Volunteering is an important part of what makes our community such a great place to live. Donating your time can sometimes be more valuable than simply donating money. When you volunteer, you are spending time enriching the lives of those less fortunate in our community.

Many people have the desire to volunteer but do not know where to begin. On Thursday, May 16, I will be holding a volunteer fair from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Great Northern Mall in Clay to help volunteers connect with groups in our community and promote volunteer activities.

Everyone has different talents and activities they enjoy but it is often difficult to find a place to apply them as a volunteer in the community. The volunteer fair will be a great way to meet different kinds of volunteer groups and find an organization that fits your desire to make a difference.

We are still looking for volunteer organizations that would like to participate at the event. The fair will be a great opportunity to showcase the fantastic work volunteer groups do for those in need and will help these organizations recruit new people who are looking to give back. If your group is interested in participating, contact my office at 452-1115 or email StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us.

If you have any suggestions for ways to volunteer in the community or have any questions or concerns about an important community issue, you can always contact my office. I applaud all the volunteer efforts that happen in our area every day and I look forward to seeing the community out at the volunteer fair on May 16.