The annual ETHS volunteer fair took place on September 4 during lunch blocks A and B in the Fieldhouse. Over 50 stations of organizations circled around the track, with students lined up to see all the volunteer opportunities–the first 50 of which earned a ticket for free ice cream sandwiches.
“I talk to students about all these different organizations that exist in Evanston who say they don’t want to email somebody random,” said Erin Claeys, Community Service Coordinator and organizer of the fair. “This is a way for people to actually meet the people behind those organizations and talk to them, and learn about their mission.”
Here are some of the new organizations that operate outside of ETHS.
Centro Romero
Centro Romero is a community-based organization based in the Northeast side of Chicago, and according to their website, their mission is “to bridge a disenfranchised community of immigrants and refugees into mainstream American society as well as improving their opportunity for upward social mobility.”
“We help the immigrated refugee community become self-sufficient,” said Corin Mora, a Youth Program Assistant at Centro Romero.
Centro Romero is currently looking for volunteers in their Adult Education Department.
Cradles to Crayons
“Our mission is to help kids have all the necessities they need at home, at school, at play, or wherever they are, said Emma Crumpton, a staff member at the Cradles to Crayons event committee.
ETHS students and families can help donate any supplies they might have, such as clothes, shoes, diapers, or school supplies to take off financial burdens from families or school administrators.
Evanston Grows
Evanston Grows is an urban agriculture organization that “brings together diverse stakeholders to develop a common agenda and solutions for addressing the inequity in our community that has resulted in food injustice.”
As for what students can do to help, Mary Collins, an associate director at Evanston Grows informed that ETHS Seniors and graduates can help volunteer seasonally through a paid internship that allows “hands-on experience in urban agriculture and farming.”
