Adams State students reach out to the community (10-03-07)
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity
Shovels, plastic bags, paint, adobe bricks, and love were all tools used by Adams State College students during ASC Cares Day.
Shirley Atencio, Catholic Campus Minister at Adams State, worked with faculty, staff and students to give back to the surrounding community. She and the ASC Cares Day committee coordinated with area non-profits and Adams State College clubs and organizations to send students to help with projects on Sept. 22.
"We had over one hundred and seventy volunteers this year help out at twenty non-profits," Atencio said. "It was a great turnout."
Community Greenhouse
Students went as far away as the Sand Dunes National Monument and the Old Mission Church in La Garita. Students and club faculty advisors helped set-up for the local Farmer’s Market, cooked dinner at La Puente, gave music lessons, played with puppies, and collected food for the Food Bank.
Episcopalian Church
Rev. Dawn Simpson, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, said the psychology club students' efforts were "awesome."
"They (the volunteers) were so efficient," Simpson said.
Methodist Church
"We had a really good time," Marni Zabel, a senior at Adams State, said. "I felt like we were really doing something for the community." Zabel, and the Education Club, spent the day in Del Norte at Noah's Ark Daycare staining playground equipment and painting a playhouse.
Music students give lessons.
Volunteers began their projects as early at 8 a.m. and everyone was invited back on campus at 2 p.m. in front of Richardson Hall for a free lunch catered by the campus food service, Sodexho, funded by the Adams State College President's Cabinet.
ASC Cares Day received funding from the Adams State President's Office, Housing and Residence Life, Community Partnerships, Student Life, Associated Students and Faculty, ASC Foundation, and the Mi Animo Program with San Luis Valley Mental Health.
"The cooperation among many individuals on campus and in the community added to the success of the event," Atencio said.
Humane League
Trish Cunningham, member of the board of directors for the Valley Humane League, said the Humane League depends significantly on volunteers and contributions.
"The students were friendly, polite, and very hard-working," Cunningham said. "They helped us a great deal and we really appreciate their help."
Community Greenhouse
"ASC Cares Day is a low-budget, student-friendly event that is high on goodwill and community spirit," Atencio said.
Highway clean-up
On Sept. 12, Atencio organized the Volunteer Fair on campus. It was an opportunity for San Luis Valley non-profits to come to campus and inform students, faculty and staff of their various missions and to recruit volunteers.
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