Students browsed the table set up on the California State University, Northridge Bookstore Lawn learning about volunteer opportunities, and eating free tacos, at the seventh annual Cesar Chavez Service Fair on March 30.

“We were getting out of our building and someone told us about this,” freshman Rochelle Biteng said. “It was mostly the free food.”

It ended up being about much more than the food, though. Biteng, who was attending the fair with sophomore Joeng Mi Lee, visited the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s booth and were interested in getting involved in the Light the Night event. Lee said that she wasn’t interested in volunteering on campus, but now with events like Light the Night she feels she could get some experience in the “real world.”

The fair, which hosted 30 local nonprofit organizations showcasing opportunities for students to get involved, was sponsored by Unified We Serve with support from the Department of Chicana/o Studies. Campus was closed on March 31 for Cesar Chavez Day, so the event traditionally takes place the day before the holiday, which is intended to honor Chavez’s legacy and promote community service.

Senior Cristina Navarro encourages students to get involved with volunteering. As a transfer student, she found Unified We Serve as a great way to make an impact on campus.

“[Through Unified We Serve] it was easy to find a volunteer program, become a part of it, make friends and then realize that you are also making a difference and giving back to your community,” Navarro said.

Cesar Chavez, Chicano/a Studies, Unified We Serve