Published: Aug 25, 2009
From scrubbing floors in the apartments of the disabled to painting the
facilities for abused children to maintaining a nature trail in one of
the area’s parks, one thing is for sure.
New and incoming transfer students will be getting their feet wet.
“It’s
a good way for students to get to know the area,” said Megan Frisque,
assistant director of civic engagement in the Office of Student
Leadership and Engagement. “It introduces them to their new home.”
The
10th annual Into the Streets Orientation Service Project will be hosted
Aug. 28 by the P.E.A.C.E. Volunteer Center. More than 550 students have
registered, almost doubling the number involved last year. More than
half of the new Honors Program students have signed up and will be
participating together.
“It helps students get out and get to
know people,” said Mike Seitzler, head coordinator of the P.E.A.C.E.
Volunteer Center. “It gives you an experience to talk about. It’s an ice
breaker for the year.”
Students, staff and faculty will be
volunteering at 22 different nonprofit agencies in Hillsborough and
Pinellas counties like Lowry Park Zoo, Clearwater Parks and Recreation,
It’s All About Kids, Metropolitan Ministries and The Spring.
Nancy
McWilliams, community relations director for Seniors in Service of
Tampa Bay, said the impact of the volunteers on organizations such as
her own is meaningful. For the agency’s Spic & Span for Seniors
project, volunteers help clean the apartments of the elderly and
disabled, scrubbing floors and bathrooms, washing windows and thoroughly
cleaning kitchens.
“The needs are enormous. Many elderly or
disabled local residents are isolated and lonely. They desperately need
companionship and a little help,” McWilliams said. “They want to remain
in their own homes for as long as possible. Volunteers make a huge
impact when they share their time and show compassion for those in
need.”
Participants are to meet at Falk Theatre between 1:30 and
2 p.m. Ten buses will transport volunteers to each site and return them
to campus by 5:30 p.m.
While registration for students is
closed, faculty and staff positions are still available. To register,
contact Seitzler or Keri-Anne Kolodiej at (813) 253-6263 or
peace@ut.edu.
For more information on P.E.A.C.E.,
click here.