Strengthening Community

David R.

February 18, 2010 - 4:45 PM

For the past few weeks I have been working through Allen Hall Public Relations to try to create some awareness for our client, Habitat for Humanity, and its new ReStore opening in the Eugene/Springfield area. Throughout this process it was decided that a great way to make people aware of this new ReStore is to try to find students who are interested in volunteering and helping with various projects. Fortunately, the University of Oregon has an office that dedicates its time to organizing community service projects, and finding students who have the desire to participate. While being at the University of Oregon I have realized that there are many people in the greater community who care about service and helping others. While here I have met multiple students who want to dedicate their lives to serving others. At the ReStore in Eugene/Springfield there are only two paid employees. Everyone else who works there is there on their own time because they enjoy doing things for the community. Luckily for University of Oregon students there is an organization called the Service Learning Program in the heart of campus that creates volunteer opportunities for students to partake in.

There are many groups on campus who use this service to organize certain events. For example, every student at the University of Oregon that is involved in the greek system is required to complete three hours of community service per term. Each fraternity and sorority has a person who is given the title of Community Service Chair or something like it. These people can go through such an organization to help find events to send their members to to complete this requirement.
Like I said before, there are also people who use this organization that have no community service requirement, but they do it because they enjoy assisting other people in the community.

Our main goal was to create a Habitat for Humanity group or club on campus that would involve consistent volunteer work at the new ReStore. Through this we would provide students with another way to serve the community, and we would be doing our job by creating greater awareness about the newly opening ReStore at the same time. In the near future we are going to be organizing an event that will allow interested students to come by and see if it is something they might be interested in doing. Additionally we are going to gear our group or club towards fundraising. One of the major issues facing the new ReStore right now is the fact that the income of money is limited due to the fact that the store is brand new, so the ReStore can't afford to partake in all of the projects that it would like to. Those who might not be able to physical provide service can still make an impact by donating money. Fortunately, the ReStore has some interesting projects coming up that could attract volunteers. Soon the staff and volunteers will be painting a gigantic mural that is located in the store.

No matter what kind of service you like to, you will always be able to find something in Eugene, thanks to the services of the Service Learning Program.