Published: Aug 21, 2008
University of Tampa students, faculty and staff will literally take to
the streets this weekend, donating their time as volunteers at eight
different agencies in the Tampa Bay area.
More than 350 people
have signed up to participate in the ninth annual “Into the Streets”
volunteer service event, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 23, from 8
a.m. to noon. The event is organized by
UT’s PEACE (People Exploring Active Community Experience)
Volunteer Center.
“Into
the Streets is a great immersion activity for freshman,” said Molly
Murphy, one of PEACE’s student coordinators. “We believe that it helps
people become closer to the community that they are learning in. Not
only do they get to meet new friends, they also get a chance to step
outside of the campus to get in touch with the people of Tampa.”
Keep
Hillsborough County Beautiful (KHCB), a local organization that seeks
to prevent litter and promote recycling and conservation, is one of the
eight agencies the volunteers will visit. KHCB, which recently awarded
PEACE the Volunteer Organization of the Year Award, will send
participants door to door in local neighborhoods in order to raise
awareness their new Trash Troopers Hotline program. The trash troopers
are ordinary citizens who report litter violations to KHCB.
Some
of the other volunteer locations include America’s Second Harvest Food
Bank, Bakas Equestrian Center, Hudson Manor Assisted Living Facility,
Metropolitan Ministries, and The Spring of Tampa Bay.
“Into the
Streets” is offered as part of orientation week to emphasize the
importance of community service early in the students’ college
experiences. More than 350 people have signed up to participate.
Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the Falk Theater, where travel will be
provided to the specific volunteer locations.
For additional information, contact Megan Radison, assistant director of civic engagement, at
mradison@ut.edu or (813) 253-3363.