Ali.
For the members and the students, it is more than an educational experience that they are being provided.
“They are so grateful and [we are so] fortunate that they are having such a good time because we are there helping them out just makes it all worth it,” Altif said. “It just makes you feel good at the end of the day.”
Through the Volunteer UCF program, students can gain new experiences and build their resume, while at the same time giving back to their community by helping those who need it the most.
