Day of Service inspires student charity, creativity around campus

Current and former students gathered in three on-campus locations to create items out of water bottles, yarn, felt and other materials for charity at the fourth annual Day of Service on Saturday afternoon. 

Some crafts at the stations included making fabric dog toys for the Puppy Raisers of the University of Delaware dogs by knotting colored felt, creating friendship bracelets of string and beads for underprivileged children and writing cards decorated with markers, foam cut-outs and construction paper to send to troops overseas. 

Three hubs were located on Laird Turf, Harrington Beach Turf and Rodney Tennis courts, each with several stations where students could volunteer their time and artistic ability. 

George Read Resident Assistant and student alumni ambassador Ian Guthoff  said the Day of Service included various activities for the student volunteers to choose from.

“We had students at all stations rotating around,” Guthoff said. “Every table has its own individual service partner, so I would guess there are at least half a dozen stations.” 

Each hub had a craft station dedicated to reusing water bottles. Students at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware decorated the bottle with pre-cut pieces of construction paper to make piggy banks. Volunteers at the station devoted to White Clay Creek State Park made planters out of empty water bottles.

According to Rebecca Krylow, complex coordinator of Central Campus in the Office of Residence Life, each complex chooses its own service partner before the year begins and does service projects throughout the year to benefit the organizations. The Day of Service was an expansion of that concept, she said. 

“It was part of a strategic plan for campus wide service involvement,” Krylow said. 

The Rodney complex’s service partner is the Emmaus House, a shelter and service center for families near destitution. At the Day of Service, each location had a table set up to assist their service partners. 

Freshman Christi Cipollini said she volunteered by making coloring books at the Rodney hub. She said she was excited to go off campus to the Emmaus House site in the future. 

“They told us we just play with the kids and try to keep their mind off things because we are working with families who are struggling,” Cipollini said.

Although the Day of Service has become a tradition on campus, this is the first year it was extended beyond campus to the alumni. Several alumni clubs participated in their local areas across the country. Some alumni also attended the campus hubs. 

Cindy Campanella, assistant vice president of Alumni Relations, said it is important that alumni have opportunities to engage with current students as well as other alumni. 

“It helps to get students thinking beyond just their time here,” Campanella said. 

According to Campanella, by encouraging alumni to join the university’s Day of Service, students can see that service extends beyond their time at the university and that giving back to the community is a practice they can expect to continue in the future if they choose.