SERVE opens door for volunteer work

Students interested in volunteer opportunities can look no further than the new Center for Student Involvement community service board: SERVE.

The Students Embodying Roosevelt’s Vision of Excellence board held its first official meeting on Sept. 18.

Students submitted applications to join.

“It’s an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to create consistent monthly volunteer programs,” said Brian Houze,  CSI Graduate Extern and SERVE Adviser. “We know there’s something you can do out in the community. SERVE will be choosing where those sites are.”

SERVE’s official purpose is to plan CSI’s Second Saturdays programs, where students and faculty can community volunteer during the second Saturday of each month.

“We’re reaching out to the community to build relationships so that those Second Saturdays programs are as impactful and meaningful for students and the sites as they can be,” Houze said.

Houze said that he is also trying to receive sponsorship for SERVE from different university offices to further encourage students to volunteer. He also said that SERVE was created to respond to student demand for more community service opportunities organized by the university.

“This will be more consistent and give volunteering some kind of structure,” Houze said. “Students will know that every second Saturday of the month there will be something to do in community sponsored by the university. They can count on peers being with them.”

One Second Saturdays program already took place on Sept. 8. Students volunteered at the Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary to prepare it for public viewing the following week.

“We had a good turnout,” Houze said. “It’s not just about individual service hours or resume criteria. It’s being part of something bigger than yourself and bettering the lives and experiences of other people.”

SERVE meets twice a month, every week leading up to Second Saturdays, along with once two weeks after the events. Students interested in learning about volunteer opportunities can visit the CSI office in WB 323 or email Houze at bhouze@roosevelt.edu.

Ready to get involved? Tell us how you plan to SERVE at @RUTORCH