Bloomington community offers volunteer opportunities

Senior Liz McOuat has been helping her community since she was 5 years old, when she volunteered with her church. In high school, she started her own club called Students Taking A New Direction. Her club introduced students to volunteering opportunities in their community. In college, she is on the executive board of the Timmy Foundation, which provides health care for children. \n"Volunteering is absolutely crucial to who I am," she said. \nJan Van Dyke, senior assistant director for career resources at IU's Career Development Center, said volunteering is all taken on the same level when employers are looking at resumes. It doesn't matter if a student volunteers at a place that would give them on-the-job experience or if a student volunteers at a domestic violence shelter, he said. \nElizabeth Savich, director of the Bloomington Volunteer Network, said IU students are making an impact on the community.\n"The Bloomington non-profits could not function . . . as well as they do without the help of generous and talented students that have volunteered throughout the year," she said.\nMcOuat, who is studying biology and psychology, said volunteering is eye-opening in ways that you would never expect. \n"I would never do something to write it down on a resume, that is not what volunteering is about," she said.\nFor volunteer opportunities, go to the Bloomington Volunteer Network Web site at www.city.bloomington.in.us/volunteer/.\nHere are some organizations with volunteer opportunities:\n-- Bloomington Community Circus -- 339-0929\n-- Boy Scouts of America -- 336-6809\n-- Boys and Girls Club -- 332-5311 \n-- Crisis Pregnancy Center -- 334-0104\n-- Monroe County Humane Association -- 349-3492 \n-- Adult Education Volunteers -- 330-7731\n-- Kitchen Chefs -- 334-5728\n-- Hospice of Bloomington Hospital -- 353-9818\n-- Farmers Market -- 349-3738\n-- Special Olympic Bowling -- 349-3739\n-- Canine Carnival -- 349-3739\n-- Big Brothers Big Sisters -- 334-2828\n-- BloomingKids! -- 855-2278\n-- Middle Way House -- 333-7404