Hundreds at 51品茶volunteer for second annual Day of Service
Nearly five hundred members of the 51品茶 community, including students, faculty and staff, participated in the university鈥檚 second annual Day of Service on Saturday, October 15. Participants were greeted by Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant, Saco Mayor Ronald Michaud and 51品茶President Danielle Ripich before dispersing to more than 25 local non-profit organizations, where they spent the day volunteering.
Participants in the Day of Service took part in activities such as performing clean-up of parks, trails, roadsides and nursing home grounds; registering blood donors; painting; repairing buildings; installing smoke alarms in homes of families in need; and assisting the elderly and disabled with at-home tasks.
While the inaugural Day of Service last year drew volunteers from all colleges and departments of the university, the majority of participating students were from the College of Arts and Sciences. This year鈥檚 event, said President Ripich, received even more widespread support. 鈥淭his is truly a multi-college cooperative effort,鈥 she said, 鈥渁nd we hope that as we come together as a university to give back to our community, perhaps others will be inspired to give of their time as well.鈥
UNE鈥檚 Day of Service is organized by the university鈥檚 Office of Citizenship and Civic Engagement.
Local organizations that provided volunteer sites include the American Red Cross, Volunteers of America Northern New England, Saco Bay Trails, Bon Appetit Meals Program, City of Biddeford Fire Department and Public Works Department, Saco Parks and Recreation, Heart of Biddeford, Saco Food Pantry, Biddeford School Department, St. Andre Health Care, the Northern York County YMCA, and York County Community Action Corporation.
Read the story in the Journal Tribune
To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions
