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Students encouraged to volunteer now

March 12, 2009

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University is bringing back its Spring Into the Streets community service initiative, which sends hundreds of WMU students out into the Kalamazoo community for half a day to help with a variety of worthwhile projects.

The volunteer services office in Student Activities and Leadership Programs is planning to reintroduce the initiative from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 27, and is encouraging WMU students and student organizations to sign up now to participate.

"Spring Into the Streets is an opportunity for students to give back to the community and show how much they care about the city we call home for much of the year," says student intern Andrew Van Wachovia, who is coordinating the event. "It's much more than a way of getting community service hours. It's about how your actions affect those around you and about actually getting the chance to see those effects."

The 2009 event will begin with check-in and opening remarks from WMU President John M. Dunn. From noon to 5 p.m., students will be at their work sites, which thus far will include several neighborhood associations along with Fair Food Matters, the Gospel Mission, the Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative, the Kalamazoo YMCA and Ministry with Community.

Spring Into the Streets is a collaboration among the University, Western Student Association, and Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils. This year, it will serve as the service event for Greek Week, which will be held March 31-April 4.

Individuals and student organizations wishing to participate in Spring Into the Streets are asked to go to www.volunteerservices.wmich.edu/sits/sitsindex.htm and register. Team size should be limited to 10 to 15 people, but groups may register multiple teams.

For more information, contact Andrew Van Wasshnova in Student Activities and Leadership Programs at salp-intothestreets@wmich.edu or (517) 673.7940.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/wmu/news