'Springing' into Action: SU Students Volunteer to Help Others
SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University students are involved with a number of volunteer projects that benefit the whole community. Some of this spring’s ongoing efforts include:
THE BIG EVENT: This year, SU’s SGA has received its largest community response ever for this third annual day-long community service project 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 14. Students are slated to aid more than 40 University neighbors and community members with raking, painting and household chores, including former interim SU President Nayland Page. For information call 410-548-4757 or visit the SGA Web site at www.salisbury.edu/campusgov/sga/.
RELAY FOR LIFE: Recognized as one of the top Relays in the nation for the past four years, SU is gearing up again to raise dollars for the American Cancer Society on Friday-Saturday, May 4-5. Last year, SU’s Relay was No. 2 in the nation among mid-size colleges, raising some $138,000. The fight against cancer continues online again this year to increase participation and dollars raised. For information e-mail Relay4Life@salisbury.edu or visit the SU Relay Web site at www.acsevents.org/SUrelay.
MARKETING STUDENTS: Perdue School of Business professor Paula Morris has encouraged students in her sales and sales management class to undertake a number of volunteer learning activities during the semester. Their efforts include:
• Soliciting donations for an auction to be held along with a Women Supporting Women awareness event Friday, May 18, at Shorebirds Stadium
• Volunteering with the Ward Museum to investigate gift shop sales, suggest tactics to improve profits and solicit door prize donations for an auction held along with the World Championship Carving Competition and Art Festival April 27-29
• Creating and promoting a cancer awareness night Wednesday, April 11, at the Monkey Barrel with a $5 cover charge that benefits the Wellness Community and the chance to see students cut their hair for Locks of Love
• Assisting the Wicomico Mentoring Project with recruitment and fundraising through local TV interviews, by promoting SU’s Spring Extravaganza, which donated some of its proceeds to the project, and by holding a bake sale on April 10
• Volunteering with the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore's Youth Board to recruit members, strategize funding and network with other youth groups
• Fundraising to purchase t-shirts for the career day hosted by SU and the Chamber of Commerce in March and selling ads for the Salisbury Festival
• Hosting a Teddy Bear brunch and planning a night at area restaurant to raise funds and awareness for a campaign to save the Spectacled Bears at the Salisbury Zoo.
KIDS OF HONOR: A number of Morris’ marketing students are also volunteering with Kids of Honor to plan and promote upcoming activities including a yard sale on Saturday, April 14, on the lawn outside Holloway Hall and in Room 114. A poker tournament with prizes is Sunday, April 15, and a basketball tournament for SU student teams is Sunday, May 6. Students have also helped arrange speaking engagements with local civic organizations. For information, call 410-543-6030.
Other student volunteer activities this semester include:
EASTER EGG HUNT: Phi Eta Sigma, the national freshmen honor society, recently raised money to benefit the Salisbury Jaycees' Annual Easter Egg Hunt for children in the community. For information, call 410-543-6030.
SPRING BREAK: Alternative spring break trips are catching on at colleges around the country and many students are using the time not just to relax but to help others, said Rebecca Emery, SU’s Career Services director. About eight SU students accompanied Dennis Leoutsakas of the Communication and Theatre Arts Department to Staten Island, NY, to serve meals, clean houses and other tasks for Project Hospitality, a shelter and food pantry for people with HIV/AIDS. Another group of 27 students traveled with the Housing and Residence Life office to help Habitat for Humanity rebuild homes in the Gulf Coast region of Texas. For information call 410-543-6075.
POKER TOURNAMENT: Students in SU’s Econ society recently sponsored a Poker Tournament to raise funds for the Joseph House, a local non-profit charitable organization that helps the poor. Some of the money raised will also go toward an alternative spring break trip in Costa Rica next year that will enable students to learn about another culture by volunteering side-by-side with people in the Caribbean country on community initiatives. For information, call Jill Caviglia-Harris at 410-548-5591.
SU SOUP DAY: About 58 SU faculty, staff and students volunteered at a soup kitchen for SU Soup Day in February. While the next event is not scheduled until the fall, several students still help out members of the local community on Saturdays at the soup kitchen. For information contact Wendy Finley at wf16135@students.salisbury.edu.
BASKETBALL AND BOOKS: The SU men’s basketball team, led by Coach Steve Holmes, recently volunteered at Glen Avenue Elementary, assisting students in the library with book selection and reading. Players also hosted several sessions about basketball skills and balancing academics with athletics at SU’s campus for groups of 10-15 students from Prince Street, Glenn Avenue and North Salisbury elementary schools. For information contact Homes at 410-548-4163.
And a recent tribute:
ELECTION JUDGES: SU and the Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) were recently recognized for having the most successful election judge recruitment efforts in the state. Fifteen Salisbury University faculty, staff and students participated in last fall’s mid-term elections as non-partisan election judges. They volunteered in response to a one-year Maryland pilot program designed to address the need for election judges nationwide. For information call 410-677-5045 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.
This list will continue to expand. To request the addition of a philanthropic activity hosted by a campus organization, please call the SU Public Relations Office at 410-543-6030.