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. 18 – 19 in honor of Make a Difference Day 2013.

For the ninth consecutive year, the College is taking part in the national day of community service created by USA Weekend. This year, the College’s contributions include a donation drive and a day of volunteering.

“I am excited for the continued success of the Make a Difference Day program,” said Michael Patterson, director of student activities and union services at New Paltz. “We currently have over 250 students registered to volunteer at 14 service sites in the immediate area. This year, we are focusing on having participants reflect on their experiences and contributions. We know that when students are able to reflect on their impact, it encourages making volunteerism a habit.”

The College will kick off Make a Difference Day on Friday, Oct. 18, with a school supplies drive from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Student Union Multipurpose Room on the New Paltz campus. School supplies will also be collected outside of Humanities 105. All proceeds and donations will go to the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie.

Together with millions of others across the county, the College’s participants will head out to a number of service sites to volunteer on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. New Paltz faculty, staff, and students will work with local organizations including: the New Paltz Child Care Center, Village of New Paltz, YMCA Kingston, Mohonk Preserve, Rosendale Theatre, Queen’s Gallery, Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie, Youth Mission Outreach, Town of New Paltz, New Paltz Youth Program, NYSDEC, Kingston Adams, and GLSEN. Patterson said the College will send between 5-20 volunteers to each of the 14 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 this program contact the Office of Student Activities and Union Services at (845) 257-3025.