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Central Service Spotlight--January 24-30

Nicole Doherty - Monday, January 24, 2022
 Events   Service 
central service spotlight cover photo

There are so many opportunities to get invovled in Communtiy Engagement and the local OKC/Edmond area through service this semester.

Check out what is going on both on campus and in the OKC and Edmond Communities below! Don't see what you are looking for in these opportunities? Come see us in the Community Engagement office (NUC 141) and we will help get you connected to a Community Partner or local opportunity. 


For any questions, please reach out to Community Enagement Director, Nicole Doherty at ndoherty@uco.edu

Follow us on Instagram @uco_ce to keep up with our events and programming!

Upcoming Community Engagement Involvement Opportunities
 

Alternative Spring Break Applications OPEN!

Alternative Spring Break Applications are now open and due on Monday, January 31st! Alternative Spring Break Alternative Spring Break trips provide a weeklong immersive experience surrounding a social issue. These issues are based on the location of the trip or on the community agency with which we are partnered.

Description: This trip will take us to Camp Summit, an adventure camp providing a barrier-free outdoor experience that promotes personal growth and fosters independence for children and adults with disabilities. Camp Summit's campers may be physically challenged, developmentally delayed, dual-sensory impaired, or have multiple disabilities. They welcome all campers, regardless of the severity of their disabilities or their ability to pay for camp. During this week, we will serve along the staff of Camp Summit and work directly with campers during their week at Spring Break Camp. This is an intensive and immersive experience as we will serve as caretakers for campers to help provide them with a full, memorable, and barrier-free week at adventure camp!

Time Requirements for Participation: To participate in this Alternative Spring break experience, you must have the following dates available.  All participants are required to be at all training sessions and the entirely of the spring break trip.

Sunday, February 20th | 1:00-3:00pm | ASB Education Session
Sunday, February 27th | 1:00-3:00pm | ASB Orientation Session
Sunday, March 6th | 1:00-3:00pm | ASB Skill Training Session
Saturday, March 12th-Saturday, March 19th | Alternative Spring Break


Interested in applying?  Applications can be found at: https://cglink.me/2cG/s61847

On-Campus Service Opportunities

Big Event Volunteer and Team Leaders
Help say "Thank You" to the Edmond and OKC Metro area with Big Event! The 20th Annual Big Event is just around the corner on Saturday, April 2nd. Registration is now open to be a Big Event Team Leader or Volunteer!

Team Leader Registration: https://cglink.me/2cG/s61414
Due February 28th at 11:59pm

Volunteer Registration: https://cglink.me/2cG/s61415
Due March 11th at 11:59pm

Questions? Email bigevent@uco.edu


Black Girl Magic Volunteers

UCO Black Girl Magic Celebration is looking for volunteers!! Black Girl Magic is an annual celebration that encourages unity among African American women while fostering and empowering a sense of self in all ladies that participate.

This year, the Black Girl Magic Celebration will be held Thursday, February 3, 2022 from 10:00am-1:00pm in the NUC Ballrooms.

Sign up to volunteer here! For questions, email Gigi Jones at jjones179@uco.edu. ÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïÔÇïÔÇï

If your office or organization has upcoming student volunteer opportunities, please send the information to volunteer@uco.edu to have it included in our weekly emails.

Community Partner Service Opportunities

Palomar Family Justice System Camp HOPE Mentor
Camp HOPE is an evidence based camping program for youth ages 7-17 exposed to family violence held during the summer. To help the camp run, Palomar is looking for mentors for these children while theya re at Camp HOPE. Mentors are ages 18-24 and have a passion for working with children with trauma.

For more information or to apply please reach out to Kid's HOPE Coordinator Lindsey Cardone at lindsey.cardone@palomarokc.org.


Friends of the Metropolitan Library Booksale

The annual Friends of the Metropolitan Library Booksale will be held this year from Febraury 19-28 at the OKC Fairgrounds. Over 800 volunteers are needed during this time to help make the event possible!

Sign up for a volunteer shift at: https://ec.samaritan.com/custom/1532/index.php

Questions? Email friends@metrolibrary.org or call 405-606-3763


Humanity Hospice Volunteer Opportuntiies
Volunteering with Humanity Hospice is a wonderful way to give back to the community, increase preference points for college, future employment and much more. There are many ways to volunteer at Humanity Hospice. Each area of service is equally important and all of them help us to achieve our goal of providing the best care possible for our patients and their loved ones. 

Opportunities include but are not limited to the following:

Administrative:  This can be done between normal business hours; Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm. Tasks include helping with various office duties such as phones, filing, faxing, and putting together packets.

Events:  These hours vary in days and times. Tasks include things like hosting Bingo at a facility, helping Marketers with various events and luncheons, dropping off gifts to patients, physicians and facilities, putting together crafts and gift baskets as well as other types of marketing needs. 

Patient Care:  Humanity Hospice serves patients in numerous areas across the state both in homes and facilities. Volunteers who serve by visiting with patients and families may do so on days and times of their choosing. Patient care volunteers are there to provide emotional support through human contact. No administering of medications, medical interventions, hygiene services and so forth are done by volunteers. Simple companionship is all that is needed. 

This is just a few of the many things volunteers at Humanity Hospice can do. Others include music therapy, serving our veterans and so forth. Hospice volunteering changes so many lives with just a few moments of time.

For more information, contact Kerri Wells, Volunteer Coordinator at kerri@humanityhospice.com


deadCenter Film Festival Volunteers
Volunteer for the 2022 Oscar-qualifying deadCenter Film Festival!

Volunteering with us will give you perks that are out-of-this-world and the opportunity to meet creatives in the film industry.

Volunteer perks may include Festival Passes, Film/Event Tickets, Meals and snacks from a local eatery, dCFF Volunteer T-shirt + Merch, Networking Opportunities, and Behind the Scenes Access.

All ages are welcome. You must be 21+ for alcohol-sponsored events. A current negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination to volunteer or attend the festival.

The 2022 deadCenter Film Festival will take place from June 9-12 in Oklahoma City, OK. Follow deadCenter Film or subscribe to our newsletters for the latest event updates.

To register as a volunteer, go to

https://forms.monday.com/forms/ea1cdf70763c2b87e97a6e69cad32d1d?r=use1


Association of Central Oklahoma Governments
ACOG needs volunteers to help with bike and pedestrian counts along roads and trails in the OKC area. A volunteer will be assigned to an area and count/record the number of bike riders and pedestrians within a certain time frame.

To view and sign up for specific times and dates, please visit
ACOG’s blog.

The Arc of Oklahoma
The Arc of Oklahoma is looking for volunteers to become Oklahoma Advocates Involved in Monitoring (AIM Monitor). Volunteers will be trained to become monitors that visit individuals living in the community with developmental/intellectual disabilities receiving state services. Volunteers will conduct 30 minute home visits scheduled at the volunteer's convenience. Currently these visits are taking place virtually. Training and support are provided! Visit thearcok.org to request an application or call 918-582-8272. For any questions please reach out to Stacey Figueroa at sfigueroa@arcok.org


Coffee Creek Riding Center 
Creek Riding Center offers free therapeutic riding opportunities to disabled children ages 3 - 11 years! The riding center needs volunteers for mid-day and after school classes. Volunteers can  sign up to volunteer for a once a week volunteer opportunity for the duration of the semester. The time commitment is 1 or 1 1/2 hours a week. 


For more information visit their website is coffeecreek.org or contact Joy Milligan at coffeecreekriding@sbcglobal.net

Edmond Mobile Meals
Edmond Mobile Meals needs volunteers for meal delivery to Homebound Seniors. Meals are delivered Monday - Friday between 10:30am-12:30pm. Volunteers pick up meals and deliver a route to homebound seniors in Edmond.

Visit https://edmondmobilemeals.org/volunteer/ to sign up to volunteer. For any questions please reach out to Cristi Twenter at cristi@edmondmobilemeals.org 


Educational Guardians
An Ed GAL is a volunteer educational advocate appointed by the Juvenile Court in Oklahoma County with a court order for the best educational interest of a child/youth who is in DHS custody.  Ed GALs have access to educational records and are mentors to the child/youth assisting in removing barriers to a successful school experience and accessing community services for academic success.  This program has been in existence for 3 years with OLFC. Ed GALs receive specialized training to prepare to serve as educational advocates.   

To learn more about volunteering as an Ed GAL, email Scott Kaufman with Oklahoma Lawyers for Children at skaufman@olfc.org.


The Fountains at Canterbury
The Fountains at Canterbury located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is a retirement community offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing. Volunteer opportunities are offered throughout the community to compliment and boost thier activity calendar. All volunteers are required to have had the COVID vaccine.

Volunteer Opportunities:Calling Bingo, Pet Therapy, Music Therapy, Leading a class in a wide range of topics: technology, arts, music, cooking, cultural, travel, history, pop culture. 

To share a skill, interest or hobbies with our residents-all of our residents enjoy music, theatre and dance!

They are having a Great Gatsby themed week in November from the 15th to the 21st, if there are any programs interested in supporting this.

For more information or to sign up for any of these events Please contact Lorna Deaton at lornardeaton@watermarkcommunities or call Lorn at 405.476.2195.

FreedomCity

Freedom City is looking for homework helpers, math buddies, pen pals, reading buddies, and more! For any questions please reach out to Contact Alexia Converse, our mentoring coordinator for more information: alexia@freedomcityokc.com or Contact Lena Lawson, our reading and math buddies coordinator, for more information: lena@freedomcityokc.com or visit freedomcityokc.galaxydigital.com


Scissortail Park Farmer's Market
Horticulture Heroes
Our Horticultural staff is short-handed and desperately needs assistance with weeding.  Summer weed control can be a huge challenge and it is difficult to keep our Park beautiful and weed-free.  Volunteers are enormous help and greatly appreciated! 

If interested in assisting our staff weed the grounds, please go to https://scissortailpark.galaxydigital.com/ to sign-up for Horticultural Heroes or email volunteer@scissortailpark.org. 


Creative Music Academy
Creative Music Academy is looking for any musicians that are interested in volunteering or interning in their music school. This non-profit music school that supports students in vitual or homeschool learning by teaching music lessons.

To learn more, contact Ann Booze at creativemusicacademyinc@gmail.com.


Traditions Health Edmond Hospice Volunteer
Traditions Health is seeking individuals to volunteer to spend time with a patient, provide help to a caregiver or assist with activities in a facility. If you have a desire to be of service to those in hospice care, we have a desire for you to be a part of our hospice team as a volunteer! 
A current driver's license and automobile insurance verification are required. There will be a background check and fingerprinting done.

Please contact Susan Lide, Volunteer Coordinator at 405-936-9433 or susan.lide@traditionshealth.com.

Upward Transitions
Travelers Aid Booth Volunteers at Will Rogers Airport

Do you like working with the public and helping people? Travelers Aid information booth friendly volunteers do that and more at Will Rogers World Airport. In addition to answering the telephone and assisting visitors with paging services, airport information & directions in & around the metro OKC area, Travelers Aid Volunteers act as ambassadors of the airport and the city of Oklahoma City.
Upward Transitions operates the information booths at Will Rogers World Airport and they need volunteers to work a reoccurring weekly four hour shift! Volunteer schedules are flexible. 

For more information or to sign up, contact Crystal Levine, Travelers Aid Volunteer Coordinator, at 405-232-5507 Ext. 107 or clevine@upwardtransitions.org or visit their website.

Good Shepard Hospice Volunteer Opportunities
Medical Office Administrative Volunteers
Do you enjoy organizing, computer work, and working on special projects? Do you have a desire to help others? Become an Administrative Assistant Volunteer for Good Shepher Hospice! As a hospice office volunteer you will assist our staff in so many significant and meaningful ways. Office Volunteers are very important in helping our patients and families. 

Patient Care Volunteers
Do you want to look back over your life and feel a sense of pride? Do you desire to accomplish meaningful, worthwhile activity as long as you are able? Do you have a desire to help others? Become involved as a Patient Care Volunteer for Good Shepherd Hospice! Patient Care Volunteers are significant helpers for our terminally-ill patients and their families in their time of need. Patient Care Volunteers visit their assigned patient one hour a week to provide companionship, emotional comfort and family support. 

Please visit our website at: www.goodshepherdhopice.com or contact Christa Cook, Volunteer Coordinator at 405-943-0903 or christa.cook@goodshepherdhospice.com


The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army needs volunteers to sort and stock their food pantry on Fridays from 8:30am-12pm.


For more information and to sign up, contact Liz Banks at liz.banks@uss.salvationarmy.org or call 405-246-1107.

Freedom City OKC

Freedom City OKC's mission is to remove barriers and provide support for students and families in Oklahoma City to reach their potential through education and exposure. They work towards this mission through mentor programs for school aged children in OKC. Their programs include:

Freedom Girls
We help girls at F.D. Moon Middle School (5th-8th grades) find and use their voice to impact their community. During the program, the girls are exposed to different art forms, such as art, dance, music, makeup, and poetry, and then they are challenged to create a community impact project using those art forms. 

We strive to ensure girls know they have the ability to change their community even at a young age.

Afterschool Program
The goal of the Afterschool Program is to help students in 1st-8th grades @ Thelma Parks Elementary, Martin Luther King Elementary, and F.D. Moon Middle Schools improve their reading, math, and writing skills. We use project based learning to make learning fun while exposing the students to different careers and extracurricular activities. 

We also use assessments and other evaluation methods to measure the students' growth and provide individualized attention. 


In-School Program
94% of students in northeast Oklahoma City failed the state reading and math exams. Therefore, we employ volunteers to work one-on-one with the 5th-8th grade students at F.D. Moon Middle School during their lunch and study hall to improve their reading, math and writing skills, and serve as mentors. 

To learn more about Freedom City OKC's's volunteer opportuntiies, visit: https://www.freedomcityokc.com/

Big Event Team Leaders

Register by February 28th to be a Big Event Team Leader for the 20th Annual Big Event!

 

Logging Your Service Hours

Don't forget to log the service hours you are completing on- and off-campus this semester. To learn more about service hours, check out UCO's Service Hour Guidelines.

Central Pantry Client Form

The 2021-2022 Central Pantry Client Form is now available!  Fill out yours today to start using the Central Pantry!  

Big Event Volunteers

Register today to volunteer for the 20th Annual Big Event!

 

Alternative Spring Break Applications

Alternative Spring Break applications are now open! Click here to learn more and for the application?

Student Parent Lunch & Learn

The next Student Parent Lunch and Learn will be on Thursday, February 24th from 12-1pm. Registration opens soon!

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