History

The ISU Volunteer Center was established in 1969. It was created by ISU student Rob Denson as a community service project. The center's first volunteer project took place in the spring of 1970. Volunteers taught physically and mentally-handicapped children to bowl. Since then, the number of student volunteers has increased and the range of volunteer programs offered has expanded. The ISU Volunteer Center has had several different names in the last 27 years. It was originally called "ISU Volunteers." A 1979 Daily refers to it as the "Iowa State University Volunteer Center." In 1983, the center changed its name to the "Volunteer Referral Center."

Currently, it is called the ISU Student Volunteer Services (SVS). In the beginning, the center only coordinated a few service projects, starting with teaching disabled children to bow. By 1979, the center offered twelve different programs and worked with agencies such as North Grand Care Center, Woodward State Hospital/School; Iowa Training School for Boys in Eldoro, Story Couny Hospital and the Office of Student Life.

The Center had approximately 175 volunteers, and the office was organized so that one student administrator oversaw each program. By 1980, the office had 13 programs with the addition of VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). In this program, business students with IRS training helped the elderly, low-income individuals, and students with their taxes. The center started coordinating more one-time service projects for clubs, residence halls and Greek houses in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some of the projects included raking leaves or cleaning windows for elderly residents in the community.

The decision to change the name to "Volunteer Referral Center" came in 1983. The change was a reflection of emerging student needs. Cecil Lundy, the advisor at the time, said the organization had not changed with the times. When ISU Volunteers started in 1969, volunteering was the "in" thing to do, according to Lundy. It was a time of student activism, he said, and students volunteered altruistically. In 1983, though, students were looking for marketable job experience related to their field; in addition, the program had been receiving criticism for catering to students majoring in social service areas.

Consequently, 1983 marked a change in direction for the Center. It expanded its agency base to 35 and increased its student membership to around 200 to 300 volunteers. The ISU SVS has always been student-run and student-financed, receiving funding from the Government of the Student Body. In spring 2005, ISU SVS officially partnered with the Volunteer Center of Story County to provide community service opportunities to Iowa State University.