Volunteering at a local nonprofit is a beautiful way to give back to your community … and let’s be real, colleges also love seeing volunteer hours on an application.

More than that, though, volunteering can be a rewarding experience that allows you to bond with friends or develop new skills. I reached out to several students at South to hear about their favorite places to volunteer.

One of Zowie Lee’s favorite places to volunteer is Hope Blooms. Key Club recently went there to make bouquets for nursing homes. Hope Blooms collects used flowers from weddings, funerals and grocery stores, then makes them into smaller bouquets. They then deliver these to community members in need.

According to Lee, “It is such a fun bonding experience with the group you bring, and you get to be creative on how you want the bouquets you make to look. If students are looking for a service project that does not require much commitment this is perfect for them.”

Volunteers can do things such as cleaning the jars that they deliver the flowers in, arranging bouquets, picking up used flowers from donors, and delivering the bouquets. If this is an experience that interests you, check out their website.

Michael Vasichek enjoys volunteering at the Red River Market (when the North Dakota weather permits, of course.)

“I get to help set up and take down the farmers market downtown,” said Vasichek. “The weather is usually nice which makes it a fun outdoor activity. And the people there are super fun and nice.” Other ways to help out there include running the compost station or welcoming guests at the market entrances. Fill out the volunteer form here to sign up for the next market.

There are so many other ways to help out around the community. Some other favorite organizations include:

• Gigi’s Playhouse (Down syndrome achievement center)
• Homeward Animal Shelter
• The Linus project (donates blankets to children in need)
• Fargo/Moorhead Riverkeepers

“There are so many opportunities that come up randomly that often end up being the most rewarding and fun,” said Lee, “So my advice is to always keep an eye out and don’t be afraid to ask people if they might need help with any project, as that is such an easy way to get involved.”