Around 103 Hamilton students spent a total of 630 hours volunteering for the annual Make a Difference Day on Sept. 13. The community service day, sponsored by HAVOC, took student volunteers to the Kirkland Art Center, JCTOD Outreach, Kirkland Town Library, Loretto Center, Root Farm, Upstate Cerebral Palsy, The Underground Café and Westminster Presbyterian, Emmaus House and For the Good.
Volunteers performed a variety of tasks at the local non-profit agencies, where their hard work was appreciated. At the Kirkland Art Center students moved and organized books in preparation of KAC's biggest fundraiser -- its booksale. David Smith, office assistant, said the KAC was "so grateful" to have the students there. "So much needs to be done and we don't really have the manpower to do it," he said. Around the corner at the Kirkland Library, volunteers did an "intense" cleaning of the quiet room where daily upkeep was not enough. Library director Lois Lemmer, noted, "In such a small town like Clinton, we have to rely on the help of others and we are very appreciative of Hamilton students and the assistance they provide."
Make a Difference Day volunteers had one-on-one interaction with the elderly, played Po-Ke-No and created decorations for doors of residents at the Loretto Center. At the For the Good Community Garden they weeded, staked tomato plants and did some landscaping. Some JCTOD volunteer students worked in the "toy factory," taking donated (defective) toys from Walmart, pulling the packaging off and finding ways to make the toys usable and worthy of giving away. Rev. Ursula Meier, COO, "We don't have the manpower on our staff to do this work, but now we can give great Christmas presents."
And, at the Underground Café/Westminster Presbyterian, the volunteers were comprised of the entire Urban Service Experience 2008 team. They had such a good time working on it when others were doing Adirondack Adventure that they decided to return and continue their efforts.
Volunteers performed a variety of tasks at the local non-profit agencies, where their hard work was appreciated. At the Kirkland Art Center students moved and organized books in preparation of KAC's biggest fundraiser -- its booksale. David Smith, office assistant, said the KAC was "so grateful" to have the students there. "So much needs to be done and we don't really have the manpower to do it," he said. Around the corner at the Kirkland Library, volunteers did an "intense" cleaning of the quiet room where daily upkeep was not enough. Library director Lois Lemmer, noted, "In such a small town like Clinton, we have to rely on the help of others and we are very appreciative of Hamilton students and the assistance they provide."
Make a Difference Day volunteers had one-on-one interaction with the elderly, played Po-Ke-No and created decorations for doors of residents at the Loretto Center. At the For the Good Community Garden they weeded, staked tomato plants and did some landscaping. Some JCTOD volunteer students worked in the "toy factory," taking donated (defective) toys from Walmart, pulling the packaging off and finding ways to make the toys usable and worthy of giving away. Rev. Ursula Meier, COO, "We don't have the manpower on our staff to do this work, but now we can give great Christmas presents."
And, at the Underground Café/Westminster Presbyterian, the volunteers were comprised of the entire Urban Service Experience 2008 team. They had such a good time working on it when others were doing Adirondack Adventure that they decided to return and continue their efforts.
