Papers, readings, studying for exams, group projects, work, internships ... and volunteering? In this day and age, the average college student has very little time to spend outside his or her classroom duties. Although thousands feel the urge to help their fellow man in community service every year, it can be difficult to devote several hours each week to any cause or even to find one that might fit into the right schedule. Luckily, the University offers some unique alternatives to the traditional volunteer organizations, which may ease one's time woes.

The Detroit Project, a service group that focuses on helping a specific Detroit community in Brightmoor, is an organization that requires no official time commitment at all. Students sign up via the DP web site for individual ventures, and they choose the time that will best fit their needs and schedules. They can opt to attend one or all of the volunteer sessions based on their own preferences.

Jonathan Gleicher, executive director of the DP, notes, "The most important benefit to a student volunteer is the fact that, no matter their level of involvement, they are making a difference in one of America's most important cities."

Because the DP has so many different areas to volunteer in (everything from building demolitions to school tutoring events), prospective students have a slew of options for volunteer opportunities.

"Last year alone, The Detroit Project coordinated over 150 service projects, ranging from five people going to paint lockers in a school to over 1,000 participants working at 60-plus sites at DP Day," says Gleicher.

The DP accepts anyone willing to dedicate time to help the community, regardless of experience or availability, but they also have exclusive roles for those wishing to increase their involvement in the projects. A 50-person planning team, selected through applications and interviews, coordinates many events and contacts the volunteers with new information.

Habitat for Humanity, a national chain with a local University chapter, is another organization to provide individual sign ups for projects. Habitat projects include many house builds and even fundraising activities, and everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, is encouraged to join despite Habitat's Christian foundation.

Mahima Mahadevan, a representative for Habitat, said, "What's unique about Habitat is that in just one build day, volunteers can see what a difference they are making. The students also get to work side by side with the homeowner family and get to see who they are actually building the house for. Seeing how hard the homeowner family is working on their house inspires the students to work harder."

In addition to builds for families, Habitat sponsors many awareness programs to further help the homeless. Every month, in conjunction with the Salvation Army, it hosts breakfasts and dinners.

Mahadevan says, "We also have awareness events [for the hungry], where many students can get involved. For example, we hope to hold a 'Sleepout on the Diag,' where we will spend one night out on the Diag in order to raise homelessness awareness. The more students we have with us, the more effective our message will be."

For students who can't find projects such as these to mesh with their jam-packed schedules, hope is still not lost. Some organizations require no time at all in order to benefit someone less fortunate. Locks of Love asks for hair donations to make wigs for children who have lost their own hair due to illness. They accept hair with a minimum length of ten inches provided that it follows the Locks of Love guidelines for donations. To make the process even easier, Locks of Love lists salons on their web site that will cut hair free of charge to aid this cause.

Dana Leavitt, a LSA senior, is currently growing her hair out in order to donate to an organization like this.

"I decided to donate because my hair is getting pretty long, and I will not want it that long forever." She said. "Instead of wasting it, I would rather give it to someone who cannot grow their own hair due to various illnesses. I don't want someone to have to pay for my hair because it does not cost me anything to grow it."

Thousands of students join volunteer organizations every semester for a variety of reasons. Some want to feel like they have made a difference in someone else's life. Others volunteer to boost their own self-esteem. And yes, there are those that offer their services merely to benefit a lagging resume or fulfill a court order for community service.