June 25, 2018—Students, faculty and staff at Northwestern Health Sciences University are expected to donate hundreds of hours of service work at 17 locations throughout the Twin Cities region Tuesday June 26 as part of the university’s annual Service & Appreciation Day.
The day of volunteer work and activities is a yearly opportunity for the campus community to give back to the broader Twin Cities community through service work. Classes are canceled for the day so students, faculty and staff can participate. This year, volunteer projects will include: cleaning, yardwork and painting for schools and nonprofit groups; packing meals for low-income people and hungry children; participating in arts and crafts projects with seniors; and making hats and blankets for seriously ill children and adults.
“We teach the next generation of health-care leaders to be leaders in their communities, and this is one way we demonstrate that,” Northwestern President Christopher Cassirer said. “At Northwestern, we live, learn and serve healthy. We look forward to this special day every year to bring our message of health and service to those in need throughout the Twin Cities.”
The day begins at 7:30 a.m. with project leaders welcoming the Northwestern volunteers on campus before they depart to their service assignments. All volunteers also will be treated to a healthy breakfast as well as message about health and nutrition from Chef Marshall O’Brien, the Twin Cities chef known for preparing healthy, delicious meals and teaching the value of nutritious cooking.
Projects for Service & Appreciation Day will take place throughout the metro area, including:
- Knitting hats for chemotherapy patients at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina
- Making fleece blankets for seriously ill and traumatized patients helped by Project Linus in St. Paul
- Hand-packing meals specially formulated for starving children worldwide through Feed My Starving Children in Chanhassen
- Participating in arts and crafts programs with seniors at Presbyterian Homes in the region
- Making toys and blankets for pets being helped by Fur-Ever Home Rescue
- Cleaning, painting and yardwork at a variety of nonprofits and schools
The number of volunteer opportunities, participants and hours of volunteer service donated has remained large every year. For more information, please go to: nwhealth.edu/service-appreciation-day.
Source: Northwestern Health Sciences University
