Anyone who has some free time and wants to help improve their community by volunteering for a local organization can probably find something that suits their interests and skills at the third annual Volunteer Morgan Hill Faire Saturday.
Likewise, any local nonprofit who needs some help and wants to spread the word about their organization is likely to accomplish that at the same event, according to organizers.
The faire, hosted by the nonprofit Volunteer Morgan Hill organization, will be held on the Third Street Promenade in downtown Morgan Hill, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The new location was chosen for its visibility and to attract more attendees than past faires, and to coincide with the summer farmers’ market on Depot Street so residents can enjoy both events, according to VMH spokeswoman Kristen Crosier.
The Volunteer Morgan Hill Faire is a trade show for local community service groups, organizers said. Local nonprofits will set up booths along Third Street to offer information about their organizations and sign up new volunteers.
As the core undertaking of the Volunteer Morgan Hill association, the faire offers a unique opportunity for local community service organizations to gather and share their missions with locals and prospective volunteers, Crosier said.
The event is a chance for anyone interested in volunteering or learning more about local nonprofits that support the Morgan Hill area, according to VMH vice president Larry McElvain.
“For a lot of people who want to volunteer, it’s hard finding the right position for them because everyone has different likes and dislikes,” McElvain said. “At the faire you can find a wide variety of organizations that are looking for volunteers-people in the community can come to one place, see all the different organizations that are there, and then pick the one that’s right for them.”
Previous Volunteer Morgan Hill faires have averaged about 500 new prospective volunteers signing up for various organizations.
Also the owner of Discover Counseling Center in Morgan Hill, McElvain said his nonprofit has benefited from the exposure and interested attendees at previous Volunteer faires.
“The awareness in the community is very valuable-that awareness also helps us to be able to get grant money, and without that visibility it would be more difficult,” McElvain said.
One of the key ongoing sponsors of the volunteer faire, Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center, said the event supports its commitment to community health.
“’Health’ means a lot of things, and helping communities come together in events like the Volunteer Morgan Hill Faire builds bonds and relationships, and contributes to the overall emotional and spiritual health of those communities,” said KP associate public affairs representative Hahn Nguyen.
The Volunteer Faire was created by the 2009 class of Leadership Morgan Hill. Annual Leadership classes are required to complete a community service project in order to graduate.
Organizations who are still interested in registering for booths at the Volunteer Morgan Hill Faire can go to vmhfaire2012.eventbrite.com.
To learn more about the organization, visit www.facebook.com/VolunteerMorganHill.
