University of New England

UNE's job and volunteer service fair draws more than 100 students, faculty and staff

The University of New England held a Part-time Job and Volunteer Service Fair on Wednesday, September 21, and attracted some 120 UNE students, faculty and staff members. The fair was co-sponsored by UNE's Career Services Office and the Citizenship Service Learning Center.

Presenting information at the fair were more than 25 businesses and organizations from York and Cumberland counties. One of the presenters, Joyful Harvest Neighborhood Center, a Christian-based center, offers a free drop-in program for area children and youth. The Center currently has many open volunteer positions, such as after-school program leader, after-school assistant and academic tutor. 

Sweetser and numerous other organizations presented various part-time employment opportunities such as youth and family counselor, outpatient clinician, vocational teacher, and grant writer.  Sweetser employs more than 1,000 individuals in 70 communities and schools, promoting the development of the social skills and self-esteem needed for the gradual transition into community-based, family living.
 
Many UNE students visited the fair to find a community/civic engagement activity to fulfill a senior Core Curriculum requirement within the Citizenship 400 Seminar. One student, marine biology major Dustin Kneifel, found the fair to be helpful, saying that "it gathered all the representatives from the various organizations into one room, which made them conveniently accessible. Overall, the event was helpful to me and, presumably for others, so hopefully there will be more events in the future in an ever-expanding forum." 

Volunteer Connections Coordinator Liz Havu, from the Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA), stated, "The fair was an opportunity to talk with students and faculty regarding volunteer opportunities. I have had two people sign up from the fair."  Havu also expressed gratitude, noting that "it was a wonderful fair - great contacts and prospects."  SMAA offers various opportunities such as Mr. fix-it volunteers, Meals on Wheels helpers, senior dining center volunteers and money-minder volunteers to assist individuals with bill paying.

Samuel McReynolds, Ph.D., citizenship seminar coordinator and chair of UNE's Sociology Department, believes that the fair was a success: "I think the fair provided students a chance to learn more about services in the area; service providers got to see the University's commitment to community service," he said.

Since 1999, University of New England students have provided more than 20,000 hours of community/civic service to 50-plus community agencies, businesses and many schools in a multitude of school districts as part of the University's Citizenship Seminar requirement.  The estimated value of their total community service exceeds $350,000.

Following is a list of participating agencies, organizations and businesses:

American Red Cross of Southern Maine
Beacon Hospice
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine
Bridges of Maine
Community Partners
Equest Therapeutic Riding Center
Ferry Beach Ecology School
Girl Scouts of Kennebec Council
Hannaford
Hearts and Horses Therapeutic Riding Center
Heart of Biddeford
Joyful Harvest Neighborhood Center
Laudholm Farm at Wells Reserve
Literacy Volunteers America-Saco/Biddeford
Maine Congressional Offices
MBNA
Saco Parks and Recreation
St. Andre Health Care Facility
Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging
STRIVE
Sweetser
UNE College Community Mentoring Program
UNE Bookstore-Follett
Vector Marketing
Volunteers of America-Northern New England

(Press release issued Oct. 4, 2005)