ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – If you’re looking for a way to help your community, but don’t know how, the City of Albuquerque wants to help. Friday, the city hosted Volunteer Fest, showing off just how many ways there are to give back.

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For some, giving back to the community is just a way to pass the time, but for people like Felicia and Lew, it is a calling. “I signed up and I’ve been volunteering ever since May of 2016,” said Felicia Brewster, a community volunteer. Brewster started to volunteer after a career in firefighting.

Lew Schiffman has dedicated his time to volunteering during his retirement. “One is a way of saying thanks for all I’ve been blessed with in my life, being able to retire comfortably, having my health, having my freedom, and I want to give back to be able to touch other people.”

Brewster added, “So it’s always better to do something for someone else, especially if they can’t repay you. Like, the feeling that you get back from that is so good.”

Both of them are committed to giving back to their Albuquerque community, and they are not alone. At the Volunteer Fest in Old Town, 35 organizations came together to showcase their services and how people can get involved.

Rachael Hernandez, the Civic Engagement Coordinator for the City of Albuquerque, said, “It really gives you an opportunity to connect with your community. We do have community members that have issues in the community, but volunteering, you can come and give back and be a part of the solution.”

City agencies like Solid Waste, Open Space, and Libraries participated, offering various opportunities for community engagement. The fair also featured organizations such as Animal Humane, the Boys and Girls Club, and Meals on Wheels.

“It’s a more serious table. Not a lot of people come up and say, ‘I want to help right now.’ They are more like, ‘What can I do?’ shared Jade Reese Hernandez, a volunteer with the Rape Crisis Center of Central New Mexico.

For those on the fence or unsure where to start, Felicia reminds everyone, “Nothing beats a failure but a try.”

For more information on volunteer opportunities, you can click this link.