The United Way is an organization on campus that allows any student the opportunity to volunteer in the community.

Anna Kauffmann, a sophomore education major at Southeast Missouri State University, is the president of the campus division of the United Way. She began her involvement in the United Way last year when she came to Southeast and she quickly became an active member. Kauffmann leads the club in working alongside the United Way of Southeast Missouri.

The United Way is an organization that focuses on establishing opportunities to volunteer in communities. Kauffmann said club members have made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to distribute to needy individuals and worked at the Salvation Army.

The club's members decided to dedicate a day to packaging food, which will be donated to a local food bank after the event. This upcoming event requires fundraising to support it. This packaged food includes pre-made macaroni and cheese, rice and vegetable casserole and beans and rice casserole. The food is sent to the club in large tubs and then packaged and sealed by volunteers for 25 cents each.

To prepare for the event, the United Way has been selling small bags filled with Halloween-themed candy in the University Center on Wednesdays. The students also plan to ask for donations outside of Wal-Mart and set up more fundraising events.

Kauffmann hopes members can raise enough money to host their packaging event during the spring semester, but the date has not been set. In order to acquire volunteers, Kauffmann will speak to sororities, fraternities and other clubs on campus to ask members to assist in the campaign.

The United Way will be making more plans in the future about its fundraising strategies and volunteer opportunities. Members meet at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in Crisp Hall. Students can register for the club's email list at the fundraiser on Oct. 31. Students who register for the email list will receive an email detailing what was discussed at each meeting.

"Volunteering really makes a difference -- not only in the people who need it, but also with the people who volunteer," Kauffmann said. "You don't get anything physically out of it, but it makes you feel good."