Central Sustainability hosts volunteer week
Central Sustainability is hosting a volunteer week to get people involved with hands-on sustainability, in partnership with the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center at Central Michigan University.
"It gives people a chance to actually do sustainability instead of learning about it or just knowing it exists," Jessica Reinhart, with Central Sustainability, said.
It began this Monday, and will continue until Friday, April 10, with events every day.
Central Sustainability is a student-run office that's dedicated to making the CMU community more sustainable through projects, policy and programming.
Reinhart said the main idea was to collaborate with the volunteer center to make sustainability more fun and easy to get involved with.
"It's a lot more concrete and understandable than saying that volunteering is a really good way to contribute to your community," She said. "You actually get to feel that."
Today
From 3 to 6 p.m., there will be a clothing swap and donation drive in the terrace rooms at the University Center.
The Tuesday event works with Central Sustainability's four pillars of sustainability, which are environmental, human, central, social and economic. It helps by providing people in need with clothing and works against clothing waste.
People can bring non-expired nonperishable food, hygiene items, new or gently used clothing and miscellaneous items. The clothing can be swapped with others or donated.
Wednesday
The event is grilled cheese and gratitude with Central Civics, from 7 to 8 p.m. in Powers 136. Attendees will decorate snack bags, write gratitude letters and letters to state representatives at the event.
Thursday
Central Sustainability is announcing the winner of the sustainable action social media challenge.
The challenge is intended to push people to get more involved with sustainability and their communities.
"Sign up to volunteer at a certain date and time, commit to volunteering somewhere in the community and send us a picture of what that commitment looks like," Reinhart said.
She said it's helpful for people who may not have the time to go and attend their events, to show them they can still volunteer, by committing to doing it later.
The challenge started on Monday and will continue until the winner is announced. The winner will receive a fun prize.
Friday
The event is an alternative break with the Human Animal Treatment Society. Volunteers will help walk and play with the dogs.
Alternative Breaks provide students with the opportunity to participate in direct-service experiences alongside nonprofits.
These breaks can occur over winter, spring and summer breaks, as well as Fridays.
"There's a lot more to sustainability than just recycling and picking up trash and planting trees, and all of that," Reinhart said. "It's so much more, and our events reflect that."
