Volunteer Opportunities for Students

by Amy Sponsler, Assistant Director, Office of Registered Student Organizations

14,577 University students volunteered last year, was yours ones of them?

The Office of Volunteer Programs (OVP), located in the Illini Union, is a resource to connect students, staff and faculty to Champaign County agencies who need our help. We can find the perfect opportunity for any student who wants to volunteer! We partner with over 100 agencies and they are thrilled to have University students volunteering with them. Additionally, there are currently close to 100 registered student organizations (RSOs) that classify themselves as service organizations, dedicated to a specific issue or cause. The largest of these organizations is Volunteer Illini Projects, Inc. (VIP) which has a rich history at Illinois. It began in 1963 simply as a tutoring program and has blossomed into an organization that is made up of 16 different service projects. If your student is looking for a place to start with volunteering, VIP is a great way to go!

OVP holds a variety of educational workshops and trainings each year on topics such as volunteering abroad and organizing a service project. The best way to find out about what is going on in OVP is to join our list serve. It goes out once a week and highlights upcoming OVP events and community volunteer needs. Call or email to sign up!

We also hold several drives throughout the year to collect canned food, Thanksgiving baskets, toys during the holiday season, prom dresses, and pop tabs. If you are interested in contributing, please don't hesitate to contact us. We offer a website for students to peruse volunteer opportunities,www.cuvolunteer.org as well as the OVP Web site, www.union.illinois.edu/ovp, or call 217.333.7424.