Student Life General Culture and Society

MSU Texas volunteer opportunities for those seeking a cause

Reanna Gonzalez
05 February 2026
2 min read

For the first time in several years, MSU Texas held a volunteer fair to shine the light on many opportunities for students to volunteer at MSU and throughout the Wichita Falls community.

The February 3 event at the Clark Student Center has passed, but it was just the foundation for finding volunteer opportunities in the area.

There are many reasons to volunteer: seeking a cause to be passionate about, being part of the community, or even just meeting class requirements. There’s no shortage of reasons to lend a helping hand. MSU and the greater Wichita Falls community have a variety of volunteer options.

Ruby Garrett, the Assistant Director of the Student Engagement Center, said MSU hadn’t held a volunteer fair since COVID, despite having done them annually up to that point. It's important to spread the message of volunteer opportunities, she said. She described it as a way to give back to a part of the community you’re passionate about.

“I have always loved volunteering and seeing the impact it makes to whoever benefits from it,” Garrett said.

Garrett said volunteer work is an integral part of universities because it’s a great way to learn about and connect with the city in which a school is located. She said it can also provide insight into career fields that a student might be interested in working in. She added that it is a great way to network, which could lead to job opportunities, especially because there are jobs in various nonprofits.

Garrett said that there are resources available for students looking for volunteer options. She mentioned Mav’s Day of Service, put on by the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement, as one example. She said that social media, MustangsLink, and bulletin boards across campus are a great

way to find volunteer choices near campus. Garrett also mentioned that the Student Engagement Center will soon be putting together a list of volunteer opportunities that will be available to students, giving them a better sense of their options.

MSU students Leah Wadzeck and Ali Toral have made a habit of volunteering, both because it helps those around them and because it benefits their own perspectives and connections. They feel that volunteering contributes to a person’s well-being.

“You’re doing things for other people, out of selflessness,” Wadzeck said.

They agree that volunteering can broaden one's understanding of their field of study, adding that most fields have opportunities to volunteer. Toral is a political science major, and Wadzeck studies history. Toral believes that volunteering helps her connect with those in the community. Wadzeck feels that volunteering is at the root of what the country is built on and that it contributes to making the country what it should be.

“It gives you experience and things to add to your resume,” Toral said.

Toral and Wadzeck found many resources available to those who are interested in volunteering. Wadzeck said to just ask questions – to volunteer organizations, university staff, or even just Google – to find suitable volunteer opportunities. Toral suggested that having a friend tag along can make the volunteering experience easier.

Whatever your interests, whatever your schedule, there’s a volunteer option for everyone. Several volunteer opportunities will be popping up on campus or around Wichita Falls in the coming weeks. These events can be located on the city's social media pages or through MustangsLink.