Tulane Students Recognize and Engage Volunteers for National Volunteering Week

Tulane"s student leaders in community service have planned a week full of community service and celebration activities to commemorate National Volunteering Week. This nationwide celebration officially runs April 18-24, but the student organizers have scheduled their events a week early, from Friday, April 9 through Friday, April 16, to avoid conflicts with their last week of classes and to coincide with Crawfest, the annual student-sponsored music festival and crawfish boil.

The 2010 theme for National Volunteer Week, is "Celebrating People in Action," and honors the individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their community. This week presents an opportunity for students, staff, and community partners to celebrate the ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things through service.

Among the activities planned are:

Friday, April 9: Colleges Against Cancer hosts a letter-writing party. This gives students an opportunity to write letters to their legislative representatives and to their family and friends asking for support for the American Cancer Society in its fight against cancer. 5-8 p.m., room 208, Lavin-Bernick Center. For every five letters written, participants get a free slice of pizza on the Gorson Porch of the Lavin-Bernick Center. Go to www.relayforlife.org/orleansuniversities or contact Amber McKenna at RelayNolaU.Amber@gmail.com for more information.

Saturday, April 10: Students participate in three service projects sponsored by different service organizations. All spots are assigned on a first come first serve basis.

Habitat for Humanity build: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sponsored by: the Community Action Council of Tulane University (CACTUS)
Volunteers help build a home and participate in community beautification projects for the day. To volunteer, contact Mike Lamb, mlamb1@tulane.edu.

Church Restoration Project: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sponsored by: Student Advocacy for Equitable Recovery (SAFER) and CACTUS
Volunteers work on building project to restore First United Baptist Church in the Mid-City neighborhood. To volunteer, contact Adam Pacsi, apacsi@tulane.edu.

Iberville Community Day: 12-3 p.m.
Sponsored by: Social & Economic Rights Advocates (SERA) and Mayday New Orleans
Volunteers provide a day of fun for the youth in one of the courtyards in the Iberville housing development. The students partner with the non-profit organization Mayday New Orleans. To volunteer, contact Nathan Brady, nbrady1@tulane.edu.

Tuesday, April 13: The CACTUS project, Hunger and Homelessness Action Team of Tulane (C-HATT) hosts a hunger relief project in partnership with the Freret Neighborhood Center. Volunteers make and deliver healthy snacks to the center"s afterschool program, where volunteers eat and converse with local children and residents. To volunteer, contact Sally Higgins, shiggin@tulane.edu.

Wednesday, April 14: NewDay speaker Len Riggio, chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble, discusses the benefits of volunteering with President Scott Cowen at McAlister Auditorium, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Admission is free. For information, contact Stephanie Barksdale, sbark@tulane.edu.

Thursday, April 15: Community Involvement Awards Ceremony, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
The Community Involvement Awards honors the individuals and organizations dedicated to taking action and solving problems in their community. The award ceremony is for invited guests only. The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 9. For more information, contact Avery Brewton, abrewton@tulane.edu.

Award descriptions and the nomination form can be found at: http://tulane.edu/cps/students/communityinvolvementawards.cfm.

Friday, April 16: Students and organizations are welcome to participate in a day of service and celebration!

FaceAIDS Tulane hosts “Snoballs in Pocket Park”, noon-2 p.m. Stop by for a FREE snoball!
For more information, contact Maeve McClellan, mmcclell@tulane.edu.

CACTUS hosts 200 local children for its annual Field Day on Bruff Quad from 4-6 p.m. Children enjoy inflatable bounce houses, sports and carnival-style games, snacks provided by different student organizations and campus departments. To volunteer as an individual or student organization, contact Frances Nguyen, fnguyen@tulane.edu.

2010 Semi-Formal Dance: 8-11:00 p.m.
The Service Organizations Council is proudly hosting its first annual semi-formal dance for all of the leaders and members of its organizations for a year"s worth of outstanding community service. Admission to the event and food is free of charge all night. Dress code is semi-formal and will be enforced. This event is closed to organizational members of the Service Organizations Council. Attendees are encouraged to bring a date. For information, contact Frances Ngyuen, fngyuen@tulane.edu.

Saturday April 17: Service organizations are featured at the Fourth Annual Crawfest Music Festival and Crawfish Boil from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM on the Tulane University Lavin-Bernick Center Quad. Stop by and enjoy interactive games, get information and fun tokens of appreciation. For more information, contact Katie Houck, khouck@tulane.edu.

Featured service organizations include:

  • Tulane Red Cross Club
  • Social and Economic Rights Advocates of Tulane (SERA)
  • CPS Student Advisory Board (SAB)
  • FaceAIDS Tulane

Tulane"s observation of National Volunteering Week is hosted in partnership with the USG-Service Organizations Council and the Tulane Center for Public Service. For more information about the week of events or award nominations, contact Lea Bogner, Service Organizations Council chairperson (lbogner@tulane.edu) or Avery Brewton, Community Service Programs manager (abrewton@tulane.edu) or visit http://tulane.edu/cps/students/nationalvolunteerweek.cfm.