Students get a side of service at the Maryville High School Non-Profit Fair

Students get a side of service at the Maryville High School Non-Profit Fair 

Daily Times 

9/17/25 

By: Shanon Adame 

Students at Maryville High School will have their lunch with a side of service for the next couple of days, thanks to a brand new nonprofit fair organized by the school’s Work-Based Learning Coordinator Rosanna Giles. 

On Tuesday morning, nine organizations lined the MHS cafeteria, handing out swag and information about their organizations while students filtered through. 

The point, Giles wrote in a press release, is to “foster meaningful connections between students and community organizations, help students learn about local needs, and inform students of ways they can contribute.” 

Giles noted the strong presence of nonprofits in Blount County and said that introducing students to some of the organizations in the area could not only lead to students supporting them in the future, but could also give students who might be in need of services a direction to look. 

Another benefit to introducing students to volunteer work, Giles said, is that the experience is something they can list on their resume. 

“I was seeing kids who were trying to do a resume. They had no work experience whatsoever,” Giles said. 

In cases where students can’t work, or whose parents prefer they don’t, volunteer experience could be a way to build their resumes, she said. 

Tuesday morning, students spoke with representatives from: Boys & Girls Club, New Hope Children’s Advocacy, Isaiah 117 House, United Way of Blount County, Good Neighbors, Blount County Habitat for Humanity, Blount County Rescue Squad, Blount County Community Action Agency and Fit.Green.Happy. 

They were able to go table-to-table to speak about volunteer and work opportunities. 

Home Repair Project Manager Matthew McGee was there with Habitat for Humanity, representing their new home construction program, home repair program and the Habitat Re-Store. 

McGee said they were hoping to connect with the students. 

“To let them know what opportunities are out there in their own community, how they can give back and serve and also promote ourselves and keep ourselves relevant in the community,” he said. 

On Wednesday, organizations will include: Daybreak Dementia Respite, Blount County Juvenile Youth Court, Pregnancy Resource Center, KARM Thrift Store, Gateway to Independence, Kingdom Design Ministries, Keep Blount Beautiful, Harbours Gate and Special Growers. 

Thursday organizations will include: Open Arms Care, Blount County Public Library, Blount County Animal Shelter, Blount Memorial Foundation, Luke 14 Ministries, MCS Family Resource Center, Second Harvest and American Red Cross. 

On Friday, students will speak with Frontline Gardens and Compassion Counseling.