People wanting to use their time to volunteer for worthy causes can meet with representatives of charitable and other nonprofit organizations in southwestern Idaho during special Spring Volunteer Fairs May 16 in Meridian and Caldwell.
“Volunteers offer Idaho nonprofit businesses a reservoir of experience and ability that can be invaluable, especially in the challenging times of an economic slowdown,” said Lynn Hoffmann, executive director of the Idaho Nonprofit Center.
With so many unemployed workers in the region, the fairs provide them and others the opportunity to explore volunteerism as a way to use their skills to benefit of others and remain actively connected and productive in the communities where they live.
The fairs run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Meridian School District Service Center, 1303 Central Drive, and concurrently at the Caldwell Armory, 1200 S. Kimball. Both fairs are sponsored by the Idaho Department of Labor, the Southwest Idaho Directors of Volunteer Services, the Idaho Nonprofit Center and the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism.
Sandi Borup, who runs the Southwest Idaho Directors of Volunteer Services, said charitable organizations are benefiting from a class of skilled people ready to lend their expertise to a cause, and volunteering lets out-of-work professionals develop skills and take advantage of networking opportunities that can led to job openings. For some, it may even mean a new career when the economy turns around.
Volunteers can catch the eye of board members, who are often corporate executives or senior managers looking for employees or know of someone who is. In competing for qualified workers, employers are realizing that the experience and knowledge of volunteers is a tremendous asset.
More information on the Spring Volunteer Fairs is online at labor.idaho.gov or available by telephone at 332-3575 ext. 3424 for the Meridian event and 364-7781 ext. 3296 for Caldwell event.