National Volunteer Week: Stony Brook University

This week is National Volunteer Week in the United States. Golden Key member Nelson Oliveira, webmaster at the Stony Brook University chapter, tells us about the chapters service efforts in this volunteer highlight.
My motivation to volunteer is to make a difference in somebody’s life, day or even a moment. I like to help fellow Golden Key members achieve their academic goals while having fun and getting involved in community service and on campus activities.
English Pal is by far our chapter’s favorite, most fun and rewarding volunteer project! The English Pal Program gives international students an opportunity to practice conversational English in a casual setting with an English speaker. At the same time, domestic students can meet and learn from people of different cultures and languages. The program  has won awards and it’s simply fun to be involved with!
Aligning with Golden Key’s three pillars of Academics, Leadership and Service, our chapter strives to include volunteer projects on our priority list every year. Another awesome volunteer project was our recent visit to the Long Island Head Start, a day care institution for low income families, where we did several activities with the children and it was extremely rewarding. Additional volunteer projects we have participated in include visiting a pediatric hospital during our university’s Day of Service, raising funds for Hurricane Sandy victims and cancer survivors, and we often engage in club partnerships in on-campus volunteer events.
Social media is the main way we communicate with our chapter to get all the members involved. We also advertise major volunteer events by posting flyers on campus and sending out emails. To get family and friends involved, we just have to describe to them how rewarding and fun volunteering can be, especially if you’re with a group of people.
The Stony Brook chapter is excited to continue to make a difference in their community!