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In the midst of a pandemic, many CU students felt disconnected from their community. Madison Cunningham is one of many whose freshman year was hindered by the pandemic.听As a way to reconnect, Cunningham got involved with听CU Boulder鈥檚 Volunteer Resource Center and started making connections.

鈥淎fter our freshman year, I felt so isolated,鈥� the VRC student-employee, said. 鈥淣ow, I feel鈥�yeah, I definitely do feel more involved.鈥�

The VRC helps CU staff and students get involved with the community. They work as a guide for Buffs by connecting them with various volunteer opportunities.

Step 1: Research your interests

Getting involved with something you are passionate about can make a world of difference. Before going any further, it is a good idea to brainstorm and consider your interests.听

鈥淚t's kind of like a choose-your-own-path kind of game,鈥� Cunningham said.听

One way of brainstorming is to take a pen to paper. Maybe draw a diagram or create a list of all the things you are interested in.

Step 2: Visit the VRC office

Located on the fourth听floor of the UMC is the Volunteer Resource Center. Students are welcome to stop by during business hours, even after grabbing a bite downstairs! Visiting the office is a great way to get started and ask questions.听

During your VRC visit you will have the opportunity to speak with an employee who can make volunteering recommendations based on your interests (don鈥檛 forget your list).

Step 3: Chat with a VRC employee

During your brief interview with a VRC employee, you will be asked a variety of questions that will help match you up with an organization or activity. These questions may be about volunteer goals, length of volunteer work, your passions, etc.听

鈥淚t's very one-on-one,鈥� Cunningham said. 鈥淎nd then you鈥檙e always leaving with some sort of volunteer opportunity or organization that you contact.鈥�

If you are unable to make it to the VRC in person, virtual appointments are also available. To schedule an appointment, students can email volunteer@colorado.edu with their availability.

Step 4: Message your organization on CU Serves听

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CUServes is the university鈥檚 online hub for volunteering. Students can find many volunteer opportunities on the platform. The website also allows students to reach out to volunteer organizations.听

鈥淪o if the organization is through CUServes, or they have a page set up on CUServes, then that student can message them through that platform,鈥� Cunningham said.听

If a student wants to volunteer somewhere not listed on CUServes, the VRC will assist them with getting in contact.

Step 5: Achieve your goals

R茅sum茅听building and personal achievements are some of the many benefits that come with volunteering.听

鈥淚f you come in and you want to make friends, that鈥檚 a personal goal, and we鈥檒l definitely be able to help you with that,鈥� Cunningham said. 鈥淏ut if you want to come in and you want volunteering for your pre-med track, we also have volunteer opportunities like that.鈥澨�

Whether your goals are personal or professional, there are volunteer opportunities out there for everyone!听

鈥淰olunteering shouldn鈥檛 be scary,鈥� Cunningham said. 鈥淪o if you really want to feel involved in our community, don鈥檛 hesitate because the Volunteer Resource Center is always here to help and support our students.鈥�