Many nonprofit organizations around the state rely on student volunteers to succeed in holiday collection drives.

Some students will spend their time during this holiday season outside in the cold, next to a collection pot. Others will cook for hours and not eat any of the food, while others still will walk dogs who are not their own.

“It makes (students) feel they’re making a difference,” said Shawna Ross, Volunteer and Service Learning Center coordinator. “It helps them focus their energies in areas that are important to them.”

Organizations like the Salvation Army bell ringers, the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, 202 S. Elizabeth St., and the Isabella County Animal Shelter, 1105 S. Isabella Road, rely on students to volunteer their time, Ross said.

This holiday season there are numerous groups looking for volunteers.

On Dec. 14, the North Midland Family Center is having a “Holiday Happening.” Students can help staff the party while children work on crafts and participate in games.

“We want students to focus on academics during the semester,” Ross said. “In their free time and during breaks we encourage them to volunteer.”

Before Christmas break begins students can work at “Light Up My Life,” a drive thru display of Christmas lights at the Midland Fairgrounds. Students also can ring the bell for the Salvation Army at locations in Mount Pleasant.

Students can get more information about these activities and many more throughout the year by going to the Volunteer Central Web site, osl.stulife.cmich.edu/vcentral/.

First, students should register on the Web site and then turn in a release form to the Volunteer Center Office in Bovee University Center. This allows registered volunteers to receive e-mails about events and sign up for them online.

For students going home during the breaks, there still are many opportunities to volunteer. There is a link on the Volunteer Central Web page that connects users to the Volunteer Centers of Michigan homepage. From this site, volunteers can find opportunities in their hometowns to participate in during break.

Look in the community newspaper if nothing else, Ross said.

“The seasonal programming may create a greater need for volunteers,” she said. “But volunteers are needed all year long. Particularly since students don’t have time to volunteer until break, now is the time to begin volunteering.”