Residence Life, Alumni Relations announce annual UD Day of Service

8:17 a.m., Sept. 11, 2012--The University of Delaware offices of Residence Life and Alumni Relations are encouraging students and alumni to “Dare to serve” as they host UD Day of Service on Saturday, Sept. 22.

This day of service unites UD students and alumni in the spirit of being a Citizen University. Members of the Blue Hen community are invited to volunteer their time at many service projects throughout campus and across the country to make positive contributions to their communities.

Campus Stories

From graduates, faculty

As it neared time for the processional to open the University of Delaware Commencement ceremonies, graduating students and faculty members shared their feelings about what the event means to them.

Doctoral hooding

It was a day of triumph, cheers and collective relief as more than 160 students from 21 nations participated in the University of Delaware's Doctoral Hooding Convocation held Friday morning on The Green.

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• Summer SAT, ACT prep
• 'Opus 13' pre-sale

UD Day of Service originated with the Office of Residence Life, where more than 300 students participated in service activities on campus to benefit over 20 local agencies. After much success, the event has now become a University-wide tradition. 

This year, Residence Life and Alumni Relations have collaborated to create an all-inclusive effort focused around the idea of serving together as students and alumni.

On-campus projects

On Sept. 22, there will be two options to engage in service activities – on campus and off campus.

Residence Life has organized service activity hubs from noon to 4:30 p.m. at three locations on campus -- Harrington Beach, the Laird turf field and at the basketball courts near Rodney. These hubs will provide various opportunities for students and local alumni to partake in activities that benefit several local organizations, including Newark Manor Nursing Home, Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children and troops serving overseas. 

In addition, each residential complex has partnered with a local service agency and will provide interactive activities that will benefit their specific organization of choice.

The UD Alumni Association and the New Castle County Alumni Club will co-sponsor a special hub on Laird campus where alumni and students will make comfort pillows together for patients of the American Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

For additional information about projects on campus, see this website.

Off-campus projects

In addition to the hubs on the Newark campus, several other service projects have been organized throughout the country for alumni and friends. These projects include beach clean-ups in Dewey Beach and Boca Raton, Fla., and preparing, packing and serving meals at the Hoboken Shelter in New Jersey, the Whatcoat Shelter in Dover, Del., the Food Bank of Delaware in Milford and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. 

New York City alumni will assist at City Harvest’s Mobile Market in Washington Heights and alumni in southern Delaware are invited to help with construction at a home site through Sussex County Habitat for Humanity.

Additionally, Blue Hens can help with the beautification of the gardens at the Tricycle Garden in Richmond and Castle Hills Park in New Castle, Del., and can help improve the environment at the Wildlife Clinic at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education in Philadelphia. Also, there will be a blood drive at the Lancaster (Pa.) General Health Blood Donor Center. 

Others projects include a product drive for the Giving Factory of Cradles to Crayons in Boston and the preparation of supplies for the American Red Cross in Gaithersburg, Md., along with many others.

Click here to learn more about the opportunities that are available.

Photo by Lane McLaughlin