GC celebrates 10th annual day of service to the community Sept. 24

"Culture for Service" in action: One day of the year set aside by the entire campus for community service.

» View photo's from the Celebrate Service Day 2007.

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008

SCHEDULE:

9 a.m. – Breakfast and send off at Schrock Plaza

9:30 a.m. – Groups leave for sites around Michiana

10 a.m.-4 p.m. (approximately, though varies by group) – Service at 34 sites

5 p.m. – Picnic supper on campus for all participants, outside Westlawn Dining Hall

JOBS AND LOCATIONS INCLUDE:

• Preparing school and medical kits and folding blankets at Mennonite Central Committee Material Resource Center: The Depot, 1013 Division St., Goshen. Agency contact: Michelle Norman, (574) 534-4071.
• Helping set up for the Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale, held at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen this weekend. Organization contact: Richard Miller, (574) 536-6712.
• Clearing paths, pruning and weeding in the woods at the Pathways Retreat, 309 Hackett Road, Goshen. Organization contact: Steve Thomas, (574) 534-7118.
• Preparing products at Soup of Success, 629 S. 3^rd St., Elkhart. Agency contact: Betsy Ayrea (574) 523-1551.
• Helping to clean and organize at The Window Community Volunteer Center, 223 S. Main St., Goshen. Agency contact: Linda Metzler, (574) 238-1392.
• Organizing at Ryan's Place, Inc., 203 North 5th St., Goshen. Agency contact: Aileac Deegan, (574) 202-1688.
• Working outdoors and interacting with residents at Waterford Crossing, 1212 Waterford Circle, Goshen. Agency contact: Leesa Fitch, (574) 537-0300.

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.

This year, students can purchase Celebrate Service Day T-shirts for $5 and all proceeds will go to Maple City Health Care Center in northeast Goshen; more than a third of their patients live below the poverty line.

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.

### 

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.