By Mary Barrett '14
Thirty local organizations visited campus this week for the Franciscan Center for Service and Advocacy’s Volunteer Service Fair. The annual event’s goal is to inform Siena students about local organizations where they can pursue opportunities for volunteering, internships and possibly employment.
Franciscan Center Senior Events Coordinator Amy-Lynn Vanacore ’14 helped to organize the event. She said it helps students who are interested in service get involved while living the College’s mission of helping those in need. “It's a great opportunity to find avenues to work with and to share our Franciscan values within the community,” Vanacore said.
Sue Urena ’15, Sade Perez ’15 and Kristin Devine ’15 attended the fair looking for ways to give back.
Having previously volunteered through the Franciscan Center after Hurricane Sandy and again this summer, Urena was looking for new ways to help those in need. She signed up to volunteer with two organizations, including the Capital City Psychiatric Center.
“Siena students have an inclination to look for volunteer services and to go out and help,” said Perez. She added that the College pushes students to become part of the larger community.
Devine has done volunteer work through various classes at Siena. “Helping others is probably one of the best ways to help yourself,” Devine said. “You benefit so much when you benefit other people.”
Volunteer Coordinator at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York M.E. Mazur reinforced the impact of serving those in need. “You don’t have to be poor to be hungry,” Mazur said. “People don’t realize that right in their own backyards there are thousands of people who don’t have access to resources or food.” The Regional Food Bank works to ensure that these people are taken care of.
Anna Youngmann ’15 represented the Sr. Thea Bowman Center for Women at the fair. The Bowman Center serves both the campus and Capital Region communities. “The Franciscan value of respect for each person and the worth of each person is why I do service and I think that is a really huge part of Siena’s values,” Youngmann said.
Youngmann said she has felt the Franciscan values all her life, which is why, for her, being a Siena College student is a perfect fit.
