April is just around the corner, bringing with it National Volunteer Week, from April 15 to 21, an event to recognize and celebrate all the service work Bradley students have done over the past year.
“National Volunteer Week is an opportunity for people around the country to become inspired and engaged in giving back to their communities,” said Katie McGinn, Director of the Lewis J. Burger Center for Leadership and Public Service. “To me, National Volunteer Week is a call to action – a reminder that we must be socially responsible and help create a better world through service of others.”
Student organizations including Dance Marathon, SERVE, Fellows, Bradley Nursing Student Association and Health Science Organization will host campus-wide programs to help engage students in volunteerism throughout the week.
“Fellows wants to make the impact of volunteerism on the whole campus,” said Fellows Development Committee Chair Kelsi Johnson. “We want the most people on board with us making a difference on campus and in our community.”
McGinn said students can get involved by participating in any of the service projects hosted by the organizations on campus. Students can also host their own projects.
“Student groups interested in hosting a service project during National Volunteer Week should contact the LJB Center for assistance,” McGinn said.
National Volunteer Week was not widely advertised on campus last year, so McGinn said this year’s events will be more exposed to students.
“In the past, Bradley students have hosted some service-based events during [this week], but the large majority of students were not aware that it was National Volunteer Week,” she said. “This year, the LJB Center is helping different campus organizations coordinate service projects and publicize the service opportunities to BU students to create awareness and inspire service on the Bradley campus.”
Despite low publicity last year, McGinn said 2012’s National Volunteer Week will recognize all the work done in the past year.
“Bradley students completed more than 47,000 hours of community service last year alone,” she said. “National Volunteer Week will be a celebration of that service to others as well as an opportunity to get more involved and continue to give back.”
McGinn said Bradley has done an excellent job with volunteer work and hopes the week will encourage more students to volunteer as well.
“Bradley students are passionate about volunteering and giving back to their communities,” she said. “Through programs like Service on Saturday and alternative spring break trips hosted by Habitat for Humanity and Students Today Leaders Forever, Bradley students make volunteerism a priority. National Volunteer Week is just one more way we can engage the Bradley community in helping others.”
If you or your organization would like to get involved, contact Katie McGinn at kmcginn@bumail.bradley.edu or visit her office at Harper 20C.
