Spring Break
Community Outreach Reaches Out
Sarah Kopman-Fried
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Focus
With loads of Jorgensen performances, a myriad of SUBOG events and something going on practically every night of the week at the Student Union, it isn't hard for students to find something to do on campus this semester. But some students say they want a chance to give something back - and the Office of Community Outreach is giving them just that.
The Community Outreach Office, located on the third floor of the Student Union, is entirely dedicated to helping students volunteer in various ways. Volunteering can be done right here at UConn or as far away as the Dominican Republic, according to Community Outreach's Public Relations Coordinator Alla Nebrat.
"Community Outreach is really here to help students make a positive change in their community, both locally and globally," Nebrat said. "We're here to unite UConn to students in this goal."
And the Community Outreach Office has been steadily succeeding. According to Community Outreach Director Matt Farley, in 2003, 750 students volunteered a total of 12,000 community service hours through the office. By last year, that number had nearly doubled, with more than 1,250 students volunteering a total of 23,000 community service hours.
Part of the reason for the vast improvement was the re-organization of the Office of Community Outreach, which has organized four separate "volunteering experiences," according to Farley.
"We have tried to organize our office so that students can choose how involved they want to be," said Farley. "For those who want to just volunteer briefly, we have community service days. And then we have semester-long programs for students who really want an experience that lasts."
Community Service Days:
"Community service days consists of shorter, more local volunteering efforts," according to Nebrat. These may include trips to a local soup kitchen or cleaning up around campus with a group of students.
"Community service days are really popular because all students have to do is go on the Community Outreach Web site and then just sign up and they're in," said Farley.
The Community Outreach Office, located on the third floor of the Student Union, is entirely dedicated to helping students volunteer in various ways. Volunteering can be done right here at UConn or as far away as the Dominican Republic, according to Community Outreach's Public Relations Coordinator Alla Nebrat.
"Community Outreach is really here to help students make a positive change in their community, both locally and globally," Nebrat said. "We're here to unite UConn to students in this goal."
And the Community Outreach Office has been steadily succeeding. According to Community Outreach Director Matt Farley, in 2003, 750 students volunteered a total of 12,000 community service hours through the office. By last year, that number had nearly doubled, with more than 1,250 students volunteering a total of 23,000 community service hours.
Part of the reason for the vast improvement was the re-organization of the Office of Community Outreach, which has organized four separate "volunteering experiences," according to Farley.
"We have tried to organize our office so that students can choose how involved they want to be," said Farley. "For those who want to just volunteer briefly, we have community service days. And then we have semester-long programs for students who really want an experience that lasts."
Community Service Days:
"Community service days consists of shorter, more local volunteering efforts," according to Nebrat. These may include trips to a local soup kitchen or cleaning up around campus with a group of students.
"Community service days are really popular because all students have to do is go on the Community Outreach Web site and then just sign up and they're in," said Farley.
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