Students to spend day improving community
Oct. 18, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University volunteers will pour "Into the Streets" on Saturday, Oct. 28, as part of a nationwide program that empowers college students to venture into the neighboring community for a one-day service project.
Volunteer check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. and a kick-off celebration
is slated to take place at
10 a.m. in WMU's Oakland Gymnasium, featuring Kalamazoo City
Commissioner Dr. Donald F. Cooney, a WMU associate professor
of social work. At 10:30 a.m., students and a handful of faculty
and staff members will head into the community for a variety
of service projects. With the motto "Try it for a Day and
Love it for a Lifetime," the project coincides with "National
Make a Difference Day," sponsored by the Points of Light
Foundation.
"This is one of several opportunities throughout the year for our students to give back to this community," says Kristi Zimmerman-Frost, coordinator of student volunteer services. "'Into the Streets' also allows us to introduce many students to volunteerism, a healthy habit we hope they'll continue throughout their lives."
Volunteers will spend the day on projects around Kalamazoo County, including: cleaning up trash in the Vine neighborhood; building bird feeders at the Kalamazoo Total Living Center; cleaning cabins at the Rota-Kawan Reservation; raking leaves for the Kalamazoo Friends Meeting; painting a house at the Kalamazoo Nature Center; and assisting with craft projects at Tendercare.
"Into the Streets" is sponsored by Student Volunteers Services at WMU's Lee Honors College.
Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu