NIU Cares Day, a campus-wide day of service, is back for its second year.
Coordinated by Student Involvement and Leadership Development, NIU Cares Day brings students, faculty and staff together to complete service projects that benefit the communities of DeKalb and Sycamore to thank them for their support of NIU.
NIU Cares Day 2007 brought 1,000 participants together; this year’s event is expected to draw an even larger turnout.
The event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 19, with a kick-off meeting at the Chick Evans Field House.
Projects in the communities will include painting, cleaning, park clean-up, resurfacing of playgrounds, landscaping, visiting retirement homes and litter pick-up. At the conclusion of the day, participants are led in a reflection activity to predict how the work they’ve completed will positively impact their surrounding communities.
Students can sign up online at http://niucaresday.niu.edu as individuals or with other students (student organizations, classes, residence hall floors, group of friends, etc.). Members of the NIU Cares Day committee also are available to come to meetings to answer questions about registration and the event itself.
“The NIU Cares Day committee hopes that our students as well as staff members will continue to develop lives that involve community service,” said Becky Harlow, assistant director for Student Involvement and Leadership Development “Participating in volunteerism projects like NIU Cares Day will help lay the foundation for the value of giving back.”
Members of the NIU Cares Day committee are seeking faculty and staff members to serve as project site leaders. Project site leaders will serve as a resource for students at each project site and ensure that students are having the best experience possible.
For those individuals who would like to show their support for NIU Cares Day but do not have the time to contribute to the event itself, the committee encourages participation in one of three fundraising events in the weeks ahead. Details on “Shop and Share at Jewel-Osco for NIU Cares Day,” “NIU Cares Day at Pizza Villa,” and “NIU Cares Day at Culver’s” can be found at http://niucaresday.niu.edu.
All questions regarding participation in or support of NIU Cares Day 2008 can be directed to rharlow@niu.edu.