Volunteer Expo highlights opportunities to give back

In honor and advance of Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association and Riverhead Free Library will host the third annual Volunteer Expo, Saturday, Jan. 11 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Admission is free and all ages are invited to explore dozens of interesting volunteer opportunities to match every interest, ability and amount of time, from a single day to an ongoing commitment. The Volunteer Expo offers a way for residents to give back locally while supporting great community-based organizations. Among the participating organizations at this year’s expo:

• North Fork Animal Welfare League needs volunteers to walk, train, socialize and foster the animals waiting to be adopted.
• River and Roots Community Garden provides garden plots for local residents and sharing the bounty with the community in need. Volunteers needed for gardening and organizational tasks.
• Butterfly Effects Project invites you to help empower young members by sharing your knowledge in a workshop, assisting with events and activities and more.
• Hope and Resilience Long Island (HARLI) looking for help in event planning, excel skills, community outreach and graphic design to help in support of domestic violence victims.
• North Fork Environmental Council (NFEC) is calling for residents interested in the care and protection of our precious land and resources, promoting zero waste, water conservation, community building and more.
• Riverhead Community Awareness Program (CAP) will provide training for volunteers to teach Drug and Alcohol Prevention to our district’s 5th and 6th graders.
• Sound Justice Initiative offers options for social media skills, career coaches, grant writers, mentors and more in their ongoing Liberal Arts program at the Suffolk County Jails.
• East End Arts can always use team members for the Mosaic Street Painting Festival, concerts and more special events.
• Corchaug Repertory Theatre has opportunities back and front of stage for the multiple shows presented throughout the year.
• Surfrider Eastern Long Island join in to help protect our beaches, coast and climate, help with water sampling, environmental campaigns and community beach clean ups.

“This will be our third year at the Volunteer Expo. This is a proud collective commitment to local service that not only strengthens the fabric of our communities, but is a recommitment to the legacy of Dr. King, who notably stated “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is “What are you doing for others?’” Sound Justice Initiative Kerry Spooner said.