Some Iowa State students may live in Ames for four or five years and never really know what the Ames community has to offer.

North Grand Mall, 2801 Grand Ave., will be doing its part in helping the community by hosting the annual fall community fair on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cynthia Maxey, promotions assistant at North Grand Mall, said this is a “great opportunity” to find out what area non-profit organizations and citizen groups have to offer.

“There are a lot of things going on in the community,” Maxey said. “It encourages [people] to become part of a group.”

Several groups participating in the fall fair include the Story County Adult Literacy, ISU Wildlife Care Clinic, Alpha Kappa Lambda/ Hands for AIDS Coalition and the Family Martial Arts Center.

Neel Majumdar, philanthropy chair for Alpha Kappa Lambda, said the fair is a way to “help out the community.”

Alpha Kappa Lambda is not only taking this opportunity to inform the Ames/ISU community about AIDS, but the fraternity will also be raising money for the AIDS Coalition.

“For a dollar you can place a helping hand on our wall and show your support,” Majumdar said. Contributors can trace their hands on sheets of paper and hang them on the display, he said.

Students can also participate in the Jump Rope Challenge at the Boys and Girls Club booth.

Aside from information booths, the community fair will also feature various performances from area groups.

The Octagon Center for the Arts will be performing a belly dance at 11 a.m., and the Family Martial Arts Center will have a demonstration at noon.

Both performances will be located near the food courts in the mall.

“There is something here for everyone,” Maxey said.