Published by Communications and Public Affairs 519 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338

News Release

September 13, 2005

U of G Reaches Out to Community Through Project Serve

More than 400 University of Guelph students, faculty and staff will head into the community Sept. 24 to volunteer at some 30 local agencies as part of the university's eighth annual Project Serve day.

Project Serve was initiated in 1997 to introduce students to community involvement and volunteerism. The program received national recognition with the 2001 Program of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services.

"As university students, we have a responsibility to take an active role in our community," said third-year arts and science student Kira Kumagai, who participated in last year's event. "We have amazing opportunities presented to us at U of G, and it's only right that we do our best to give back."

Jade Coyne, a third-year biomed student who has also taken part in Project Serve in the past, added she found it to be a very positive and eye-opening experience and encourages other students to participate.

Working with teams of five to 15, Project Serve participants will spend a half day doing various jobs from environmental cleanup to sorting food at non-profit agencies that address social, environmental, health and animal welfare issues. Participating agencies include the Guelph Food Bank, Roots & Shoots and Women in Crisis. Each volunteer group is headed by a team leader who is a senior student, faculty member or staff member.

At 12:30 p.m., volunteers will leave their placements and return to campus to have lunch and talk about their experience.

"Project Serve provides an important link between students and the local community, said Christine Victorino, co-ordinator, citizenship and community engagement, in Student Life.

"By actively engaging in volunteer activities, students learn first-hand about the issues facing the broader Guelph community. They're also encouraged to think critically about their volunteer work and reflect on their role in society and how they can make a difference in the long term."

The registration deadline is Sept. 16. For more information, contact Victorino at (519) 824-4120, Ext. 52782, or cvictor@uoguelph.ca.