At Stony Brook Community Outreach Day in October, the simple goal of recognizing those who are passionate about community outreach became a phenomenon. In addition to hosting 37 student organizations and 25 Long Island nonprofits, the event generated 3,171 pounds of food, clothing, and personal care donations for nine of the nonprofits in attendance.
Community Outreach Day, part of the weeklong series of Inaugural events celebrating Stony Brook’s new president, Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., M.D., recognized the community outreach contributions of students, faculty, and staff. The event contained four main components: a Community Outreach Showcase, a Student Center, Long Island nonprofit organizations, and nine collection stations for individuals to drop off donations of much-needed items.
The Showcase highlighted student organizations heavily involved in service through poster board displays. The Student Center featured on-campus student organizations recruiting potential members and signing them up for future community service activities. Twenty-five Long Island nonprofit organizations were on hand to speak to students about the diverse internship and volunteer opportunities they were offering, and nine of those 25 nonprofits were “adopted” by student organizations.
President Stanley visited with students and agency representatives, then said a few words to the crowded ballroom: “I have had the chance to interact with people, and they know the kind and positive things you are doing in so many different realms, whether it’s building houses, helping to teach, getting involved with important programs dealing with domestic violence. You are learning to communicate and develop specific skills. This is a time to really set your path.”
In collaboration with Community Outreach Day, Student Health Services hosted a Point of Distribution station for students for the H1N1 vaccination, free of charge. More than 465 vaccinations were given to students.
Community Outreach Day was spearheaded by the Career Center, with contributions from the Community Service and Service-Learning Committee, the Undergraduate College of Leadership and Service, the School of Social Welfare, Catholic Campus Ministry, and the Center for Prevention and Outreach. The nine nonprofit organizations who received donated items as a result of the event include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless, Island Harvest, Pax Christi Hospitality Center, St. James Food Pantry, the Mental Health Association, The-Inn, Community Housing Innovations, and Options for Community Living.
For more information about this event, please contact Urszula Zalewski, Career and Volunteer Programs Coordinator, Career Center at 632-6810.
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