March Volunteer Opportunities

Dear Penn Community,

Each month, Penn Volunteers In Public Service posts a list of volunteer opportunities. These opportunities are developed from the many requests we receive for partnerships and assistance from the local community.

The University community continues to work towards being good neighbors in our shared community. We thank you for your overwhelming support and for your generosity.

We are in the process of tallying the Penn VIPS Change Drive to benefit the Tsunami victims.  We will report on the sum collected in April. For more information about the programs listed below contact Isabel Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or send an e-mail to sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu.

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

Books through Bars: Donate books March 1 through March 18. “Books through Bars” is a West Philadelphia-based organization that provides quality reading material to inmates in prisons throughout the United States. The need for books is growing: the organization receives more than 1,200 inmate letters requesting books each month. We are collecting the following types of books:  dictionaries, reference books, GED and ESL workbooks, highschool textbooks (not too old), African and Mexican American studies and Spanish language textbooks and novels, vocational training books, recovery, yoga, meditation and religion books, criminal law books, how-to art books, history books, fiction including westerns and mysteries, are all good. Paperbacks are much preferred. Books through Bars always needs volunteers to help select and pack books to match inmates’ written requests.  Visit the website, www.booksthroughbars.org/ for additional information. During the month of March, bring in used books, in good condition, to one of two Penn drop off sites: Penn Museum, Kress Entrance, 3260 South Street, or 133 South 36th Street, Room 507. For additional information e-mail Pam Kosty at pkosty@sas.upenn.edu.

Join the Penn VIPS Scholarship Committee: Help plan the 11th Annual Penn VIPS Scholarship Program where we select and honor outstanding students from Bartram, Parkway, Overbrook, University City and West Philadelphia high schools. Planning is underway for the June 2005 program. Join us for this cause.

Health Professional Volunteers Needed: The Penn Alexander Community School is seeking health professionals who would like to share their expertise with the West Philadelphia community in the form of lectures and/or workshops, starting February and ending June 2005. One-time lectures and multi-week sessions can be held Monday through Thursdays, between the hours of 6:30 and 8 p.m. The goal of these presentations is to promote health and well-being, as well as educating the public on current health-related issues. Examples of such presentations are: managing diabetes, mental health in men/women, pregnancy and childbirth, hypertension and obesity in children/adults.

LIFE 1st Volunteers Needed: The LIFE 1st Program is a diverse and innovative non-profit organization dedicated to providing education, support service and recreation to inner city and at risk youth. The main goal of the LIFE 1st after school program is to address academic and social barriers that may impede growth among the youth today. However, without the continuous assistance of willing volunteers and interns our organization will be unable to address the specific needs of all the youth in our program.

Volunteer to help out at the Penn Relays: Contact Isabel Mapp for additional information and/or to volunteer for this program.

Move Out Drive: Leaving campus?  Have a computer, household items and/or clothing you want to donate? Contact Isabel Mapp for additional information.

Volunteer for Take Our Daughters/Sons To Work Day’s Adopt A Child Program: Many students would love an opportunity to participate in this program, but parents are not always able to provide the experience.