A volunteer center at Missouri Western State University aims to connect Griffons with ways to give back to the community.

GriffsGiveBack has been in the idea stage for many years but finally came to life last fall when Brent Rosenauer went to the right person with the idea.

“I started the conversation with Vice President of Student Affairs Shana Meyer about the idea of starting a center where people could come together and find ways to give back to the community,” Rosenauer said. “That day that I met with her, she gave me all the resources I could possibly need, a bunch of people who were interested in helping, an office to host all these ideas out of, a website and all the equipment I needed.”

Brent Rosenauer is Director of GriffsGiveBack. A kickoff campus cleanup event was held in February and over 50 volunteers showed up to help. Rosenauer said community response to the volunteer center has been supportive so far with many wondering why something similar has not existed before now. 

“Any non-profits or any people who need help or have a way that a bunch of volunteers from the university can make an impact, they come to me, they come to the center, then we give that idea, that project out to people who are interested in helping,” Rosenauer said. “The amazing thing at Missouri Western is that there are already so many people and so many organizations making an impact, it’s just a matter of how effectively they are doing what they do. GriffsGiveBack is just making it easier for people to make that impact and making the connection between student organizations and non-profit in the community a littler bit simpler.” 

Rosenauer said GriffsGiveBack also works to help students find how they can give back in their own way. 

“If you’re super passionate about the idea of helping animals or being involved in pet shelters, we’ll find you the resources to make that impact on your own terms,” Rosenauer said. “Just come to GriffsGiveBack with your own skills, your own passion and we’ll find something for you.” 

Rosenauer said some upcoming projects include the Great Campus Cleanup Spring Edition and they’re currently looking for anyone with knowledge of how recycling works or is part of a recycling organization to help them with setting up a sustainable recycling system at Missouri Western. 

For more information about GriffsGiveBack, click here.