By Mark Brinkerhoff
Rose Marie Aldrich’s motto is “I live to serve.”
For 13 years, the Boston native has lived in Utah Valley where she said she has seen the need for volunteer service rise.
“In the scriptures, it says lose yourself to find yourself,” Aldrich said. “So I decided to lose myself in service.”
This holiday season, she said she is involved in no less than six service projects, including the Basket Brigade.
As a volunteer for the Basket Brigade, Aldrich solicits and collects baskets of Thanksgiving food for people in need.
She said a variety of service opportunities are available to students, especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Doing research on the Internet, contacting volunteer organizations listed in the phonebook or looking for service opportunities in local newspapers, are great ways to find out what’s available – and what’s needed – during the holiday season, Aldrich said.
There are many on and off campus resources for students desiring to get involved in holiday service programs, said Katherine Fairbanks, Community Service Coordinator for BYUSA.
The 28 BYUSA-sponsored programs sometimes set up booths in the quad to recruit volunteers, said Fairbanks, 22, a senior from Ogden, majoring in human development.
“Fortunately, we’ve been blessed to have people come to us,” she said. “In that way, our programs have had a lot of success.”
Fairbanks said student volunteer turnout has been especially high for programs like Project Uplift, Sub for Santa, and the BYUSA Food Drive.
“I think in general it’s our nature to get involved and volunteer around the holidays,” she said.
Fairbanks said it’s important for students to get involved and stay involved in service programs and organizations all year round.
More opportunities to serve arise around Thanksgiving and Christmas than at any other time of the year, said Liz Eyring, Service-to-Go Coordinator for the Jacobsen Center for Service and Learning.
She said her organization aims to help BYU students, wards and stakes, provide need-based community service.
“We are the hub of service (on campus), a virtual bulletin board between our students and the community,” said Eyring, 21, a junior from Bountiful, Utah, majoring in early childhood education.
She said if students don’t find what they’re looking for at the Jacobsen Center, she and her colleagues will at least direct them to service opportunities at other organizations.
The United Way is one organization that collaborates with the Jacobsen Center on holiday service projects.
Nicole Wilkes, Volunteer Center Coordinator for the local branch of the United Way, said her organization is now working with the Utah Valley Regional Food Bank and BYU to collect 300,000 lbs. of food this holiday season.
Wilkes said people tend to think more about donating their time and resources around the holidays.
“What we are trying to do is connect people with volunteer service opportunities according to their abilities and interests,” she said.
Wilkes said people who have specific needs during the holiday season usually have year-round needs.
For more information on service opportunities in Utah Valley, please contact the local branches of the United Way, the Food and Care Coalition and BYUSA, or visit the Jacobsen Center for Service and Learning Web site at www.byu.edu/jacobsencenter.
