Student volunteers take to streets to do good
Oct. 2, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- The streets of Kalamazoo will fill with hundreds of passionate Western Michigan University students Friday, Oct. 4, during the University's annual autumn volunteer event.
As part of WMU's "Fall Into the Streets" outing, more than 750 student volunteers--about 150 more than last year--are expected to work from 1 to 5 p.m. at some 30 sites around the Kalamazoo area. Their projects run the gamut from outdoor cleanup in the Vine, Knollwood and Edison neighborhoods to organizing games at a local senior center. The motto of the event is "Try it for a Day and Love it for a Lifetime."
"This is one of several opportunities students have throughout the year to show their commitment to this community by making a positive, en masse contribution," says Kristi Zimmerman-Frost, coordinator of student volunteer services. "We haven't been able to pinpoint the exact reason for the major increase in participation, but we're certainly impressed with our students' generosity of spirit. Not only do we have a lot of students groups that return year after year for this event, we're also seeing a significant number of new volunteers coming out of the woodwork."
The volunteer sites and activities include: Vine, Edison, Knollwood, Oakwood, Stuart and Douglas neighborhoods, various beautification and cleanup projects; the Family Independence Agency, 322 E. Stockbridge, painting; Merrill Residence, 476 W. Lovell St., gardening; Rota-Kiwan Scout Reservation, 6278 Texas Drive, camp cleanup; New Genesis, 1340 Cobb St., painting; Tillers International, 5239 S. 24th St., harvesting crops; and Park Place Living Center, 4222 S. Westnedge Ave., scavenger hunt and games with residents.
"Fall Into the Streets" is organized by Student Volunteers Services in WMU's Lee Honors College.
Media contact: Jessica English, 269 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu