Members of Hamilton's class of 2012 blanketed Oneida County on Aug. 27, as the first Hamilton Serves! volunteer orientation effort was launched. Students spent four hours volunteering at non-profit agencies around the Mohawk Valley, including United Cerebral Palsy in Utica, the Humane Society of Rome, Spring Farm Cares in Clinton and Crouse Community Center in Morrisville.

Amy James, Hamilton's director of outreach and orientation who coordinated the program, said, "I really feel like we accomplished something today. Not only did our students do some good work at these agencies but they got to see what the missions of the non-profits are. I'm getting very positive feedback from our students and I'd like to see us do this again next year."

Students worked at 40 agencies in the Mohawk Valley. Activities included sorting clothing at the Rescue Mission, hosting an end-of-summer party for nursing home residents at Loretto Utica Center, harvesting crops at the For the Good's community garden. Students also assembled reference guides for the Girl Scouts, worked a summer carnival at ARC Oneida Lewis County, conducted activities for children at Thea Bowman House and worked with classroom staff at schools preparing for the upcoming year.

Watch videos from Hamilton Serves!