Students to Help Community Via Project Serve
September 23, 2008 - News Release
More than 500 University of Guelph students will head into the community Sept. 27 to volunteer at some 30 local agencies as part of the University's 11th annual Project Serve day.
Participants will contribute approximately 1,200 hours of volunteer assistance during this one-day event.
"Project Serve is an important community-based event that gives students an introduction to the wealth and diversity of 'out-of-the-classroom' learning experiences available to them during their time in Guelph," said Ingrid Mündel, co-ordinator of experiential education and community engagement. "It is our hope that by participating in Project Serve, students will learn more about campus and the local involvement opportunities, and will be encouraged to continue making a difference in the community in the years to come."
Project Serve was initiated in 1997 to introduce students to community involvement and volunteerism. The program received national recognition with the 2001 Program of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services.
Working with teams of five to 15, Project Serve participants will spend a half day doing various jobs from environmental cleanup to sorting food at non-profit agencies that address social, environmental, health and animal welfare issues. Participating agencies include the Guelph Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Ignatius Jesuit Centre and Women in Crisis.
Each volunteer group is headed by a team leader who is a senior student, faculty member or staff member. Students will meet at 8 a.m. in Rozanski Hall Room 104 and return to campus for lunch at 1 p.m. in the same room.
This year's event is full, but students interested in getting involved in future volunteer activities or in next year's event can contact Ingrid Mündel at imundel@uoguelph.ca.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338/l.hunt@exec.uoguelph.ca, or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982/d.healey@exec.uoguelph.ca.
