National Volunteer Week, April 14-21, is about inspiring, recognizing, and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities.
Students work on Valor Home, a 30 bed veterans transitional facility being built on Exeter Road in Akron.
This marks the second year that The University of Akron will be participating in this national week of service experiences and projects.
Student groups will volunteer at Keep Akron Beautiful and Habitat for Humanity of Summit County and participate in drop-in events, such as
- the Alternative Spring Break Display and Reception,
- making craft kits for the children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,
- hearing from Gabriel Bol Deng (founder of the international organization HOPE), and
- assembling coloring books for patients at Akron Children’s Hospital.
In 2011, nearly 120 students devoted more than 220 hours of service at just four events. The 2012 schedule will provide more than 10 service opportunities, and the Department of Student Life is optimistic that volunteer hours and participant numbers will continue to increase.
"Evoking a sense of civic responsibility in our students is a focal point in our University mission and in Vision 2020," says Ali Doehring, coordinator of civic engagement. "Our participation in National Volunteer Week was one simple, yet impactful way that the University of Akron is continuing to foster champions of service and students that have a profound commitment to bettering our community at large."
For more information about any of these service experiences please contact Doehring at aer15@uakron.edu or 330-972-7352. See a full list of student volunteer events.