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. 19 – 20 in honor of Make a Difference Day 2012.

For the eighth 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. 19, with a canned goods drive and a t-shirt grab sale from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Student Union Multipurpose Room. Canned goods will also be collected outside of Humanities 105. All proceeds and donations will go to local Ulster County charities, agencies, and service centers.

Together with millions of others across the country, the college’s participants will head out to a number of service sites to volunteer on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. New Paltz faculty, staff and students will work with such local organizations as the New Paltz Youth Program, Queen’s Galley, Boys & Girls Club of Kingston, New Paltz Recycling and ReUse Center, and Ulster/Green ARC Joalyn House. Patterson said the college will send between five and 20 volunteers to each of at least twelve service sites selected for this year’s program.

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.