Not only does volunteering provide an extra little boost for college applications, but it is also a great way to enrich people’s lives and make an impact locally or even globally. If the sound of making a difference and impacting communities in positive ways appeals to you, then check out Desert Vista’s very own Key Club, where goodwill and charity is the driving force behind this cause.

Run by a group of students and sponsored by librarian John Olson, club leaders are responsible for working behind the scenes of volunteering events; they collect information on volunteering events, set up dates and times and spread the word around school. Information on the specifics of these upcoming opportunities are then communicated to the other members at club meetings. For everyone who signed up, a total of at least 60 volunteering hours is required for everyone by the end of April, and every meeting attended counts as half an hour. Previous events hosted by the club include the blood drive that was hosted here at Desert Vista on Sept 22. It takes place once a semester and volunteer nurses from a local hospital support the cause by volunteering their time for free and help out. Another large event supported by the club is Project C.U.R.E, a large non-profit organization that delivers donated medical supplies to developing countries or those in crisis, such as the refugees from Syria. Club members who sign up to participate sort these supplies into the appropriate boxes, which are then packaged and shipped to their destination.

An upcoming opportunity to get involved is Puppy Pals, which is just as exciting and adorable as it sounds. Participants look after young dogs, playing with them and tending after them to make sure they are getting all the attention and exercise that they need. This event has two dates coming up- Nov. 28 and Dec. 26. You must be at least 15 to attend but you must bring a guardian over 18, but if you are above 16 years of age then you can attend the event without a parent if you have signed a Youth Volunteer Waiver form. To find out more about this event and how to join Key Club, attend a meeting. They take place every Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. in the auditorium.

Senior club president Ally Ferrara has been involved in the club for all four years of her high  school career, and is very passionate about it. “It’s a very open club, and anyone is free to join,” she said. “It’s a great way to get involved in the community.”

Take a little time out of your day to attend a meeting and you just might find yourself enjoying the countless rewarding experiences that volunteering has to offer.