Published: 09/16/2019
GIVE Day: Gannon's Invitation to Serve Everywhere
More than 1,000 Gannon University volunteers will serve local and national communities through Gannon’s Invitation to Volunteer Everywhere Day this Saturday, Sept. 21. A record number of 103 Ruskin campus volunteers are included in these efforts.
Gannon students, employees, alumni and families will report to 29 service sites in Erie, Pa. and Ruskin, Fla. and two alumni sites in Chicago and Harrisburg during Gannon’s 22nd annual GIVE Day.
GIVE Day will take place at Erie locations such as the Sisters of St. Joseph and Our West Bayfront neighborhoods, the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park, and the Erie Art Museum.
GIVE Day is also scheduled to coincide with International Coastal Clean-Up, a worldwide effort to clean coastal shores of debris. Erie volunteers will gather at Presque Isle State Park and the Erie Bluffs State Park to participate in this initiative.
“We are excited to once again partner closely with the Our West Bayfront for a variety of projects in our very own neighborhood, as well as long-standing partners across the area,” said Program Coordinator for Gannon’s Center for Social Concerns, Sara Nesbitt.
Nesbitt said project types are determined by community partners and what they envision will best meet community needs. According to Nesbitt, these projects can range from building a house to picking up trash.
“Volunteers have the opportunity to spend time renewing friendships with their group members and create connections with community partners. Community partners have the chance to [complete] projects, get large numbers of volunteers at one time, and feel supported,” Nesbitt said.
GIVE Day will begin with a rally at 8 a.m. in Gannon’s Hammermill Center, 620 Peach St. Volunteers will be at their service sites across the city from 9 a.m. to noon.
Among the most notable projects :
Our West Bayfront:
Volunteers will be grouped and sent to multiple sites in the OWB neighborhood. Activities will include demolition and cleaning of pocket parks and the surrounding neighborhood in an effort to make our community a place of excellence.
Strong Vincent Spruce-Up:
Volunteers will paint, clean and organize Strong Vincent Middle School to improve the learning environment for enrolled students.
For more information on these or any of the additional GIVE Day projects, please contact Sara Nesbitt at 856-701-1109.