Volunteers at the child care booth during the volunteer fair at the Harris Community Village and Resource Center.
Harris Community Village and Resource Center staff recently held two events to distribute backpacks and school supplies to children living on the property and to recruit volunteers.
Event staff are asking for volunteers.
The first event, a volunteer fair, was held on Monday, July 29, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The goal of the event was to gauge interest in volunteering in the community at the Resource Center, Tooele Food Bank and Tooele Thrift, all of which are run by Switchpoint, a nonprofit that helps the homeless and those in need.
“We are often out in the community and our residents are not aware that we have an emergency shelter in Tooele,” said Denise Martin, volunteer and community engagement coordinator at the resource center. “We thought this fair would be a great way to let the community know what we do and how rewarding it is to volunteer.”
During the fair, staff set up booths in an “open house” style to inform community members about everything Switchpoint does and opportunities to volunteer in the community. They informed attendees about classes, such as art and parenting classes, that are needed at the resource center and opportunities to volunteer in Switchpoint’s kitchen, daycare and new cafe, as well as several other ways to volunteer. Attendees were also able to donate to various causes by purchasing UTA gift cards, feminine hygiene products and diapers and other items if they so desired, Martin said.
The event was attended by 80 members of the community, some representing larger groups.
Event staff are asking for volunteers.
Resource Center staff hope to make the volunteer fair an annual event. Anyone interested in volunteering should pick up an application at the Resource Center, Tooele Thrift or Tooele Food Bank. Applicants must complete a background check. After completing the background check, applicants can sign up for the Point app. Anyone with larger groups that would like to volunteer or anyone who would like to teach classes should email Martin at [email protected].
Martin is also establishing the Switchpoint Tooele Volunteer Board. The board is open to anyone who wants to volunteer. Board members will help expand outreach efforts. There will be seven positions available and applications are open until September 20. Those interested can pick up an application at Tooele Thrift or email Martin.
“Volunteering warms the heart and makes you feel good about being part of the community,” Martin said. “It happens so often that I get emotional watching the volunteers. It’s nice when our clients see a warm, friendly face.”
A back-to-school night was held at the Harris Community Village and Resource Center at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6. During the event, children living in the adjacent public housing and home were able to eat dinner and pick up school supplies from several tables in the cafeteria. The Tooele County School District donated backpacks, markers, crayons and other needed school supplies. The Northlake Elementary School parent-teacher organization also brought sweatshirts and T-shirts, and Tooele Thrift offered coupons for a free outfit, Martin said.
During the volunteer fair, participants could pick a sign from a tree and donate an item to the resource center for clients to use.
The children also had the opportunity to decorate cookies and do an art project. At the event, parents received information about school registration and were able to register their children for school.
The children at the event ranged in age from 6 to high school sophomores, and there were enough supplies for 50 children. Any excess supplies were saved and donated for children in the home and at home who were unable to attend.
“It was a nice event for the parents because they could cross an item off their checklist,” said Martin. “The mood was good and the children were looking forward to starting school.”
Resource Center staff hope to host the event annually in the future.
