Volunteer Opportunities Announced for Appreciation and Service Day
Posted on June 23, 2009
Remember to sign up for Northwestern Health Sciences University’s Appreciation and Service Day on July 16, 2009. This is a new twist on Appreciation Day, where students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to participate in service opportunities in the local community during the morning. The traditional barbecue will be held in the afternoon.
According to Mark Zeigler, DC, president of Northwestern, “This is an excellent opportunity for Northwestern to make a positive impact in the community, as well as promote an important aspect of our mission: community service.”
This week, department supervisors and Student Senate officers will be asking you to sign up for one of several volunteer opportunities.
Check-in will be at 8 a.m. on July 16 in the cafeteria. A light breakfast will be served and everyone who participates in a service opportunity will be given a free Appreciation and Service Day t-shirt. The appreciation barbecue will be held on campus starting at 1 p.m. When you sign up for volunteering, please note if you will be attending the barbecue to assist with preparations.
Classes will be cancelled for the day and clinics will be closed, giving students and clinic employees the opportunity to participate in the service activities and barbecue. All faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in the morning service opportunities. However, they may choose to work until 1 p.m. that day although offices will not be officially open.
“We hope the entire Northwestern community takes part in Appreciation & Service Day, and help us in furthering our mission by serving our communities,” says Emily Tweed, PhD, associate vice president and dean of students.
Volunteer opportunities include:
Marian Center: 200 Earl St · Saint Paul
Cerenity Senior Care is a leader in eldercare services and offers every level of care and housing for seniors. Assignments: painting, staining, and other household chores.
Pillsbury House: 3501 Chicago Ave · Minneapolis
A University partnership, Pillsbury House houses Northwestern’s very own student-run integrated health clinic combining medical, psychological, and natural health care modalities. Assignments: painting, cleaning & other housekeeping projects.
Feed My Starving Children Chanhassen
Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit organization committed to feeding starving children around the world. The approach is simple: employees and students will hand-pack meals formulated specially for starving children, and packages are shipped to more than 60 countries.
HOME Bloomington
Employees and students will be assigned to homes in the Bloomington community. Assignment tasks include yard work, window and screen cleaning.
Hearing & Service Dogs of Minnesota Minneapolis
This group is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or disabled by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs. Assignments will be to do light repair, cleaning, and inventory in preparation for their move to their new location.
Aliveness Project South Minneapolis
The Aliveness Project is a community center that provides services and programs to the HIV/AIDS community. Activities will include light cleaning, and making preparation for a move to their new building.
Diapers for Babies in Tanzania Northwestern – Student Organization Center
This organization provides cloth diapers made out of t-shirts to babies in Tanzania. Additionally, doggie exercise toys will be made out of the cuffs of the t-shirts and delivered to local Humane Society. Assignments will be cutting, pining and sewing diapers or braiding cuffs for doggie toys. Sewing experience welcome, but not a must.
People Serving People Downtown Minneapolis
The purpose of People Serving People is to serve homeless children and their families and provide a new opportunity for a healthy, stable family life. Assignments will include building beautification: cleaning windows, sorting donations, general upkeep, minor cleaning.
Volunteer Connection Olson Middle School, Bloomington
Volunteers will go to the middle school to participate in an interactive experience with 6-8th graders focused on Health Sciences for their “Scrubs Day Camp” field day. Math, science and literacy will also be emphasized. More information will be provided to those assigned.
Minneapolis Salvation Army / Harbor Light Center 1010 Currie Ave, Minneapolis
This organization provides emergency assistance, shelter, housing, chemical dependency treatment, transitional housing, health care services and spiritual support to its clients. Activities will include painting, light cleaning, and weeding the garden in front of the building.
VEAP Northwestern – Cafeteria
There is a food drive leading up to Appreciation & Service Day. Please bring non-perishable food and other listed products to the boxes around campus. Volunteers will gather at Northwestern to pack, sort, and drop off items.
**Additional opportunities may become available.