From the Princeton Weekly Bulletin, September 15, 1997

University Volunteers

The University's motto--"In the Nation's Service and in the Service of All Nations"--reflects a longstanding commitment on the part of students, alumni, faculty and staff to community service. In addition to more than 2,000 students working some 55,000 hours each year as volunteers in the Princeton-Trenton area, and thousands of alumni working throughout the country on community service projects, the University has an estimated 1,000 graduate students, faculty and staff members whose other job is helping others. The Office of Community and State Affairs coordinates many faculty, staff and graduate student outreach projects, including the following.

Fall semester

COMMUNITY SERVICE FAIR
October 8, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Murray Dodge, East and West Rooms

Representatives from 25 nonprofit agencies in the Princeton-Trenton area will introduce a wide selection of volunteer opportunities in housing, educational, environmental, urban renewal and health-related programs. The representatives will explain what tasks are involved, how much experience is required, how often and at what time volunteers are needed, and provide other details to help volunteers choose a program that suits their interests. Everyone who attends will receive a poster by local artist Stan Kephart; cider and cookies will be served; and door prizes will be awarded.

HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING
December

Departments can assume a holiday role by giving baskets filled with food and gifts to families associated with various social service agencies through-out the Trenton-Princeton area.
    The Office of Community and State Affairs will have a list of families, as well as background information about what types of items would be useful. Gift recipients are referred by agencies such as WOMANSPACE, which provides support services for survivors of domestic violence; the Exchange Club, which serves homeless families; and Rainbow House, which helps HIV-infected teens and their babies.

FOOD DRIVE
January or February 1998

The joint Athletics-Community and State Affairs food drive, traditionally conducted at a November football game, will be replaced this year by a drive at a basketball game in January or February.
    Departments who conduct their own food or toy drives are encouraged to contact the Office of Community and State Affairs for help in distribut-ing the food or toys to appropriate agencies.

Spring semester

CAMPUS VOLUNTEER DAY
Saturday, April 18, 1998
8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

At the annual spring Volunteer Day, teams of University staff and faculty members, graduate students and undergraduates help nonprofit organi-zations in the Princeton-Trenton area with a variety of one-time indoor and outdoor projects, such as cleaning, painting, planting, special tutoring or recreational projects. In many cases these organizations have no funds to make improvements in their facilities; these agencies count on the University community to provide the people power to spruce up their environment.

COMMUNITY SERVICE FAIR
May 1998

Summertime--and the livin' is not so easy for some people. In mid-May a second Community Service Fair will bring back representatives of agencies featured in the fall fair, to outline summertime volunteer opportunities.

CAMPUS FURNITURE DRIVE
May 1998

As students leave the campus, University staff members join seniors and graduate students to save hundreds of items from the jaws of trash dumpsters. These items are recycled for distribution to social service agencies serving the housing and clothing needs of residents of the Trenton and Princeton area. Last year's Furniture Drive collected four large truckloads of furniture, appliances, bikes and clothes that were delivered to the Rescue Mission, Exchange Club and Eastern Service Workers.
    This annual event is cosponsored by the Office of Community and State Affairs and the graduating class.

RESCUE MISSION CLOTHING BOX
All year

The University has a permanent clothing collection box for the Trenton Rescue Mission located in Parking Lot 16, near the guard booth at the Faculty Road entrance to campus. The box can accommodate men's, women's and children's clothing, shoes and boots, bed linens and towels. Between July 1996 and July 1997, the Rescue Mission retrieved some 36,800 pounds of items from the box.
    For pickup of larger items, call (800) 528-8825. To receive a tax receipt, contact the Office of Community and State Affairs.

More information

For more information on any of the above, contact the staff in the Office of Community and State Affairs: director Pam Hersh, associate director Karen Woodbridge, administrative assistant Blanche Scioli or volunteer services coordinator Loy Carrington at 258-3204 or 258-6666.

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