Community Service
Off-Campus
Strides for SPARC 5K Walk/Run
SPARC, or Southeastern Pennsylvania Autism Resource Center, held a 5K walk/run on Sunday April 27, 2014 at West Chester University. The 10 volunteers were placed throughout the Ehinger Gymnasium at different stations such as art, cupcake decorating, and food station to attend to the needs of those who came to participate in activities after the race.
Date: April 27, 2014
Time: 9:30am-12:00pm
Members: 10
Total Hours:2.5
Community Service in Denver
At the National Education Association Conference in Denver, Colorado, four members participated in a a beautification project at a school in need. These volunteers repainted the walls of the two classrooms and created a more appealing and welcoming environment for both students and teachers as a part of Outreach to Teach.
Members: 4
Hours: 6
Pumpkin Painting at West Chester Area Daycare
On October 17th. 2014, 11 members of the EGP SIG assisted with painting pumpkins with children ages 4-5 at the West Chester Area Day Care. These 11 members interacted with the children and assisted them in designing a spooky pumpkin for them to take home.
Date: October 17, 2015
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Members: 11
Total Hours: 2
Ronald Mcdonald House*
Our organization is active at the Ronald McDonald House in Wilmington, DE and Philadelphia, PA. At this event, Student PSEA members provided dinner for the families at the Ronald McDonald House in Wilmington, DE. They provided a meal of various kinds of pasta, and chicken, along with salads and some desserts. The students were able to interact with the families and spend some time with the children as well. Student PSEA members received a tour at the end of the event.
Date: October 19, 2014
Time: 5:00pm-8:00pm
Members: 5
Total Hours: 3
SPARC Trick or Treat
Five members of the Special Education SIG participated in the SPARC Trick-or-Treat Event. These members helped children to enjoy a low sensory halloween by making halloween themed crafts, playing games, and have an overall enjoyable and relaxing halloween. In the spirit of Halloween, members also handed out candy to the children.
Date: October 25, 2014
Time:3:00pm-6:00pm
Members: 5
Total Hours: 3
Halloween Parade at West Chester Area Daycare
On Halloween, five of our members, along with Kappa Delta Pi, assisted at the West Chester Area Daycare Halloween Parade. At this event, each volunteer was assigned to a different classroom in the daycare. Members helped the teachers dress the children in their costumes as well as keep the children entertained while waiting for the parade to begin. The five volunteers helped to lead, walk, or carry the children through the playground and through the parade up and down the side walk around the school.
Date: October 31, 2014
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Members: 5
Hours: 2
Community Service Events at the Friends Association
In general, the Friends Association has a temporary shelter for 6 homeless family that gives each family an individual apartment so they can stay together. The organization also helps with financial support, finding jobs for parents, and helping children with schoolwork in general. The once a month family nights are for all families in the shelter with their children as well as all families involved in the homelessness prevention network.
Line Dancing Event
SPSEA members interacted with children between the ages of 10 and 16 and led them through various line dancing such as the Macarena and Hokey Pokey.
Date: November 12th, 2014
Members: 6
Hours: 1.5 Hours
Gingerbread House Making Event
SPSEA members helped children from 3 to 10 years old to assemble and decorate gingerbread houses and participate in a gingerbread house making contest.
Date: December 12th, 2014
Members: 5
Hours: 1.5 Hours
Board Game Night
Volunteers completed puzzles as well as played connect 4, jenga, Frozen chutes and ladders, and operations with children between the ages of 3 and 15.
Date: February 11th, 2015
Members: 7
Hours: 1.75 Hours
* Denotes activity in conjunction with one or more APEX Rubric guidelines
New Directions After-School Care Program*
New Directions After-School Program is a free academic skill building and recreational program offered by the Charles A. Melton Arts & Education Center. New Directions trains Academic Coaches (tutors) to help elementary and middle grades children practice academic skills through homework assistance and tutoring. Our Academic Coaches work one-on-one with our 26 students, ranging from K-7 grade, on homework and social and emotional growth.
Our SPSEA members have made long term commitments to serving this community.
Date: Ongoing, September-April
Time:
Members: 7
Hours: Over 300 hours
America Reads*
"America Reads was started by the Clinton administration in 1996 as a national literacy campaign. The program aims to recruit 'one million volunteer reading tutors ready and able to give children the personal attention they need to catch up and get ahead.'"
West Chester University runs six different sites in the West Chester Area that work with the America Reads Program. These sites serve hundreds of children from infants to high school aged students promoting core subjects and encouraging children to READ! PSEA has members at several of these sites including the YMCA Oscar Lasko Youth Program Center and the Charles A. Melton Arts & Education Center.
Date: Ongoing, September-April
Members: 7
Hours: Over 300 hours
Breakfast with Santa
Our members have a tradition of volunteering at West Chester Area Daycare, a local early childhood education center. At this event, volunteers prepared on Friday evening before the event by setting up tables, cleaning, and organizing activities.
On Saturday morning, Student Volunteers and our Advisor arrived at 8:00am to continue setting up and preparing for the event. There was a pancake and sausage breakfast, cookie decorating station, photo opportunity with santa, as well as a station to design an ornament.
SPSEA members prepared and served food, cared for children and family members, as well as operated the stations in a cooperative manner.
Date: December 12 and 13, 2015
Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm, 8:30am-12:00pm
Members: 17
Hours: 5.5
Ronald McDonald House
3/31/15
On March 31st, 2015, five of our members traveled to the Ronald McDonald House in Wilmington, DE. Members prepared a taco feast for the residents and their families in addition to socializing and greeting the residents.
Date: March 31, 2015
Time: 5:00-7:00pm
Members: 5
Hours: 2
Babysitting Night at Starkweather Elementary School
In January, 10 volunteers assisted with babysitting children while local parents attented a presentation. The children ranged in age from 2-8 years old. SPSEA members and the children played games such as where the warm wind blows and octopus tag. The children were also permitted to have free play time with hula hoops, jump ropes, balls, scooters, and coloring. Fun was had by all in attendance.
Date: January 28th, 2015
Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Members: 10
Hours: 2