East Carolina
A Pirate’s Guide to
®
Service
UNIVERSITY
A publication of the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center
ECU Million Meals Event On an early Saturday morning, hundreds of volunteers filed into the gym at the Boys and Girls Club. They donned hats and hairnets then set to work. Their task? To help alleviate world hunger. On August 28, 2010 Stop Hunger Now and East Carolina University teamed together to package over 59,000 meals at the ECU Million Meals Event. Students and community members worked together to package meals step by step to send to starving people in Haiti. Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world. They coordinate massive meal packaging events with universities and other agencies around the country. Working together, volunteers assemble bags consisting of rice, dehydrated vegetables, vitamins, protein powder and seasoning. A single bag can feed six adults. East Carolina University students worked side by side with members of the community to assemble, seal, package and load these meals to be shipped to those who need it. These volunteers, ranging in age and situation, were proof that everyone can make a difference.
2010 Get-A-Clue Event a Success A duck, a dog and a massive red ball were lined up on the grass by the cupola last month. They were all a part of ECU’s Get-A-Clue event! On August 31st community organizations gathered on the mall to illustrate to students all that is available to them in Greenville. Among the businesses, 44 community agencies were there to tell students about their programs, and the volunteer opportunities available through them. Representatives sat at tables, ready to answer questions about their programs. Volunteer opportunities are available for all students. Regardless of availability, skill level, or access to personal transportation, there are many ways to make a difference! If you missed the Get-AClue event, you can still learn more about the agencies in the area. Simply come by the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center or grab a copy of the Service Opportunities Guide. Updated information is also featured on the VSLC web site: www.ecu.
edu/vslc/.
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Volunteer Spotlight: Student American Red Cross Representative
Pitt County Adapted P.E. 2010 ECU vs. NC State Blood Battle
Calendar of VSLC Upcoming Events
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East Carolina University
Volunteer Spotlight
Student American Red Cross Representative Picture this: A 23 year old Kristin Brown walks into the doctor’s office for a routine check-up. A recent graduate from East Carolina University, and a newlywed, she was feeling just fine. However, when the nurse pricked her finger, everything changed. She was rushed to the hospital within an hour. Diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a condition where bone marrow does not correctly replenish blood cells, she was given a small chance to survive. Yet she did, thanks to a bone marrow transplant and the blood transfusions that saved her life.
Did you know that every two seconds someone needs blood? These aren’t just trauma victims either. Premature infants, cancer patients, as well as countless other conditions require blood donations. However, whole blood only has a shelf life of 42 days. This means that blood is in constant demand. Yet, only 5% of those eligible to make a donation actually do. One person is working to change this, and that person is Will Thomas. Will is a sophomore here at East Carolina University. For the past two years, he has been volunteering in the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center as the Campus Student Account Manager for the American Red Cross. This means that he markets, schedules, coordinates and manages blood drives here on campus. Will works with representatives from the American Red Cross to make sure that ECU does all that it can to help save lives. Over the past few years, Will has helped East Caolina University to win several awards for their support of the American Red Cross, the most recent of which is the 2009-2010 College Campus Award. So, what is Will working on right now? The Exercise and Health 1000 Challenge, which is the largest blood drive on East Carolina’s campus, will be held on September 30th. In past years this drive has collected between 350 and 400 pints of blood, almost enough to supply the entire region’s daily need.
Additional blood drives are coming up, including the one featured on the next page. Will is working hard to make sure that ECU students are given the chance to donate. So, are you ready to save a life? For more information, contact Will in the Volunteer and Service-Learning office at thomasw09@students.ecu.edu.
East Carolina University was awarded the College Campus Award by the American Red Cross for the 2009-2010 school year.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mohandas K. Gandhi
Community Partner Profile East Carolina University
Pitt County Schools Adapted P.E.
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When you ask a child what their favorite class is in school, the most common response is P.E. For students with exceptional needs such as Cerebral Palsy, Down’s syndrome, and Autism, however, P.E. class wasn’t always that much fun. That is, until the adaptive P.E. program was started last year. Now students are able to engage in the same activities as their peers. In 2009 Lara Brickhouse was hired to help bridge the gap between children with exceptionalities and physical education classes. She and an intern travelled between 8 Pitt County schools, consulting with Volunteers help a student engage in his regular physical education teachers to provide an adapted curriculum P.E. class for students who needed one. This year, the program has expanded to include two more full time staff besides Ms. Brickhouse, Michele Mazey and Jonathan Wells. Together, these three travel to 25 elementary, middle, and high schools to work one on one with students and teachers. The modified activities give all students access to the NC P.E. curriculum. For example, basketball can be played by all the students, simply with a larger ball and lower net. Michele Maizy said her job “is an opportunity. I don’t feel like I’m working. It’s a hard job, but it is so rewarding.” Lara Brickhouse explains these kids have a coach now. Volunteers are needed to become a coach as well. Various shifts are available, from morning to afternoon Monday through Friday. You don’t need any special skills, simply the enthusiasm and initiative to help kids play. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Lara Brickhouse at pcsadaptedpe@gmail.com.
2010 ECU vs. NC State Blood Battle Each year Pirate blood gets pumping in preparation for the legendary battle against NC State University. Every other year, the Pirate’s home field advantage is marked by a different kind of fight, a battle for blood. On October 13, 2010, from 1-7pm students will meet at Harvey Hall in the Murphy Center. East Carolina students and faculty will challenge the NC State Wolfpack in an effort to collect the most pints of blood. Every pint of blood collected can save up to 3 lives. So join our football team in their effort to defeat the Wolfpack, and give the gift of life. The need is constant. The gratification is instant. The first 375 donors will receive a free ECU vs. NCSU Blood Battle t-shirt. Additionally, students who successfully donate a pint of blood can submit a time sheet to the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center for volunteer hours. Walk-ins are always welcome. For appointments, go to www.redcrossblood.org. For more information, contact Will Thomas, ECU’s Student Blood Drive Coordinator at thomasw09@students.ecu.edu.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
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Saturday October 2nd Pumpkin Festival 730 am-11am Salem United Methodist Church, Simpson Volunteers needed to help set up tables, sell drinks etc. Contact david.roscoe@cancer.org. Saturday October 2nd NC Big Sweep 745 am-12pm Volunteers needed to help collect trash and debris alongside and in the river. Kayaks available 1st come, first serve. Call the office ASAP to reserve. Contact Kelly Jochin at 252-946-7211 or at Kelly@ptrf.org. Friday October 8th Down East Festival 9 am-5pm Downtown Rocky Mount Volunteers needed to maintain tables, distribute fliers and answer questions. Contact Kelly Jochin at 252-946-7211 or at Kelly@ptrf.org. Saturday October 9th Family Fun Day 8 am- 4 pm RHA Howell Center Volunteers needed to help with various activities including booths, face painting, silent auction and interacting with the children. Contact Chrystal Garman at 252-758-1101 or at cgarman@rhanet.org. Wednesday October 13th ECU vs. NCSU Blood Battle Harvey Hall, Murphy Center 11 am-5pm Come help ECU beat the wolfpack by donating blood to save a life! Contact Kasey Shue at 252-375-6923 ext. 2030 or at shuek@usa.redcross.org. Saturday October 16th Humane Society Concessions ECU vs. State Game 1 pm-9 pm Volunteers needed to man the refreshment stands, filling drinks etc. All volunteers must be at least 16 years old. T-Shirts will be provided. Contact Katie Benson at 252-413-7247 or at hsecvolunteer@embarqmail.com. Saturday October 23rd Humane Society Concessions ECU vs.Marshall Game 1 pm-9 pm Volunteers needed to man the refreshment stands, filling drinks etc. All volunteers must be at least 16 years old. T-Shirts will be provided. Contact Katie Benson at 252-413-7247 or at hsecvolunteer@embarqmail.com.
Student leaders volunteered to set up for the 2010 Million Meals Event.
Blood Donation Fact
The rarest blood type is the one that isn’t there when it’s needed. You can donate blood every 56 days. Source: American Red Cross
For more volunteer opportunities visit the Volunteer and ServiceLearning webpage at www.ecu.edu/vslc
September Edition 2010
Judy Baker, Institutional and Community Development Consultant Jessica Gagne Cloutier, Service-Learning Coordinator Michael Loeffelman, Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer and Service-Learning Center Old Cafeteria Complex Shawn Moore, Community Partner Coordinator 252-328-2735 (phone) 252-328-0139 (fax) Alice Tyson, Office Manager www.ecu.edu/vslc vslc@ecu.edu Katie Winn, AmeriCorps*Vista Member