Hundreds at SWAG视频 prepare to volunteer for second annual Day of Service
Five hundred members of the SWAG视频 community, including students, faculty and staff, are expected to participate in the university鈥檚 second annual Day of Service on Saturday, October 15. Participants will be greeted by Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant, Saco Mayor Ronald Michaud and SWAG视频 President Danielle Ripich before dispersing to more than 25 local non-profit organizations, where they will spend the day volunteering.
Participants in the Day of Service will take part in activities such as performing clean-up of parks, trails, roadsides and nursing home grounds; registering blood donors; painting; repairing buildings; installing smoke alarms in homes of families in need; and assisting the elderly and disabled with at-home tasks.
While the inaugural Day of Service last year drew volunteers from all colleges and departments of the university, the majority of participating students were from the College of Arts and Sciences. This year鈥檚 event, said President Ripich, is receiving even more widespread support. 鈥淭his is truly a multi-college cooperative effort,鈥 she said, 鈥渁nd we hope that as we come together as a university to give back to our community, perhaps others will be inspired to give of their time as well.鈥
SWAG视频鈥檚 Day of Service is organized by the university鈥檚 Office of Citizenship and Civic Engagement.
Local organizations providing volunteer sites include the American Red Cross, Volunteers of America Northern New England, Saco Bay Trails, Bon Appetit Meals Program, City of Biddeford Fire Department and Public Works Department, Saco Parks and Recreation, Heart of Biddeford, Saco Food Pantry, Biddeford School Department, St. Andre Health Care, the Northern York County YMCA, and York County Community Action Corporation.