Students Hit the Streets for Project Serve
September 29, 2009 - News Release
More than 20 local service agencies will get a helping hand Oct. 3 from hundreds of University of Guelph students. It's the University's 12th Project Serve day. Initiated in 1997 as a way of introducing students to community involvement and volunteerism, the program is now an annual event.
“It’s our hope that by participating in Project Serve, students will learn more about campus and the local involvement opportunities, and will be encouraged to continue making a difference in the community in the years to come,” says Ingrid Mündel, co-ordinator of community engaged learning in the Student Life office.
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 and health issues. Each volunteer group is headed by a team leader who is a senior student, faculty member or staff member.
Participating agencies this year include the Evergreen Seniors Centre, Guelph Enabling Garden, Children’s Foundation of Guelph-Wellington, Meals on Wheels, Hanlon Creek Conservancy and Women in Crisis.
Students will contribute approximately 1,200 hours of volunteer assistance during this one-day event.
Project Serve was named “Program of the Year” from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services in 2001.
“It has stood out as an important event that offers students an introduction to the wealth and diversity of ‘out of the classroom’ learning experiences available to them during and beyond their time in Guelph,” Mündel says.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, at 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338 or lhunt@uoguelph.ca, or Barry Gunn, Ext. 56982 or bagunn@uoguelph.ca.
