Whenever I thought about volunteering, it was always associated with a sense of nobility and pride. It’s the greatest selfless deed one can do – to help someone out without expecting compensation for it.
When my friend told me about the UI Rotaract Club, it immediately interested me. Often, it can be hard to find volunteering opportunities, but this club is the perfect solution for that.
The first club event I participated in was last Wednesday, when we met up to make Halloween Cards for Ronald McDonald House Family Room at the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital. While it wasn’t a massive event, it was a great start for me.
My contribution was two cards, exuding the Halloween spirit. While it wasn’t direct involvement with the community, the thought of bringing joy to even a few kids made this experience very important for me. All the volunteers ensured that the cards were appropriate for the children and did not have any messages that would emphasize whatever situation they and their families were facing.
The most unexpected part of this session was how much I connected with the other volunteers. We bonded over ideating Halloween puns, snacks (which were provided during the card making), and our questionable artistic capabilities. As someone who tends to be introverted, the volunteering community was quite welcoming and encouraged me to talk. It certainly encourages me now to return not just because I know I will connect with a tight-knit community of fellow volunteers, as well as the greater community of Iowa City.
The UI Rotaract Club has several opportunities for volunteering, so there’s always an opportunity to get involved and create an impact. The next club meeting will be on Nov 4 at 5:30 pm, followed by another volunteering event at Open Heartland the next day from 5- 7 p.m. I’m most excited for Nov 9, when we get to meet children at the Ronald McDonald House for a Thanksgiving craft night.
You can learn more about UI Rotaract Club on their Instagram page!
And of course, here are the photos of the amazing cards we all made! Stay tuned for more at the home of Hawkeyes!
