Americorps serves MSU

Daniel Bercaw
The Reflector

The Mississippi State University Campus Outreach and Service Learning Center is at the disposal of MSU and the surrounding community serving as a direct link to Americorps, member of the Corporation for National Service.

"We educate students and show them how to better serve others [and] to create and make better students for lifetime service to whatever community they're in," Keva Martin, student and community outreach coordinator for Campus Outreach, said. "Such a philosophy falls in the line with the CNS and Americorps."

According to www.nationalservice.com, the CNS carries on that tradition by working with governor-appointed state commissions, local and national nonprofits, faith-based groups, schools and other civic organizations. The purpose of these services is to provide opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve their communities.

With over 40,000 volunteers nationwide, Americorps' role in society is to feed the hungry, build homes for those in need and better the lives of those in various sizes of communities.

Americorps not only provides a service outlet but also supports college students through scholarships and loans.

In a continuing effort to look for volunteers, MSU Campus Outreach‹falling under the umbrella of Campus Link, a part of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning‹will be hosting a Service Opportunity Fair located at the Colvard Union Lobby Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Outreach has invited approximately 40 service-based organizations to come to the fair in order to discuss opportunities for MSU and Starkville.

Habitat for Humanity, Very Special Arts and the Humane Society are just a couple of examples of invited organizations.

"If students are looking to talk to representatives from these [various] agencies, this is where they need to come," Martin said.