Students can donate canned goods as part of a Halloween food drive.
By R. M. Ozuniga
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The office of civic engagement is inviting students to participate in volunteer work for the homeless Nov. 4, 11 and 18 at Haven for Hope.
“There’s all different kinds of volunteering opportunities, from picking up trash on the campus, to preparing meals, serving meals, to helping clean different areas,” Joseph Liedecke, civic engagement coordinator, said in an interview Oct. 11.
Volunteers will start around noon at Haven for Hope, 1 Haven for Hope Way, and work for two hours, Liedecke said.
All students, staff and faculty are encouraged to sign up and volunteer as part of giving back to the community, Liedecke said.
Nine students from the Society of Professional Journalists have signed up to work all three volunteer dates.
The office of civic engagement works with nonprofit organizations — such as Catholic Charities, Ronald McDonald House, SA Pets Alive and Seton Home — and links them to students, clubs and organizations interested in volunteer opportunities.
“We connect them (students) with these nonprofits so that they can volunteer, so they can get their service hours necessary,” Liedecke said. “We also keep track of their hours for them.”
Liedecke and civic engagement coordinator Bianca Sapet created the Social Justice Organization — a student-based group dedicated to getting individuals involved with the community — Sept. 21.
Liedecke and Sapet act as advisers to guide the student organization toward projects on community service.
Along with planning to tour Haven for Hope with the Social Justice Organization, civic engagement is working on a project called “Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat,” a food drive in which Halloween-decorated boxes are spread out around campus for individuals to place donated goods, Liedecke said.
Seven boxes are spread out around this college. Four of the boxes are inside Loftin Student Center.
On Halloween, the boxes of goods will be collected and taken to the food pantry at Ronald McDonald House, 227 Lewis St., he said. The Ronald McDonald House takes in families who have children that need medical attention, but live too far from a hospital.
“If you have that type of heart to give and to help, then by all means come and visit the civic engagement office,” Liedecke said.
The civic engagement annex is located in Building 19 at 309 W Dewey Place.
For more information, contact Liedecke at 210-486-0125.