The Student Trustee Exchange

The holiday season is fast approaching, and many will be getting into the spirit of giving. But why wait until the holidays? You can give the gift of giving at any time of the year. There are many ways to donate money or time to organizations that benefit others. You can volunteer at a local shelter, charity, hospital, animal shelter, wherever you feel that your personal interests, strengths, and abilities can be most useful. If you don't know where to start looking for volunteer opportunities, you can
begin right here on campus.

Student Life has just welcomed Neel Rana, an AmeriCorps VISTA intern, who will be helping in the development of the new Civic
Engagement and Community Service Center. Some of the programs currently underway are the GSU Food Pantry and the Community
Service Council.

The GSU Food Pantry, located near the Student Life commons in A2141, is open every first and third Tuesday of the month, and offers a bag of groceries to students, no questions asked. All students have to do is present a student ID. The Food Pantry can always use more non-perishable items (both food and non-food goods), or volunteers to help with the services offered. Donations can be made at the Center for Civic Engagement, located in A2130, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Student Life is also seeking student volunteers to form the Community Service Council, which will help with the implementation of the Community Service Center. The duties of the council will include creating "A Day of Service" programs for students wishing to volunteer, forming an alternate spring break for students to participate in civic engagement, and creating a database for students to access when searching for service opportunities.

If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, or would like to know more about civic engagement, please contact Neel Rana at (708) 235-7454, or in the Student Life office in room A2130. If you have any questions for me, please email me at KRandolph-Clark@govst.edu.