August 18, 2016

Media Advisory -- Service Project

Dozens of new Southern Illinois University Carbondale students will begin the fall semester by donating their time and energy to a number of public service projects during Saluki Community Service Day 2016 on Saturday, Aug. 20. 

About 65 freshmen who are Chancellor’s Scholars or University Honors students will meet at the Newman Center for breakfast and then participate in the projects at four locations around campus and Carbondale from 9 to 11 a.m. SIU’s Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism, Campus Ministries, University Honors Program and the Chancellor’s Scholars Program are collaborating to sponsor the day of service. 

Media are welcome to visit any of the locations between 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. to obtain stories, photographs and video. The service projects and locations are:

  • SIU Student Center Craft Shop -- students will paint bird houses to donate to local non-profit organizations to use for fundraising.
  • Wesley Food Pantry, 816 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale -- students will assist in packaging food that will go to students in need.
  • Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale, 250 N. Springer St. -- students will help prepare the facility for the new school year by painting, cleaning, moving equipment and doing other light repair and maintenance work.
  • St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 402 W. Mill St. in Carbondale -- students will fold donated plastic bags for cutting and looping to create “plarn” (plastic yarn) used in crocheting sleeping mats for homeless people. 

For more information about Saluki Community Service Day, call Mythili Rundblad at 618/453-7522.