January 22, 2005
Annual Day of Service set for Sept. 10
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale students who want to participate in the Saluki Volunteer Corps' 11th annual SIUC Day of Service on Saturday, Sept. 10, must sign up by Friday, Sept. 2.
The goal of the day is to raise student awareness of volunteerism and the educational value of community service, said Mythili K. Rundblad, coordinator of volunteerism and service learning in the University's student development office.
"As a public university," Rundblad said, "SIUC strives to promote student civic engagement and understanding of the social good. "
More than 200 students participated in last year's day of service. Working on projects may have been the day's focus, but participants also had the chance to meet other students and staff of community organizations and to become aware of regional volunteer opportunities.
Rundblad hopes for even greater success this year.
This year's participants may choose from among three projects:
- Beautify Southern Illinois, an ongoing program to keep the campus and region clean, and to raise awareness of the environment;
- 4-H Community Garden, located north of Murphysboro, which donates its harvest to local food pantries;
- Fall Planting, organized by Carbondale Main Street, to landscape the downtown area;
- Habitat for Humanity, an international nonprofit housing ministry with the mission of making housing affordable for all people.
The day will begin at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, in the SIUC Student Center Ballroom B with a brief orientation by staff of the community agencies. After completing the projects, the students will return to the Student Center for pizza and lemonade.
Students and Registered Student Organizations interested in participating may sign up at the Student Development office, located on the third floor of the Student Center, by Friday, Sept. 2.
For questions and information, call the Saluki Volunteer Corps at 453-5714.
Serving others is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.