National Volunteer Week!

This week is National Volunteer Week and our member campuses have put together a variety of events to support this National Service Initiative. The National Volunteer Week initiative, which is sponsored by the Points of Light Institute and the Hands on Network, was first celebrated in 1974 and has grown exponentially since its inception.  Its mission according to its sponsors is as follows:


National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, 2012 is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It’s about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. National Volunteer Week is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change—discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation (nationalserviceresources.org/calendars; 2012).


Check out what is taking place around the state in celebration of this inspiring National Service Initiative:


Dawson Community College (Glendive, MT)
Event: Makoshika Clean Up: Volunteers from the local community are being put to work at Makoshika State Park to help out with a number of projects that Montana Conservation Corps members began last fall including creating 2 bridges, working on trail delineaton for the Blue Bird hiking trail, and installing signs for the FOLF course.
When: April 14th, 2012
Where: Makoshika State Park
Contact: Jacob Kilgore (volunteer@dawson.edu/406-377-9460)


Montana State University (Bozeman, MT)
Event: Service Day at Community Cafe : Volunteers from the Campus Corps programs at UM-W and MSU spent the morning volunteering at the new Food Bank venue "Community Cafe" which will be serving hot meals daily to local Bozeman residents in need. The group participated in some much needed groundswork as well as a general cleaning of the space in preparation for its grand opening.
When: April 15th, 2012
Where: Community Cafe, Bozeman, MT
Contact: Alex Black (teamleader@montana.edu/ 406-994-7571)


MSU-Billings (Billings, MT)
Event: National Volunteer Week Apprreciation & Recognition Party- The MSU-B Office for Community Involvement is hosting an outdoor celebration to honor and appreciate their student volunteers that have worked so hard this year. The event will provide snacks and entertainment in the form of a live performance by singer/songwriter James Hersch. The event will be going on all afternoon and volunteers are welcome to stop by at any time !
When: April 19th, 2012 
Where:  MSU-Billings Campus, 1500 University Dr. Billings, MT 59101

Contact: Hazel Todd (hazel.todd@msubillings.edu/ 406-896-5817)

MSU - Western (Dillon, MT)

Event: The Walking School Bus - High School students associated with Montana Behavioral Initiative will be joining the bus to provide mentorship to the elementary and middle school walkers.

When & Where:  April 16th, 18th, & 20th.  Route #1 begins @ 7:25am on the corner of Dillon and South Dakota streets. Route #2 begins @ 7:30am on the corner of Noble Avenue and Sunrise St.

Additional Info:   Volunteers walking students to school should dress appropriately for weather and expect a 30 minute walk outdoors

Contact: Cheyanne Marcy (campuscorps@umwestern.edu/406-683-7202)

Montana Tech of the UM (Butte, MT)

Event: Donate Life Month Drive: In conjunction with Donate Life Month the Campus Corps team at M-Tech will be setting up a table in the Student Union Building where students and campus faculty and staff can go to learn more about Organ Donation and will be able to register as donors using their on-site the laptop computers.

When: April 16th-23rd

Where: Montana Tech Student Union Building: 1300 W Park St.

Contact: Sean Cochrane (SCochrane@mtech.edu/406-496-4692)

Rocky Mountain College / MSU-B (Billings, MT)

Event: Can-struction Competition:  The Canstruction Competition challenges the areas best builders and architects teams to use their expertise and creativity to create structures completely out of canned goods that will then be donated to Family Services, Inc. of Billings. 

When: April 15th, 2012
Where: Rimrock Mall, Billings, MT

Contact: Jill Washburn (campuscorps@rocky.edu/ 406-238-7394)

University of Montana (Missoula, MT)
Event: Annual Run for the Trees: Campus Corps volunteered their time to help set up for this 5k fundraiser for Missoula Parks & Recreation.
When: April 14th, 2012
Where: McCormick Park, downtown Missoula

Contact: Shanna Ungate (shanna.ungate@mso.umt.edu/406-243-5531)