Dear Penn Community;
Because we strive to be good neighbors, we share the following list of community service opportunities. If you would like to volunteer for any of the following programs, please let me know via e-mail (sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu).

--Isabel Mapp, Associate Director, Faculty, Staff and Alumni Volunteer Services Director, Penn Volunteers In Public Service,
Center for Community Partnerships

Philadelphia Cares Day: "Are you interested in making Philadelphia's public schools a better place for children? Join the Penn team for Philadelphia Cares Day. On Saturday, October 5, a team of volunteers will work together to beautify Philadelphia public schools. 10,000 volunteers will meet and head out to 100 schools to paint murals and hallways, landscape school yards, whitewash graffiti, and more.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer: A group of us are participating in the American Cancer Society's, Making Strides 5 Mile Walk to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. The event is on Sunday, October 13, starting at 8:30 a.m. on the steps of the Art Museum.

Mentors, Mentors, Mentors needed for the Penn's WorkPlace Mentoring Program in its 8th year of operation. Volunteer to mentor an 8th grade middle school student one day a month. Students come to campus the third Thursday of the month at 9 a.m. from October-May. They participate in a group program and then visit with their individual mentor in the mentor's workplace. Students depart campus around 1:30 p.m. Each mentor receives training and support.

Computers Needed: Is your department upgrading its computers? Would you like to donate your used computers to a worthy cause? The Center for Community Partnerships and a group of volunteers are working to provide computers to West Philadelphia schools, families and nonprofit agencies.

Help Deliver Food. The Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) provides hunger relief to low-income Jewish families though its food distribution program. Each month, volunteers meet at a central warehouse location to package non-perishable food and then deliver the food into the homes of client families. Distributions take place one Sunday each month at the Floors USA warehouse in Northeast Philadelphia (located on Haldeman Avenue and Roosevelt Blvd).

SquashSmarts Needs You! SquashSmarts is a Philadelphia youth enrichment program that combines the game of squash with academic tutoring and mentoring of middle school students. Squash serves as the hook that pulls students into the program. Students attend practice two afternoons per week--1 hour 15 minutes of squash followed by 1 hour 15 minutes of tutoring-- and then two hours on Saturday mornings for squash play only. The 3-days per week schedule continues through the school year. Each team member benefits from one-to-one tutoring with college students and adult volunteers as well as one-to-one mentoring with college student athletes. This personal attention, tailored to each student's needs over the course of a three-year-long commitment to the program, is what makes SquashSmarts so unique.

  Almanac, Vol. 49, No. 6, October 1, 2002