The entire University of Portland freshmen class will volunteer on Saturday, Aug. 31 as part of the University’s “Building Community: Serving to Learn” program. All 830 students from the class of 2017 will participate in a daylong program, which marks their first full weekend as University of Portland students. The freshmen will be joined by current students, faculty, and staff, sending more than 1,000 UP volunteers into the community.
University of Portland began “Building Community: Serving to Learn” in 2005 as a way to unite all of its first-year students in a day of service. The service program aims to build community among new students in a non-traditional setting and to teach practices of sustainability and service in the surrounding area.
The students will be divided into smaller groups, and they will volunteer at 19 different sites throughout the Portland area, including Arbor Lodge, Baltimore Woods, Burnt Bridge Creek, Forest Park, Frenchman’s Bar, George Middle School, John’s Garden, Rebuilding Center, Roosevelt High School, Sauvie Island (Howell), Sitton, SLUG Garden, Terwilliger Parkway, Tyron Creek, Tyron State Park, University Park Baptist Church, Water Center, University of Portland Waterfront Property, and Fruits of Diversity Community Orchard.
The day of service will conclude with the class of 2017 gathering to reflect. The students will also hear from UP alumna Andriana Alexis ’13.
The program is organized by the University’s Shepard Freshman Resource Center and the Moreau Center for Service and Leadership. For more information, contact the Shepard Freshman Resource Center at (503) 943-7895.