Oberlin College First-Years to Lend Helping Hands
Betty Gabrielli, Office of Communications, Oberlin College
August 28, 2009 --
For 176 years, Oberlin College (Website | Profile) students have been living up to the College’s motto, “Learning and Labor” in a multitude of ways. On Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 the College’s Bonner Center for Service and Learning will help over 300 new Oberlin students continue this tradition with the 2009 Day of Service (DOS).
Now in its 13th year, DOS gives incoming Oberlin students the opportunity to do community service at various sites in Lorain County including Kendal at Oberlin (Website | Profile), Murray Ridge Center (Website | Profile), and Family Promise of Lorain County (Website | Profile). DOS helps new students see the strong connection between Oberlin College and the surrounding area and encourages them to participate in the life of the greater community while at Oberlin.
“Day of Service was the first way that I connected to Lorain County while I was at Oberlin,” says Day of Service Coordinator Alyssa Clark ‘09, who is from Cleveland Heights. “This summer, I visited many of the locations where DOS students will be working, and the site partners are delighted to serve as hosts.
“Also, a number of returning students, even though they will be busy moving into dorms and getting ready for fall semester, have volunteered to serve as site leaders. Their example will show newcomers how DOS is an amazing tradition that they can engage in for all four years.”
“Some sites, such as the George Jones Farm (Website | Profile), have been participating in DOS for years, and others, such as the Blessing House, and Community Action to Save Strays (C.A.T.S.S.) are new additions,” Clark points out. “Many of the projects involve cleaning, painting, and landscaping – all tasks that are necessary for the upkeep of a park or building, but are time-consuming and difficult for the community partners themselves to complete. DOS provides a group of enthusiastic, energetic students who can make a real difference in just one day.”
Last year, the Bonner Center enabled more than 375 incoming students and volunteers to contribute nearly 2,000 community service hours to 26 organizations throughout Lorain County. “I am excited about the work we did today in the Oberlin public schools,” one student commented on his evaluation. “It was amazing to see how much could be done by a few dedicated students.”
Area organizations or programs that wish to take part in DOS 2009, may contact Alyssa Clark at Alyssa.clark@oberlin.edu or at (440) 775-5390.
2009 Day of Service Project Sites
- Elyria - Save Our Children (Website | Profile), Family Promise, Wesleyan Village Nursing (Website | Profile)
- Lorain - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County (Website | Profile), Blessing House, Harrison Community Center
- Oberlin Area - Chance Creek Blues Farm (Website | Profile), Zion Community Development Center (Website | Profile), Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County (Website | Profile), C.A.T.S.S –Community Action to Save Strays, Common Ground (Website | Profile), Eastwood Elementary, Full Circle Fuels, George Jones Farm Village Garden (City Grow Foods), Glenn Gall Tree Planting, Main St. Oberlin, Murray Ridge Center, Oberlin Early Childhood Center (Profile), Oberlin Public Library (Website | Profile), Oberlin Senior Center, Oberlin Community Service Garden, Plum Creek Bridge, Prospect Elementary School (Website | Profile)
- Wellington - Elms Nursing Home
- LaGrange - Lorain County MetropoParks (Website | Profile)
