The application period for the 2012-2013 school year is now closed.

Monday, April 2

3:00 p.m. | Extreme Home Makeover Changes for Charleston | Alumni Center in the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance

Speakers from the City of Charleston’s Department of Housing and Community and the Sea Island Habitat for Humanity will be on hand to talk about how their organizations are helping to provide affordable housing for everyone. Light refreshments will be served!

6:00 p.m. | Hear My Story: Human Trafficking Knocking at Your Front Door | Maybank 100

Come hear the story of a victim’s personal experience about how she was rescued from domestic sex trafficking and the transition back into society. Refreshments will be provided by Neet’s Sweets, an organization that helps human trafficking survivors reenter the working society.

Tuesday, April 3

7:00 p.m. | Age of Neglect: Spotlight Issues of the Elderly | Robert Scott Small 252 

Come hear a panel of professionals focused on social security and affordable housing.

Wednesday, April 4

12:00-2:00 p.m. | What Would Tarzan Do: Animal Advocacy Issues | Stern Center Gardens

Drop into an informative expo that will exhibit a variety of tri-county animal organizations.

Thursday, April 5

7:00 p.m. | America in Crisis: Water Issues | Stern Center Ballroom

Come learn about the water issue with the College of Charleston Bonner Leader Program! We will be discussing issues surrounding inadequate access to water people face in many countries, water ownership, and Americans’ abuse of water.

 

Register for these events now! Click here to register.

 

FIELDS TO FAMILIES

Saturday, March 31st | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

No Green Thumb Required! Come glean with your fellow College of Charleston students at Rosebank Farm on John’s Island! What’s gleaning? Gleaning is when farmers have extra fruit and vegetables either because they can’t harvest them in time or because they simply can’t use them so other organizations bring volunteers to pick the extra produce. The local gleaning organization we’ll be working with is Fields to Families. They are  dedicated to helping increase nutrition in the Charleston area by coordinating the distribution of fresh produce obtained from local gardens and farms to those in need.

 

BIKEWAY CLEAN UP

Wednesday, April 11th | 2:00 p.m. – 4:15 pm

Help clean up the West Ashley Bikeway with Keep Charleston Beautiful! Keep Charleston Beautiful is dedicated to promoting the cleanliness and beautification of the City of Charleston through education programs, public awareness campaigns, and community cleanups. Cleaning the Bikeway will be a great initiative to beautify an important resource for bikers in the community as well as encourage healthy living.

 

*Transportation time is included and will be provided.

Ireland

Spend two weeks volunteer at an organic farm

& one week exploring Ireland!

All inclusive trip cost: $2,750

Information Sessions

Thursday, February 9th | 12-1 pm

Monday, February 13th | 7-8 pm

Lightsey 203

Applications now available here.

Applications are due February 21^st at 4pm.

Questions?

cofc.alternativebreak@gmail.com | 953.5838

We will be volunteering with the Cougar Exhibit Beautification with Charles Towne Landing. Projects include removing and planting trees and shrubs and general maintenance. Participants must meet at the designated meeting spot 10 minutes prior to their shift. To reserve your spot, please fill out the Homecoming 2012 Registration Form by Monday, January 30.

When: Wednesday February 8, 2012

Time: 10-12:30 pm or 1-3:30 pm (Please be there 10 minutes before your shift.)

Where: Outside of Stern Center on Glebe Street

Registration Deadline: January 30th (Limited Space Available)

We will also be collecting Pet Supplies for the Charleston Animal Society and Pet Helpers. All donations will be distributed for pets in need.

For Spirit Cup Information please visit the Homecoming Site.

 

Pet Supply Needs

*Large bags of dog food

*Kuranda Beds

Cash Contributions

Cat Litter

Peanut Butter

Hot Dogs and Cheese (for medications)

Gently used children’s books (for their “Woof to Read Program”)

Bath Towels

Pet Shampoo

Exotic Animal Food (for guinea pigs, rabbits, ferrets, and birds)

Washable Toys

Small blankets for cats

Electric Heating Pads/Blankets

Kongs and other enrichment toys

13 Gallon Trash Bags

Large alcohol based hand sanitizer

Large hand soap

Black Sharpies

Cardstock

Copy paper

Gift Cards (Walmart, Petsmart, Petco, etc)

Paper Towels

All items are worth 2 pts with the exception of large bags of dog food and karunda beds, which are worth 5 pts.

Please drop off all donations at the Center for Civic Engagement, Lightsey 203, by 5 pm on February 9th.

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, November 14

12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. | Food For Thought | Arnold Hall

Join the Jewish Student Union for lunch and learn more about hunger & homelessness issues in Charleston and what you can do to help!

*5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. | Poverty Simulation | Lightsey Center, 2nd Floor

During the Poverty Simulation, participants will have the opportunity to assume the role of a low income family member for a simulated one month period.  The Missouri Community Action Poverty Simulation is presented in cooperation with East Cooper Community Outreach.

Tuesday, November 15

*8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Lowcountry Food Bank | Warehouse

*12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | Lowcountry Food Bank | Food Works Kitchen

Volunteer at the Warehouse, Kitchen, or both at the Lowcountry Food Bank, whose mission is “to feed the poor and hungry of the ten coastal counties of South Carolina by soliciting and distributing healthy food and grocery products to nonprofit agencies serving the poor, and to educate the public about the problems of and solutions to domestic hunger.”

Wednesday, November 16

*6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. | Oxfam Hunger Banquet | Arnold Hall

Come to the Oxfam Hunger Banquet hosted by the Center for Civic Engagement and the Jewish Student Union and learn more about international hunger and poverty issues.

7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. | CAB Open Mic Night | Yo Burrito

Join CAB for Open Mic Night at Yo Burrito! Performances will feature Hunger and Homelessness themes. There will be free food, and a prize will be given to the best performance!

Friday, November 18

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. | “People’s Short” Documentary | Stern 201

Come watch a short documentary regarding a local food desert on America Street. This “People’s Short” is a documentary project about the access, or lack thereof, to fresh, locally produced food, and what that means to the community.  

Saturday, November 19

*Service Saturday: Take Action!

8:30 a.m.— 12:00 p.m. | Rural Mission

12:30 p.m.—4:30 p.m. | Sea Island Habitat for Humanity

Donations!

Blankets will be collected by the Lowcountry Furniture Bank at six locations: Berry Hall lobby, Liberty St. Dorm lobby, McAlister Dorm lobby, Buist-Rutledge Dorm lobby, Simmons Art Center/ CATO Center (where the two buildings meet), and Stern Center under the site map in the Lobby.

Also, you can donate your dining dollars to Aramark, and the money will used to buy bulk food items for a local organization!

 *register here for these events: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dHNaOGRBMjFLTzhocGcyb1IwbFExMUE6MQ#gid=0. Transportation will be provided.

 

The Center for Center Engagement & the Jewish Student Union is sponsoring an Oxfam Hunger Banquet on Wednesday, November 16.

Come  partake in this interactive and empowering event which simulates the world’s inequalities. Participants share a meal, discuss worldwide poverty, and learn more about local efforts to make a difference in the fight against hunger. Please register at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=l9rnjsgab&oeidk=a07e556rmuj7184a6f3.
Contact volunteer@cofc.edu for more information.

 

Alternative Break applications are now available for the following trips!

Spring Break: March 3-10, 2012 (Click Here for the Application!)

Food Justice and Migrant Families (Immokalee, FL: $387)
Organic Farming (La Gran Vista, Costa Rica: $1419)
Community Development and Sustainable Living (La Flor de Paraiso, Costa Rica: $1362)
Education and English as a Foreign Language (Outreach360, Dominican Republic: $1450)

Maymester: May 14-June 4, 2012 (Click Here for the Application!)

Community-based Development and Research (LAMB, Honduras: $2,000)

Learn more about these trips at our information sessions and table fairs:

Sunday, Oct 9 @ 6:30 | Info Session for Maymester trip to Honduras | Hawkins Living-Learning Center
Wednesday, Oct 12 @ 6:00 | General Info Session | Maybank 107
Wednesday, Oct 19 @ 5:00-7:00 | Table Fair| Stern Center Lobby
Thursday, Oct 20 @ 11:00-1:00 | Table Fair | Cougar Mall

All applications are due on Monday, October 24 to Lightsey 203.

 

We need volunteers for the 13th Annual James Island Connector Run! There is a 10K Run and a 5K Run/Walk that starts at Cannon Park near the corner of Ashley Avenue & Bennett Street. Proceeds from the James Island Connector Run benefit the Gavalas Kolanko Foundation (GKF), a local charity that awards annual scholarships to students with physical disabilities. Since 1999, the Foundation has awarded 52 scholarships to Lowcountry students attending College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University.

Learn more about the GKF by visiting their website at www.gkfoundation.org

 

 Volunteer Opportunities include:

- Race week

Stuffing race packets

Working packet pick-up and on-site registration

Assisting with set up at Cannon Park on Friday, November 4

- Race morning

Assisting with registration and packet pick-up

Assisting with set-upServing as a race course monitor

Assisting with various water stationsWorking in the beer garden

Overseeing the Kids’ Race

Assisting with clean-up

 

Please email volunteer@cofc.edu if you are able to help out at this event.

 

Join us for our annual litter-collecting scavenger hunt! This year we will be Dashing for Trash on Saturday, October 22^nd from 9-2pm at Liberty Square (in front of the SC Aquarium). Each team will have a shopping cart and will race throughout the East Side collecting trash with varying “points”. The student teams that show the most spirit, collect the most recyclables and accumulate the most points will be awarded prizes! Breakfast and Lunch will also be provided. Register as an individual or in teams of 10 or less here. The registration deadline is Wednesday, October 19th. Check out our youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8P36rpxMjs.

Hope to see you there!