MountainServe, AmeriCorps offer service oppertunities for students
Cody Bliss
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: News
For the past three years, I have been involved in the organization and coordination of community service events through the MountainServe office, located in Raub 103. Each year students are selected to represent a government funded program known as AmeriCorps.
Their goal is to provide and perform 450 hours of community service events in one full year. These events possess a broad range to meet the needs for anyone's interests, from environmental and conservation aspects to providing educational needs for local youth.
Unfortunately, many students will never have the opportunity to take part in such events during their college careers. The central goal of the MountainServe office is to alter this fact and offer students the chance to partake in these community service events occurring in and around the Lock Haven community.
These events are organized almost entirely by fellow students and are open for any student to participate throughout the year.
After my completion of two years working as a Biology focused AmeriCorps member, it is now my duty to offer new members guidance as well as provide up to date information for students through the use of newspaper media.
Since the start of the year there has been almost a dozen projects completed in addition to our year-long, weekly programs. They have included projects such as "Community Harvest Day" at the West Branch which promoted healthy lifestyles for over 150 kids, "Lock Haven Ghost Walk" which supported the Clinton County Arts Council, and "The Pumpkin Patch" supporting the local children's center, John Yost Center.
During this we accompanied two filled school buses of local at-risk youth to a nearby pumpkin patch farm. There we lead them through a corn maze, explored the farm on a hayride and picked pumpkins out of the pumpkin patch.
To wrap up the month of October, there is a nationwide community service day known as "Make a Difference Day." This year it is taking place on Halloween, however that won't deter students. There are almost 70 students that are taking part in Make a Difference Day contributing to various projects around the community. While the semester seems to be soaring to an end, there are still some of the best community service events yet to come.
On November 13th to the 14th a semiannual event known as "Sleepout" will occur downtown at Triangle Park. This year's theme is "Heisman for Healthcare," promoting awareness for healthcare issues. To do so, students will stay overnight in cardboard boxes and participate in a variety of other activities to promote the cause.
If anyone is interested in volunteering in this event they can contact Kim Cox at kcox@lhup.edu or visit the MountainServe office in Raub 103.
So, as the semester continues to progress at full speed, we here at the MountainServe office hope that you all can join us for some rewarding and unforgettable memories of volunteering during the next few months. After all "We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill
Their goal is to provide and perform 450 hours of community service events in one full year. These events possess a broad range to meet the needs for anyone's interests, from environmental and conservation aspects to providing educational needs for local youth.
Unfortunately, many students will never have the opportunity to take part in such events during their college careers. The central goal of the MountainServe office is to alter this fact and offer students the chance to partake in these community service events occurring in and around the Lock Haven community.
These events are organized almost entirely by fellow students and are open for any student to participate throughout the year.
After my completion of two years working as a Biology focused AmeriCorps member, it is now my duty to offer new members guidance as well as provide up to date information for students through the use of newspaper media.
Since the start of the year there has been almost a dozen projects completed in addition to our year-long, weekly programs. They have included projects such as "Community Harvest Day" at the West Branch which promoted healthy lifestyles for over 150 kids, "Lock Haven Ghost Walk" which supported the Clinton County Arts Council, and "The Pumpkin Patch" supporting the local children's center, John Yost Center.
During this we accompanied two filled school buses of local at-risk youth to a nearby pumpkin patch farm. There we lead them through a corn maze, explored the farm on a hayride and picked pumpkins out of the pumpkin patch.
To wrap up the month of October, there is a nationwide community service day known as "Make a Difference Day." This year it is taking place on Halloween, however that won't deter students. There are almost 70 students that are taking part in Make a Difference Day contributing to various projects around the community. While the semester seems to be soaring to an end, there are still some of the best community service events yet to come.
On November 13th to the 14th a semiannual event known as "Sleepout" will occur downtown at Triangle Park. This year's theme is "Heisman for Healthcare," promoting awareness for healthcare issues. To do so, students will stay overnight in cardboard boxes and participate in a variety of other activities to promote the cause.
If anyone is interested in volunteering in this event they can contact Kim Cox at kcox@lhup.edu or visit the MountainServe office in Raub 103.
So, as the semester continues to progress at full speed, we here at the MountainServe office hope that you all can join us for some rewarding and unforgettable memories of volunteering during the next few months. After all "We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill
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