Brand new fancy official looking URL!

Today we transferred our blog from our old blogspot (cofcvolunteer.blogspot.com) to our new CofC blog domain!  As you can probably tell, not everything is transferred and up to date yet.  Please be patient with us while we make everything look professional, and while we transfer over some of the functions and tools we had on our old site.

-The Civic Engagement Team.

Summer of Service Kicks Off TODAY!

In case you missed it, President Obama announced plans for a Summer of Service (video after the jump).

From Serve.gov:

United We Serve

“‘United We Serve’ is a nationwide service initiative that will help meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn. With the knowledge that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when given the proper tools, President Obama is asking us to come together to help lay a new foundation for growth. This initiative aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations by engaging new volunteers in their work and encourage volunteers to develop their own “do-it-yourself” projects. United We Serve is an initial 81 days of service but will grow into a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans.”

What Can You Do?

Visit or contact our office to:

  • Find a project or opportunity
  • Create Your Own Project
  • Learn ways to recruit volunteers.

If you already have a project, don’t forget to register it.

Have a great summer!

Great Volunteer Opportunity

Looking to do service one day this week? Fields for Families is looking for volunteers on Wednesday, June 3 2009 to help cut collards. You will be working at Turkey Hill Farm on Plow Ground Road on John’s Island. Please see the application link below….happy volunteering!

http://www.fieldstofamilies.org/volunteer-application.shtml

Summer Camps Galore

Want some volunteer work, or maybe even a paycheck, for working with kids this summer? There are a few summer camps in the area looking for Cougar students.




Target Gives Back!

Voting is underway on the Target Facebook Page to decide what charity will receive 5% of Target’s income each week–up to 3 million dollars! Head over to their page and let them know which charity you think is most deserving.

The candidates:

-Breast Cancer Research Foundation
-Operation Gratitude
-Feeding America*
-Parent Teach Association*
-HandsOn Network*
-Red Cross*
-Kids in Need
-Salvation Army*
-National Park Foundation*
-St. Judes Children Research Hospital

*Indicates local operations, chapters, or ties to the greater Charleston area. This information is not meant to affect your vote.

Humanitarian Trips Around the World

In Travel and Leisure, eleven organizations are listed for providing excellent international service trips. The trips vary from extreme “roughing it” to more leisure trips. Most of the organizations provide trips for students. For the complete article, please click the link below.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/great-humanitarian-trips-around-the-world/1

5 Days in May

Our friends at Water Missions International bring you…

One in six people don’t
have access to clean water.

You will consume enough non-water beverages in 5 days to pay for 5 people to have clean water for the rest of their lives.

What if we all did it? What if, through our efforts and our friends efforts, 600 people (or your entire contact list on facebook) gave up water for 5 days? A Community of 3000 people could have clean drinking water for the rest of their lives.

Visit 5 Days in May to learn how you can make this happen.

In the News!!

The Bonner Leaders’ Engage and Empower week definitely made a splash! Today’s Post and Courier had one of our E&E events on the front page of their Local section.

Check it out!

http://www.charleston.net/news/2009/apr/02/students_voices_heard77337/

Announcements and News!

Thank you to all who participated in the Engage and Empower week. It was a huge success! Well over 150 people attended the week of events, and public response has been overwhelmingly positive. =

Also, for your viewing pleasure, we’ve uploaded a fantastic video chronicling the Costa Rica Alternative Break trip. If you are interested in hosting or attending an AB trip next year, let us know! We’ll show you how to get started.

Engage and Empower Week – Education!

The Bonner Leader’s Engage and Empower week kicked off last night with its Education night. Forty students, parents, and community members gathered in the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance building to listen to reflections from students, teachers, and administrators affected by the Fraser Elementary School closing. Displayed prominently were the elementary students’ stories and artwork inspired by these events. Response to the event was generally positive, and we hope that this has helped provide at least a little closure on these recent events.

Please join us at the rest of our Engage and Empower events. Schedule.

Check out our slide show to the below for some examples of the artwork.