Brock University is encouraging its staff and faculty to lend a helping hand as part of a national campaign happening later this month.

The University will again be participating in National Volunteer Week, urging its employees to spend half a day donating their time.

This is the third year Brock has gotten on board with the initiative and the hope is to recruit more volunteers than ever to help out at various community organizations over a two-day period, said Kathryn Walker, the University’s Manager of Health Management and Wellness.

Volunteer opportunities are available on Wednesday, April 26 and Thursday, April 27, from either 9 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4 p.m.

Participants are asked to register for their preferred time slot after receiving supervisor approval.

Registration can be done online. Deadline to register is Tuesday, April 11.

Participants will have an opportunity following registration to select their preferences from a list of partnering organizations looking for volunteers.

“We’re expecting to have a mixture of outdoor and indoor tasks,” Walker said. Options will be available for people of all abilities.

In the past, Brock’s National Volunteer Week participants have spent time doing community cleanup, painting, assisting at food banks and providing general maintenance through various organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold, and Heartland Forest.

“Every year we’re looking to build on this initiative,” Walker said.

Brock’s inaugural year drew out 21 volunteers, which increased to 40 volunteers in 2016.

Walker is hoping for record-setting attendance this time around, with the number of registrants at least doubling over last year. There are 200 spaces in total that are available to be filled.

“It’s a great community outreach initiative and a way to give back,” Walker said.

She credited the University for supporting the cause by allowing employees to take a morning or afternoon off work for the worthy cause without having to use vacation time.