Would you like to give back to the community, but feel you don’t have the time, or don’t know where to start?

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Volunteerism and Student Leadership (CVSL) can help.

“Volunteering really fulfills you personally,” says Antwan Jones, assistant office manager for CVSL and a senior majoring in health sciences. “For example, if you’re working in a transitional living house, you see the mother and her children … you can see the impact you have on their lives.”

Jones says that volunteering is also very easy for students to fit into their schedules. One can put in as few or as many hours as desired or possible. Students can also select projects or programs that relate to their majors.

Laurie Marks, director of the center, says she tries to promote two main ideas. One is that when students enroll at UWM, they become a part of the Milwaukee community and they should try and make connections to it.

“Everybody on this campus has the responsibility to be part of the community,” says Marks, who explains that being in college is a privilege.

The second idea Marks and the center promote is that students get as much out of the volunteering as the community is benefited by it. Volunteers are exposed to different experiences and people, including people who may be helpful in their careers.

Marks says that volunteering builds one’s resume and connection to the community.

The center is currently accepting gifts for its annual gift tag program. This program benefits underprivileged children from Milwaukee-area Boys & Girls Clubs who may not otherwise receive the Christmas gifts on their wish list.

The center received over 200 gift tags, each listing a child’s name and three different gifts they would like to receive. Those interested in making one of their wishes come true can stop in the center and select one, or several, gift tags.

“Every year, we take more gift tags,” says Marks. “We still have over 100 left.”

Those contributing to the gift tag program purchase one of the three gifts listed on the tag. The gift should cost between $15 and $20, and only one gift should be purchased. Gifts should be left unwrapped in a gift bag and brought it to the center no later than Dec. 8.

Common gifts on the children’s lists include basics like hats and scarves to popular toys like Barbie and Spiderman dolls, iDogs and the Bling Bling Bead Accessory Kit.

Gift tags are on display in the window outside the center so that those interested in participating can look over what gifts children are asking for and select which gift or gifts they would like to purchase.

Another big project for the center is the annual Hunger Clean Up. Last year, about 500 volunteers participated in this community service project. They are already preparing for the next one, which will be in April 2006.

“The Hunger Clean Up’s goal is to raise awareness and money to combat hunger and homelessness,” says Marks.

Participants collect pledges and then go out and complete various community service jobs.

Every fall, the center holds an event called a RAK-a-thon, where groups of students head out to area homes of elderly residents and help them do their yard work, like raking leaves. Jones says that this year’s RAK -a-thon was so popular, that after high winds put more leaves back on lawns, they had another RAK -a-thon Friday, Nov. 18.

One of the center’s largest projects is its blood drive, which is held several times each semester. The next blood drive will be held on Dec. 12 and 13.

There are over 90 volunteer opportunities available through the center. Students interested in volunteering can come into the center, which is located in the Union, and search its database for opportunities geared towards their interests, availability and skills.

Jones says the center hopes to get more students involved in the student leadership retreat, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the America Reads program.

“It’s never enough,” says Marks. “Even if we tripled the number of volunteers, we’d still need more.”

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