One Major Event

One major event that you are working on

By: Abeer Shoaib

This year in Animal Allies, I am hoping to find more volunteer opportunities with other rescue or adoption organizations. Last year due to COVID, it was far more difficult to locate organizations that were willing to take in volunteers, however this year Animal Allies has the opportunity to expand rather than providing volunteering opportunities only with the Pet Adoption League. Many Key Clubbers want to work with animals, which is completely understandable, and I want to be able to provide that experience for more members in the club and hope to do so by contacting different animal shelters and rescue foundations that will be willing to take in volunteers this year. Though it may be difficult to find an organization like PAL that provides us with volunteer opportunities every week, I still hope to work with organizations that need help with specific events at least once a month. This will expand volunteering positions for more members and allow them to earn hours in a fun and engaging manner! The Trojan Talk | Page 4

Contributing Through Covid

By: Shilpi Bardhan

In March of 2020, we can all remember the world shutting down, schools closing, and stay-at-home orders being enacted, a new normal was upon us. During this time we tried to help each other in any way possible. Some were creating masks for essential workers, others joined volunteer organizations to help others in need. We saw celebrities create online “shows'' to entertain the public. For example Some Good News with John Kranzski, a personal favourite of mine. During this time we saw people come together like no other time before, so because of that, I joined a nonprofit online that strived to tutor students all around the world. The organization that I joined had the mission to offer free supplementary tutoring for each and every student that needed it. There I was able to see over 300 students receive some of that extra help or one on one time they needed. Many times, it was very heartwarming to see these young childrens’ faces when they understood how to do a certain math problem or a new topic in English. I learned how good it made someone feel to be able to help someone else not just for service hours or for credit, but to volunteer their time to help someone in need. I think we should continue to help others just like we were during the pandemic, but without the major worries of the coronavirus. I am so excited to see how this year goes slowly going back to normal and I hope to see you at one of the volunteer events this year! The Trojan Talk | Page 5