Local alumni to host volunteer fair

The Monroe County Chapter of the IU Alumni Association is hosting a community volunteer fair from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the DeVault Alumni Center. \nThe IUAA has designated the month of April as IU Cares Month and has asked chapters of the Association to pick a community service project in which to participate. The community service volunteer fair is the Monroe County chapter’s project. \n“This is our first attempt at this, and we’re looking forward to a big turnout,” said Mike Mann, president of Monroe County’s IUAA chapter. “We’re giving away some door prizes like a weekend for two, gift cards to restaurants and gift baskets to give people an incentive to come.” \nJen Goins, director of IUAA chapters, said she hopes that IU Cares Month can be an annual event. \n“IUAA members are invited to come and learn about volunteer opportunities,” Goins said. “Students and alumni and community members are all welcome.” \nMann said the chapter wanted to do something different, and because Bloomington and Monroe County have so many nonprofits, this event would be fitting. \n“We thought it would be good to have all the nonprofits in one place and have the people attending go and look around and find some organizations they are interested in,.” Mann said. \nAbout 30 nonprofit organizations will be participating in the event, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girl Scouts, Middle Way House and Jill’s House, Mann said.\n“It’s sort of an expo and all the nonprofits will have some sort of display,” Mann said. “There will be tables set up throughout the dining room and people with brochures.” \nMann said one of the chapter’s main goals was to connect IUAA members to the nonprofit organizations in the community. \n“We have a longstanding tradition of doing community service,” said Mark Skirvin, senior director of alumni chapters for the IUAA. “We are simply trying to foster a little more community service on the part of the chapter. It’s a neat project, and we hope it’s one that will continue to grow.” \nThe IUAA is an organization that helps alumni connect with the University. There are chapters all over the country, including ones in New York and Chicago. Some of the other chapters’ projects include the Washington, D.C. chapter’s work on a school, San Diego chapter’s beach cleanup and the Seattle chapter’s bike-trail cleanup.