Local Girl Scout organizing volunteer fair
COSHOCTON – When Julia Roberts wanted to start volunteering she had a hard time connecting with agencies.
“I volunteer a lot at the library and love volunteering in general, but there aren’t a lot of youth volunteers in our area,” she said. “There’s not an easy way to connect. I had a hard time trying to connect and find e-mails.”
Roberts is a junior in high school and is hoping to make the process of becoming a volunteer easier on other teens. Her Youth Volunteers in Action Project involves a volunteer fair from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Coshocton’s Central Ohio Technical College in room 150.
“I’m hoping for mostly teenagers, but it’s really open to anyone who is interested in volunteering,” Roberts said.
She is working on having a variety of organizations attend who fit numerous interests and right now has commitments from Habitat for Humanity, Annin Flag Makers, Scouting (BSA/Venturing), Four Paws Friends, Tutoring, Learning, Contributing (TLC), Hopewell Industries, United Way, Red Cross, Coshocton Public Library, Clary Gardens, Roscoe Village, Community Garden, Food Pantry, Windsorwood Place, and Pomerene Center for the Arts.
In addition to helping others find ways to volunteer, Roberts’ project also will help her earn the Girl Scout Gold Award and move on to being an Ambassador.
“It’s the highest award you can get and it’s been a really great experience to work on it,” she said. “I think a lot of Girl Scouts drop out a lot earlier than this, but my mom really kept me involved. She was a Girl Scout all the way through and wanted me to do it too.”
Roberts has been in Girl Scouts for nine years and is a Juliette, which means she participates in the program as an individual member.
“I still have the book and my mom is my leader, I just don’t have the other girls to do projects with,” she said.
Any organizations interested in setting up a table at Roberts’ volunteer fair are welcome to contact her at 824-5320 or youthvolunteersinaction@gmail.com. More information on her project also can be found at youthvolunteeraction.blogspot.com.
“I think people will be surprised at what they find at the volunteer fair,” Roberts said. “I think a lot of youth in the area don’t know about all the places to volunteer at and will be surprised with who they can connect with.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Clubs & Organizations
