WNED hosted its fourth annual Volunteer Fair at its downtown Buffalo headquarters on Saturday. The four hour event offered over 55 local volunteer organizations all in one place for a unique "one stop shopping" experience.

Interested patrons perused the WNED studios, where row after row of non-profit organizations were equipped with bright, informative displays. Representatives from the numerous associations warmly welcomed all visitors to the fair and offered an authentic and knowledgeable insight into their various and unique goals and programs.

Volunteer opportunities ranged from working with children, older adults, and animals to assisting in environmental clean-ups and historical preservation. Representatives from the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Erie County, the Food Bank of WNY, Habitat for Humanity Buffalo, Shea's Performing Arts Center, the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, the Zoological Society of Buffalo Inc., the Central Terminal Restoration Corp., and WNED TV-AM-FM were just some of the organizations among the crowd at the fair.

Some exhibitors literally brought their work to the event, such as the Buffalo Zoological Society, whose wildlife display included a leopard gecko named Laverne, who attracted many fascinated visitors. Maureen Pantera, the Buffalo Zoo's volunteer coordinator, described the opportunities available at the zoo from working on the "zoo crew" to training sessions that allow volunteers to become a "docent," guiding zoo tours and handling small animals. Pantera remarked, "We came to the fair this year and last year, and we had a very positive response. We got some of our best volunteers from the fair last year, including an Eagle Scout that was able to complete his scout project with us and is actually going to be earning our volunteer recognition award this year. We had a very positive reaction last time, which is why I knew I wanted to return again this year."

The response from the community has been uplifting to the organization. Lisa Napier, volunteer manager for WNED, stated "the people that come to this fair are looking for serious engagement; they're not coming here to see what giveaways there are and what gift baskets they can get, but they are here because they are really looking for volunteer experiences. Every organization here usually leaves with a whole pool of new resources." Indeed, the event caters not only to the civic minded individual's genuine interest in helping the community, but also aids the community's non-profit organizations in acquiring new assistance.

The volunteer fair has proven to be an asset to both sides of the community. Napier commented, "There are so many organizations out there that require volunteer services, and there are people that are looking for these experiences, but they just don't know how to find them. This fair grants them the resources that they need, and in this way, we are pulling everything together. It's really a win-win situation, and is also a great networking opportunity to meet with the various organizations."

While both groups and individuals found the fair a success, undoubtedly, the greatest beneficiary from this breadth of civic involvement is the community, as every volunteer and organization works towards creating a stronger and healthier Western New York.

For more information on the fair, volunteer opportunities, or WNED, visit www.wned.org.