By Ryan Kryska
GCU News Bureau
Don’t let the heat be a deterrent -- the community needs help now more than ever.
Grand Canyon University's Serve the Summer list of volunteer opportunities has it all, including ways to help children and those stuck in the heat.
GCU Day, July 23, will be a great time to get in on the action at Back To School Clothing Drive's New Clothes, New Beginnings annual distribution event held in the Arena. Employees bring a sea of purple and the spirit of social purpose as they help prepare children for their first day of school. The goal is to send them back to classrooms with confidence and a positive self-image.
To help cool people down, the University is working with the Salvation Army to pass out water on days when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory.
Also on the summer list are great opportunities for team building. From 4 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays, St. Vincent de Paul needs volunteers at its Dream Center, where teams of employees can lead group activities to tutor children.
The Dream center is just one of 12 activities on the 2018 Serve the Summer list. Here’s a snapshot of a few opportunities:
- Back To School Clothing Drive: This opportunity will help children look their best on the first day of school. Up to 2,000 volunteers are needed July 21-27 to prep the distribution of new clothes, backpacks and other school supplies for children in need. Contact Suzanne Kramer at 602-432-2123 or [email protected] to help out.
- St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance: The alliance is offering morning and afternoon sessions Tuesday-Friday to pack food boxes and distribute them. Five to 100 peopled are needed. Contact Jennifer Gonzales can be reached at 602-343-3128 or [email protected].
- Junior Achievement: This organization will be hosting two community service opportunities. The first, Kit Rebuild, needs 16-20 people to sort through old classroom items and prepare “new” kits. This event runs June 4-23. The next one, Town Refresh, will provide the chance to help clean and prep JA BizTown for the new school year. Town Refresh will run July 10, 12, 18 and 20, and up to 21 volunteers are needed. Contact Sandra Villarreal for either event, 480-219-0232, or [email protected].
- Click here to see the full list of volunteer opportunities.
