| LVC Collecting Recycled Goods for Orientation Service Project |
08.13.12 |
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As part of their orientation to college life, more than 450 incoming students at Lebanon Valley College will spend two hours on August 26 in service to the local, national, and global community. A program involving the entire incoming class working at 15 different stations has been designed in support of LVC’s goal to “prepare students for a life of service to others,” a key tenet of the College’s mission statement.
The College is collecting donations of the following items:
- Clean, used bed sheets will be cut into strips for use as bandages at medical centers in Africa. The College is partnering with the American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA) for this project. AFCA’s national headquarters are based in Lebanon, Pa.
- Used shoe boxes will be wrapped in Christmas paper in preparation to be filled with toys and sent to children in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with Operation Christmas Child.
- Students will fill narrow-neck glass vases with brightly colored paper flowers for delivery to individual residents in convalescent homes throughout the area.
- Grocery bags from GIANT grocery store (white with red and black lettering) will be cut into loops and then tied end-to-end to make yarn that will be used to create a covering for part of a playground at San Gabriel Kindergarten in Cuzco, Peru.
- Pieces of heavy fabric will be used to make school bags for young students overseas who benefit from the ministries of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Fabric must be denim, corduroy, or heavy curtains material without the imprint of advertisements or religious, patriotic, military or camouflage symbols.
Community members are also encouraged to share contact information of active or retired military personnel or residents of local retirement community who might appreciate a note from a college student. Please submit contact information to Chaplain Paul Fullmer in the Office of Community Service and Volunteerism at 717-867-6135 or fullmer@lvc.edu.
The local SPCA will receive 120 kitten blankets made by students during this time. Holiday cards created during the project will be sent throughout the year to families at Hope Lodge in Hershey. Immanuel United Methodist Church of Cleona will bring education kits for verification by the students. The students will decorate canvas aprons for donation to Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 Education Service Agency and “Caitlin’s Smiles,” a Harrisburg-based charity for children with cancer. Friendship bracelets with rubber athletic charms will be donated for athletes involved in Lebanon County Special Olympics. Large, colorful playhouses will be donated to families who partner with Habitat for Humanity of Lebanon County. Lebanon City School District will receive 120 hand-made felt puppets.
At the national and international level, students will write letters of encouragement to current military personnel. Friendship bracelets mailed to the Cool Kids Campaign will be distributed to children with cancer.
As they work, the incoming LVC students will enjoy music provided by a live D.J.
The service projects provide a unique opportunity for incoming LVC students to work together as a class toward a common goal. “We’re particularly pleased by the high level of involvement on the part of returning students,” said Chaplain Fullmer. “All of these projects are being coordinated for the incoming students by returning students who are heavily involved in service organizations on campus.”
The Orientation Service Project is the first of a series of programs designed to “prepare students for a life of service to others.” Throughout the academic year, students will also engage representatives of local service organizations at a service fair, spend a day clearing the grounds at Coleman Park, and participate in national service initiatives such as Make a Difference Day, MLK Day of Service, and Lebanon County Day of Caring, among other projects. To encourage service to the nation as well as the local community, LVC’s Student Government has designated funds for a service trip with the Camp Hill-based construction team, Lend A Hand, over spring break.
Several incentive programs seek to reward students for their service. Bronze, Silver or Gold Community Service Awards based upon the number of hours a student serves the local community are posted on LVC’s Job Center Profile for the information of prospective employers. Students who serve the local community are also recognized at an annual banquet and in the commencement program.
To make a donation, contact Chaplain Fullmer at fullmer@lvc.edu or 717-867-6135. Donations will be collected at Miller Chapel on the LVC campus through Wednesday, August 22.
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