More than 30 local organizations that need volunteers to help in their efforts to combat poverty will be in attendance on Sunday, Sept. 28 at the seventh annual volunteer fair held by the Community Against Poverty (CAP) coalition.

This fair will take place from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at The Heights, 8001 Dale Avenue in Richmond Heights. Alan Spector, a local author and expert on the topic of volunteering as a way to give back to the community, will give a keynote address from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Following the talk, participants will have an opportunity to visit with representatives from area nonprofit agencies to learn about their work and to learn about volunteer opportunities. There will be a broad range of agencies present, with volunteer positions for all ages, interests and abilities. In response to needs of the residents of Ferguson, this year’s CAP Fair also will have a table with information on volunteer opportunities in Ferguson.  

“There is something special about being able to meet agency representatives to get a full picture of the range of opportunities available and to have specific volunteer-related questions answered,” said Louise Levine, co-chair, along with Ruth Schachter, of this year’s event. “We provide a more personal approach to finding a volunteer position than looking on a website.”     

CAP, a coalition of faith-based and civic organizations, was convened in 2008 by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and is dedicated to addressing the issue of poverty through education, advocacy and service. 

The event is free and open to all.  Those attending are asked to bring a donation of food to support area food pantries.

Agencies participating this year (in addition to the table focused on volunteering to help the residents of Ferguson) include Bi-Lingual International Assistant Services, Center for Survivors of Torture and War Trauma, Gateway Greening,  Immigrant & Refugee Women’s Program, Interfaith Partnership, Jewish Family & Children’s Service, Lift for Life Gym, Ready Readers, Saint Louis Effort for AIDS and many others.  

For a full list of agencies participating and a list of the co-sponsors of the event, call Gail Wechsler at 314-442-3894 or 314-503-5814 or visit communityagainstpoverty.org or jcrcstl.org.