Community Service
To view the Community Service Guidelines, and see a list of approved Community Partners, please click here.
To access the online submission form for Community Service, please click here.
To view or print the Community Service Verification Form, please click here.
Purpose
Community service has its roots deeply embedded in the foundation of Alvernia University and is central to the mission of our Catholic, Franciscan institution. Service provides students the opportunity to use their gifts and talents to help those in need and to support local non‐profit organizations. Additionally, community service is an integral part of students’ learning experiences, contributing to their intellectual, social, and spiritual growth and development and providing a framework for students’ roles as members of both local, regional and global communities.
Holleran Center Sponsored Opportunities
Environmental Activities with Millmont Gateway School
Dates: Friday, May 18, 2012
Place: Angelica Creek Park
Times: 1:00-3:00 PM
Service: Facilitating Environmental Activities for Millmont Gateway 6th grade students
Contact: Alicia Sprow, 610-790-2883 or alicia.sprow@alvernia.edu
Community Partner Opportunities
Kennedy House
Date: Tuesdays Ongoing
Place: 530 Spruce St., Reading
Time: 1:00 – 3:30 PM
Service: 3-4 Volunteers to load and Unload Trucks
Contact: Samantha Erwin (610-376-7144 or samykae@comcast.net)
Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, Inc.
Description: The Literacy Council operates GED Programs for the Berks
County Juvenile Probation Office and also with an I-LEAD Charter
School. Volunteers are needed to assist Individual Students with
Private Tutoring.
Dates: Ongoing Tuesdays and Thursdays
Place: Berks County Juvenile Probation Office, Elm Street Facility
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM
Dates: Ongoing Tuesdays and Thursdays
Place: I-LEAD Charter School
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Contact: Ryan A. Breisch (610-670-9960 or ryan@lcrb.org)
Goggleworks Center for the Arts
Dates: Fridays, May 18; May 25, 2012Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Service: Theatre Assistant
Dates: Saturdays, May19; May 26, 2012
Times: 2:00 – 3:30 PM
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Service: Theatre Assistant
Dates: Sundays, May20; May 27, 2012
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM
Service: Theatre Assistant
Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Service: Assist with Sale of GoggleWorks’ Art for Reading Hospital Event
Volunteer Opportunities for GoggleWorks Summer Art Camps
Dates: June 25 – June 29, 2012
July 2 – July 6, 2012
July 9 – July 13, 2012
July 23 – July 27, 2012
July 30 – August 3, 2012
August 6 – August 10, 2012
Times: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Service: Work as Class Assistants/Interns (One week commitments either Mornings or afternoons or full day schedules available.)
Contact: Cindy Boscov (610-374-4600, Ext. 110 or volunteer@goggleworks.org)
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Description: MDA Summer Camp is a week long, overnight camp where youngsters with disabilities take part in activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, horseback riding, and many other fun social activities. MDA is in need of volunteers to be paired with each camper in order to ensure that campers have as much fun as possible while maintaining health and safety. The campers who will be attending this session are both male and female and range in age from 6 to 21 years of age. Their disabilities may vary. Since the majority of youngsters with muscular dystrophy are boys, there is a great need for male volunteers.
Date: June 9 to June 16, 2012
Place: Variety Club, Worcester, PA (approx. 45 minutes from Allentown)
Service: Volunteer Summer Camp Counselor to assist individuals with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular disorders with daily activities, including pushing wheelchairs or helping a camper with walking, eating, toileting, bathing and dressing.
Contact: Faith McKay-Alicea (610-391-1977 or fmckay@mdausa.org)
Council on Chemical Abuse, Reading
Date: Immediate
Place: Council on Chemical Abuse Library, Sovereign Bank Building, 6th and Penn Avenue, 6th Floor
Time: Monday through Friday, hours available between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM (schedule is flexible)
Service: Assist with mailings, compiling training packets, labeling (Alert: No perfume, cologne or other fragrances should be worn)
Contact: Eileen Piccolo (610-376-8669 or epiccolo@councilonchemicalabuse.org)
Shady Hollow Assisted Riding
Dates: April through October, 2012
Times: 5:00 – 8:00 PM – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
12:00 Noon – 2:30 PM – Saturdays every other week
Description: Shady Hollow provides a supported equine environment where individuals with physical, cognitive and/or emotional disabilities can experience therapeutic, social, and education rewards through riding lessons. This facility is approved by the PA Council on Therapeutic Horsemanship and features a 90+ acre farm with a sheltered arena for year round riding, wheelchair ramp and transfer platform for mounting trails.
Training will be provided. After the training class, volunteers help prepare the horses for lessons and then will either walk beside or lead the horse as the students ride. No prior experience is necessary.
Website: Interested students should contact Shady Hollow by completing the information on this link from their website: http://hugahorse.com/volunteer/volunteer-contact/
Contact: All questions should be e-mailed to Christine Torok, Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@hugahorse.com
Catholic Charities “Neighbors Helping Neighbors”
Description: NHN is part of Catholic Charities’ Services for Older Adults Program. Through this project older adults, those 55+ years old, living in Berks and Southern Schuylkill Counties will be able to receive non-medical in-home services from volunteers. The focus is on providing friendly visitors and chore assistance around the home.
Each volunteer will receive an orientation, training, and on-going support from the Neighbors Helping Neighbors staff. The project will provide flexible schedules for volunteers and will match a volunteer’s availability, location, and interests with an older adult in need of assistance.
Contact: Lauren Favinger (610-376-7144, Ext. 313 or lfavinger@allentowndiocese.org)
For questions about any of the above opportunities, please contact the person listed or contact Judy Bohler, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Holleran Center for Community Engagement at 610-796-5509 or judy.bohler@alvernia.edu
