WMU News

Community service is part of 1999 Homecoming

Oct. 8, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University is taking its 1999 Homecoming celebration "into the streets" on Friday, Oct. 22.

This year, Friday activities kicking off Homecoming weekend are being held in conjunction with WMU's annual Into the Streets volunteer program for the greater Kalamazoo area.

A national community service campaign, the program promotes volunteerism by involving college students in a one-time service project. Since its inception, millions of students across the country have participated in the fall and spring components of the campaign.

Student Volunteer Services in WMU's Lee Honors College sponsors Into the Streets for the local area. It encourages students from Davenport College, Kalamazoo College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College to participate along with students from WMU.

Katrina Ross Chester, coordinator of Student Volunteer Services, says the 1999 effort has been expanded in two important ways.

"This is the first time we've held the event in conjunction with Homecoming and the first time we've invited WMU employees, alumni and friends to participate," Chester says.

"Homecoming traditionally generates a tremendous amount of school spirit. We hope to build on that enthusiasm to showcase the tremendous volunteer spirit we have here at WMU and in the greater Kalamazoo area."

Into the Streets begins with check-in and registration at 10 a.m. in WMU's Oakland Gym, which is located just east of Waldo Stadium on Stadium Drive. Dr. Elson S. Floyd, president of the University, will fire up the volunteers before they fan out across the area at 10:20 a.m.

The volunteers will be working until 2 p.m. on projects such as mending books at the Children's Book Bank in Plainwell, Mich.; painting the craft room at the Portage (Mich.) Senior Center; and distributing community news door to door in Kalamazoo's Oakwood neighborhood.

Afterward, the volunteers may return to WMU to participate in Buster's Big Top Carnival in the Student Recreation Center or attend other Homecoming activities taking place Friday afternoon.

To volunteer for Into the Streets, call Chester by Oct. 15 at (616) 387-3230.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 616 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu


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