On Sept. 22, Lexus of Stevens Creek held its third annual Volunteer Fair with around 50 non-profit organizations represented. In total, around 500 students from schools across the county attended the fair in search of volunteer opportunities.

Vina Nguyen, the volunteer manager for Loaves and Fishes, was promoting her organization at the Volunteer Fair for the first time. “We need a lot of volunteers, and volunteers [that] are really involved in creating a caring environment,” Nguyen said.

There were numerous organizations represented, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Humane Society and the Peninsula Stroke Association. Some organizations such as the Salvation Army have attended the fair for all three years, while others such as Loaves and Fishes — a local food provider for the homeless — attended for the first time.

“Not only can [students] fill up their community service requirement, but they can put it on their resume for college,”said Tracy Chiappe, a Lexus employee who works for the dealership’s community outreach program, which organized the event.

Although MVHS does not have a community service requirement, MVHS students such as senior Erica Xu were still present looking for new activities.

“I want something where I can help people rather than sit in the back room, because I think that’s what a lot of volunteers end up doing sometimes,” Xu said. “I just kind of wanted to look around for any organizations that interest me. I’ve volunteered before, but they weren’t things that I was passionate about.”

Several students, including seniors Larry Xu and Victor Zhang, came to secure volunteer opportunities for school service clubs.

“We’re here for the National Honor Society to look at all the nonprofit organizations, and to see if we can get any volunteer opportunities and bring those opportunities to our members,” NHS President senior Larry Xu said.