BC Alumni Community Service Month - March 2009

Alumni, students, and friends we invite you to participate in Bridgewater College's annual Alumni Community Service Month, during March 2009. As a service volunteer you can provide valuable help to the various agencies as well as build good will by representing the College in various communities.

The Office of Alumni Relations will provide a contact list with some local agencies that alumni can check with about possible opportunities to participate in. We'll also provide contacts for other agencies that have existing opportunities for that day as we become aware of them. If you are aware of any service opportunities that we can add to the list, please let us know and we'll post them. Volunteers will need to contact the agency directly to make arrangements for helping them and to inquire about possible opportunities. Contact some of your alumni friends to volunteer as a group and make it a social gathering. Perhaps you could all go out to eat after your service project or order in pizza!

If there aren't any agencies listed that are near you or you'd like to volunteer with other agencies, we would encourage you to find an opening in your local area. If you have a service opportunity for us to list, please let us know. You can reach the Office of Alumni Relations at 540-828-5451. A few suggestions for you to check with would be things like:

- Local United Way Office
- Soup Kitchens
- Food Pantry
- Salvation Army
- Thrift Stores
- Parks and Recreation Dept.
- Your Local Church

Be sure to call all agencies a few weeks prior to the month of March to make your arrangements as they might need to make special preparations for you to be there. Also, whether you are contacting an agency from the provided list or contacting your own local agency, here are a few important questions to ask:

- What kind of work might you be asked to do?
- Is this an existing project or will they have to create a new one for you?
- What is the maximum number of volunteers the agency can accommodate?
- Are there spots available for you, your family, or your alumni friends?
- Is there, and if so, what is the RSVP deadline (when the agency will need to know that you are committing to come and how many are coming) and who should you contact?
- What clothing would be appropriate to wear?
- Will your agency provide water for you or should you bring your own?
- Any other items that you should bring along?

TELL US HOW IT WENT. If you participate in the Alumni Community Service Month we want to hear about it! Be sure to take a camera along, wear some Bridgewater College gear and get some good action pictures of you performing the volunteer service. The Office of Alumni Relations will have available a limited number of FREE t-shirts for those participating in this project to wear while doing their service project. If you are interested in receiving one, please contact us. Then after you've completed your service, send your photos and your stories to the Office of Alumni Relations at alumnews@bridgewater.edu or College Box 40, Bridgewater, VA 22812.


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

- The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen (2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, VA) is a non-profit organization and during the month of March will have several events that need volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Anita Waters, '78 at 804-261-6213 or email her at marketing@artsglenallen.com