The University of Wyoming hosted the SLCE volunteer fair in the Student Union from February 10-11, providing students with ample opportunities to get involved with the community in a variety of ways. This is an annual event put on to help students find volunteer opportunities, as many students require volunteer hours to meet certain prerequisites for their degrees or club involvement. Stands were set up throughout The Breezeway in the Student Union, hosting a wide range of different volunteer organizations both from Laramie and even around the country.
One of these organizations based right in town is the Laramie Soup Kitchen, a place for anyone and everyone to come get a hot free meal. The stand operator, who chose to remain anonymous, stated, “The Laramie Soup Kitchen provides free meals to the community free of charge, every single day, Monday through Friday. But we also do other services for members of the community, like food recovery, where we take in leftover food from local restaurants . . . There’s a lot of availability for volunteers for different shifts, and I think it’s a great way for students to get out in the community.” The Laramie Soup Kitchen is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is actively seeking new volunteers.
Another organization that many historically minded Laramites may find appealing would be the Wyoming State Museum, located in Cheyenne. Melissa, the representative of the museum, said, “It’s really nice for us to be able to come out to Laramie and get in touch with the students because we have a lot of volunteers in Cheyenne already, but they’re a little less invested than the students, I think. They’re not looking for that deep level of (historical) understanding like the students are, so we’re really able to find some awesome interns here who want to do project-based stuff.” The Wyoming State Museum houses a wide variety of historically significant artifacts from Wyoming’s history and is always looking for new volunteers. If you wish to visit the museum, it’s open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday through Saturday.
For those interested in getting out in nature, the Conservation Corps may have a spot for you. The Conservation Corps is an Americorps-based organization that’s dedicated to the conservation of the natural environment both around Laramie and the country. Caleb Johnson, a coordinator at the organization said, “Our goal is to get college-age students out there, and to give them the skills and training they need to continue their future careers, we’re also trying to educate students about conservation.” The Conservation Corps is located on Fraternity Row and is always looking for new members.
The SLCE Volunteer Fair once again provided University of Wyoming students with a valuable opportunity to explore meaningful ways to give back to the community that they call home. With a diverse range of organizations, from local community services like the Laramie Soup Kitchen to national conservation efforts through AmeriCorps, students had the chance to connect with causes that align with their passions and career goals. If you’re interested in any of these organizations, make sure to look them up and reach out!
