College to strengthen commitment to community service on Make a Difference Day

NEW PALTZ – Students, faculty and staff at the State University of New York at New Paltz will dedicate themselves to the local community on Oct. 23 and 24 in honor of Make a Difference Day 2009.

For the sixth consecutive year, the college is taking part in the national day of community service created by USA Weekend. This year, the college’s contribution includes a donation drive and a day of volunteering.

“Our participation in Make a Difference Day is dedicated to promoting a spirit of service on campus,” said Michael Patterson, director of Student Activities and Union Services at New Paltz. “The program gives our students the opportunity to be inspired to continue their service experiences past one particular day.”

The college will kick off Make a Difference Day on Friday, Oct. 23, by collecting donations of baby supplies, clothes, money, non-perishable food items and more for such local non-profit organizations as Family of New Paltz and The Queen’s Galley.

Community members can also make donations. On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., New Paltz students will be collecting non-perishable food items and cash donations at Stop n’ Shop and ShopRite on Route 299 in New Paltz.

Together with millions of others across the county, the college’s participants will head out to a number of service sites on Saturday to volunteer. New Paltz faculty, staff and students will work with such local organizations as the New Paltz Youth Program, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Village View for Seniors and the New Paltz Fire Department. Patterson said the college will send between five and 20 volunteers to each of the more than 11 service sites selected for this year’s program.

The college’s involvement in the event will conclude with a reflection dinner on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union, room 100. Participants may attend to talk about their experiences.

Last year, college students, faculty and staff made 503 emergency food packs for the elderly, 158 nursing home cards, and collected more that $2,500 worth of food.

Make a Difference Day at New Paltz is sponsored by the Office of Student Activities and Union Services at SUNY New Paltz, Campus Auxiliary Services and Sodexo.

For more information about the event, contact the Office of Student Activities and Union Services at (845) 257-3025.