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

Students, faculty and staff at the State University of New York at New Paltz will dedicate themselves to the local community on Friday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 24 in honor of Make a Difference Day 2010.

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. 22, by collecting donations of new, unused, unopened personal care and cleaning products such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, baby supplies, money, and more for local non-profit organizations. A T-shirt grab sale will also be held with proceeds benefitting the collection drive.

Community members can also make donations. On Sunday, Oct. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., New Paltz students, in collaboration with the Donations of Dignity program, will be collecting new, unused, unopened personal care and cleaning products and 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 Sunday to volunteer. New Paltz faculty, staff and students will work with such local organizations as the New Paltz Youth Program, Queen’s Gallery, The Student Conservation Association, Phillies Bridge Farm and Little Dog Orchard. Patterson said the college will send between five and 20 volunteers to each of at least 8 service sites selected for this year’s program.

The College’s involvement in the event begins with a kickoff breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Student Union, rooms 62-63.

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.