First-year students to take part in sixth annual Welcome Weekend Day of Service

More than 2,000 first-year students at the University of Maine are expected to volunteer for community projects as part of the sixth annual Welcome Weekend Day of Service on Saturday, Aug. 29.

The Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism and First Year Residential Experience offer the Welcome Weekend Day of Service on the first weekend students are on campus to provide opportunities to volunteer at community organizations.

Community service is an important part of UMaine’s culture, says Lisa Morin, coordinator of the Bodwell Center.

“These projects give the students time to bond with others from their residence hall, allows us to show them how community service will enhance their UMaine experience, and provides valuable assistance to community organizations,” she says.

Led by 150 UMaine students, faculty and staff, first-year students will participate in more than 58 local, regional and international service projects both on and off campus.

Projects include washing Down East Emergency Medical Institute (DEEMI) vehicles in Orono; grounds work at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Alton, Leonard’s Mills/Maine Forest and Logging Museum in Bradley, Orono Bog Boardwalk, Orono Land Trust and Maine Veterans’ Home in Bangor; cleanup of the UMaine bike path, around Riverside Park in Old Town, downtown Orono and Alfond arena and stadium; gardening at Bangor Edible Park Collaborative, Orono Community Garden and for the Campus Greenhouse Project; collecting donations at the American Folk Festival in Bangor; and packing meal, hygiene and school kits on campus.

One project, the Bangor Edible Park Collaborative, was started by UMaine student David Patrick, with assistance from the Foster Center for Student Innovation and funding from the Maine Hunger Dialogue.

The Bangor Edible Park Collaborative is a group of individuals and organizations committed to advancing the vision of creating a sustainable, open and freely accessible food system for everyone in the community. This year marks the park’s first growing season.

At Manna Ministries in Bangor, students will work with Patrick to harvest, weed and do general area maintenance for the park.

Last year, approximately 1,900 first-year students volunteered for nearly 60 projects and logged 4,140 hours of service.

UMaine was one of 240 colleges and universities in the United States selected to receive the 2015 Community Engagement Classification of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The classification, which is valid until 2025, recognizes colleges and universities with an institutional focus on community engagement.

The day will end with the President’s annual Dinner on the Mall from 5–6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. In case of inclement weather, the dinner will be held in the Field House. The dinner will feature food provided by UMaine Dining Services, lawn games and other activities provided by Campus Recreation, and music coordinated by Team Maine and UMaine Campus Activities and Student Engagement (CASE).

Following the dinner, the Traditions Ceremony and Class Picture will be on Morse Field, Alfond Stadium.

For more information on the Welcome Weekend Day of Service, contact Morin at 581.1796 or lisa.morin@umit.maine.edu, or visit the website.

Contact: Elyse Kahl, 207.581.3747