GC celebrates 11th annual day of service to the community, Sept. 23

WHAT: Goshen College's 11^th Annual Celebrate Service Day

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009

SCHEDULE:

9 a.m. – Chapel with speaker Alexie Torres-Fleming, a Christian urban leader from the South Bronx, N.Y.
9:30 a.m. – Groups leave for sites around Michiana
10 a.m.-4 p.m. (approximately, though varies by group) – Service at 39 sites
5 p.m. – Picnic supper on campus for all participants, outside Westlawn Dining Hall

JOBS AND LOCATIONS INCLUDE:

• Goshen College choir members will engage third graders from Chamberlain Elementary in a day of learning about music and college at the Goshen College Music Center and at Chamberlain. Contact: Professor of Music Deb Brubaker, (574) 535-7366.
• Preparing products at Soup of Success, 907 Oakland Ave., Elkhart. Agency contact: Betsy Ayrea (574) 523-1551.
• Helping to clean and paint at The Window Community Volunteer Center, 223 S. Main St., Goshen. Agency contact: Linda Metzler, (574) 238-1392.
• Building a new house with Habitat for Humanity, 1716 Elizabeth St., Elkhart. Agency contact: Keith Gassman, (574) 533-6109.
• Doing renovation work with LaCasa at the Roosevelt Center and Water Tower Place in Elkhart. Agency contact: Kate Irelan, (574) 533-4450.
• Doing maintenance and repair work at The Post, 301 E. Lincoln Ave. Agency contact: Jared Marcus, (574) 217-1432.

WHO: Goshen College students, faculty and staff will volunteer a day of work

BACKGROUND: This is one way that the college puts its motto of "Culture for Service" into action each year.

Students can purchase Celebrate Service Day T-shirts for $5 and all proceeds will go to a local organization.

Though this is one day of the year set aside by the entire campus for community service, many Goshen College students regularly volunteer in the community. Some students choose where and when to volunteer on their own initiative or as part of class assignments, while others serve through their churches. Celebrate Service Day introduces many students to volunteer opportunities in the area and the college also hosts a day for local agencies to solicit student interest. A student community voluntary service coordinator works at connecting students with meaningful assignments.

Editors: Media are welcome to attend the events on campus, as well as visit the locations. For information or to schedule interviews and photos during Celebrate Service Day, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S.News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.