‘Celebration of Service’ to Recognize Year-Round Efforts

The College’s fourth annual day of service --- renamed last year a "Celebration of Service" --- will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 23--24. Unlike the first three years, in which service activities were primarily focused on one day, the emphasis is now on celebrating the community service programs in which the College’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni participate throughout the year.

There will still, however, be plenty of opportunities for members of the College community to do something special as part of this year’s celebration:

The Ithaca College Community Service Network and the South Hill Civic Association will cosponsor a "community cleanup" on Saturday. Following a kickoff breakfast from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the pub/coffeehouse in Phillips Hall, campus volunteers will join with their South Hill neighbors --- rakes and trash bags in hand --- in a mass cleanup effort lasting until 4:00 p.m.

The Faculty Council book drive will benefit the MacCormick Secure Center, a nearby youth facility for young men aged 13--20. Especially needed are materials of interest to this age group, including leisure reading and educational textbooks.

The Staff Council food drive will benefit the Tompkins County Food Distribution Network, a group of 13 food pantries located all over Tompkins County. Staff members are asked to donate nonperishable food items.

The Student Government Association will be collecting good used clothing from students to give to the Salvation Army.

• The 16th annual on-air charity marathon by student radio station 106-VIC will benefit the Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance. Disc jockeys will broadcast for 50 straight hours --- from sites including Pyramid Mall, Club Semesters, and the Rink in Lansing --- over the course of the weekend marathon.
• The traditional recognition reception will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday in the Emerson Suites. An information table will be set up in the Campus Center lobby during the week leading up to the "Celebration of Service." Members of the campus community are asked to share any past or future planned projects or acts of service, as appropriate, and to drop off photographs for possible inclusion in a slide show at the reception. The reception will serve to acknowledge the collective efforts of the entire College community, including students attending the programs in London, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Rochester and alumni clubs across the country.

Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to organize their own project, participate in one of those noted above, or sign up for one of the activities listed at the Campus Center information table and on the "Celebration of Service" website, www.ithaca.edu/dayofservice. More information, including links to community organizations and collection times and locations for donated items, is available on the website.