21st Annual Angel Tree 2012

Angel Tree is an event that SVS hosts every year, which aims to spread Christmas joy and the season of giving around the Muncie area. You can stop by the Office of Student Life (SC Rm 133) TODAY to choose an angel and make his or her holiday wish come true! Check out some of the work our volunteers and PCs have accomplished to set up for the event.

Volunteers decorated snowmen ornaments last week. Names and profiles of local children have been added to them so that Angel Tree participants can come choose a child.

 

Graduate Assistant, Kari, counting and sorting the snowmen ornaments:

 

Walking in a winter wonderland....

 

PC'S Friendsgiving Social

Click the pic for a better view!

21st Annual Fall Leaf Raking

Wow! Ball State students did an extraordinary job yesterday serving the Muncie community. Check back later for more on the event.



Check out some awesome reflections from some fantastic students!

Hello, my name is Nolan Cockrell and I am a Program Coordinator for SVS. As one of the committee members for the 21^st Annual Fall Leaf Raking, I was able to see all of the hard work that went into this event. We contacted homeowners who needed their yards to be raked and found local sponsors to support our cause. Each of us played a crucial role in organizing the leaf raking outreach. We were very prepared for the event and managed to outdo our records from the year before. I served on both the morning and afternoon shifts to drive volunteers and help rake leaves this year. The groups I worked alongside did a fantastic job and persevered through the weather that day. I remember two homeowners who personally thanked us for showing up to help. Most of the people we served had difficulty getting around the house but were extremely grateful to have us. We could not have accomplished all this without the generosity of these volunteers who gave up their time to serve.

Hello, I'm Esther Hamilton, and a sophomore at BSU. The Fall Leaf Raking project through SVS was a wonderful, first-time opportunity for me. At first, I was a bit leery of raking for four straight hours beginning at 8am, but it flew by and I loved every minute of it. I even had the opportunity to jump in a leaf pile that was higher than my hips and wider than my outstretched body. The homeowners and their families were very happy to see their clean yards and thankful for our hard work. The friendships that I made and strengthened while raking with SVS were unforgettable! Although the work was physically strenuous, I proudly plan to do it again next year and maybe complete four yards instead of three. 

Hello there! I am Meghan Delaney and I am a Program Coordinator for Student Voluntary Services. This past weekend I participated in my second Fall Leaf Raking experience! I was not coordinating this event, I was just another volunteer getting to rake some leaves! SVS offers so many one-time events, and this is by far, my absolute favorite. I have been looking forward to it since the leaves started to change. The people who we rake for are always so appreciative, and all of the volunteers seem to have a great time (aside from it being a little cold). What I love most about SVS and volunteering at events like this, is that a group of total strangers can spend a few hours together doing some public service, and come out of it as great friends. You learn about each other and get to share your own story and get to hear the stories of the people living in the Muncie community. I think it is so stellar that organizations like SVS and events like Fall Leaf Raking show Muncie that we are more than just college students who live here a few months out of the year, and then leave. We care, and we want to make an impact while we are students here at Ball State. I am so thankful for SVS, and for the people I have met, and the activities that I get to participate in. At the end of the day, I might just be raking a few leaves, but I know it made life a little easier for someone else. That is why I am a volunteer. 

For tons more photos, check out our facebook album!

The BSU Daily News covered the day, as well!

You can read that article here:

Student Voluntary Services Hosts 21st Annual Leaf Raking Event

PC Reflections on Make A Difference Day (11/27/12)

To start off, my name is Diamond Mills and I am a Program Coordinator for SVS. I am a sophomore and this is my first year ever being a PC! I was one of the committee members who contributed to Make A Difference Day. When my group first started having meetings, I did not expect it to be such a big deal. I did not think I would have to actually be one of the people in charge of the event. Once I found out that I would be leading about 30 students to the site I was so nervous and ready to back out. After multiple pep talks from a lot of my peers, I knew that i had a duty to fulfill. Unfortunately, I was not able to experience the feeling of me leading such a big group to the site because I was a little late, but the best part about that day was me showing up anyway to help my peers make a difference!! The experience was not as scary as I thought. I wish i could have been there a little longer, but I feel every little bit counts! All the volunteers were friendly and did an excellent job painting scraping and priming the fence at St. Mary's church and school. I really hope we did make a difference because this experience made a difference for me!

This PC did a great job engaging others around her and is beginning to get a feel for what it means to be a student leader with SVS. 

My name is Jilly and I am a PC for Great Achievers where I normally work with children. This Saturday I had a whole new experience for Make A Difference Day, a national day of service. My committee planned three sites to send out volunteers, two nursing homes (to celebrate Fall) and a church (for fence scraping and painting). I decided to go to a nursing home to experience spending time with and brightening the day of the older generations. When we arrived, my volunteers and I felt a little lost and out of place, but soon we were in the groove of things. We painted pumpkins, made sparkly name signs for the residents doors, and even played cards. The residents had us laughing with all the stories they told us and the side comments they made. My volunteers did a wonderful job engaging the residents. But then the action died down and we still had an hour left. I did not know how we were going to continue to stay busy. A staff member directed us to do one-on-one visits with some of the residents that don't get many visitors. This kept us busy for another hour, and it really helped the volunteers see just how much of a difference they could make by just spending time and caring about another person. I know we all made a difference that day. 

 This PC used her problem solving skills to ensure a fulfilling day with the seniors. 

Student Voluntary Services had a successful Make A Difference Day and want to extend our gratitude to the amazing volunteers who made it all possible. The sites were incredibly pleased with our hard work and dedication. 
Stay tuned to the SVS database for the follow up day at St. Mary's on 11/10/12. 

 

 

Upcoming Annual One Time Events

6th Annual Fall Festival - Friday, October 26th, 2012 @ 3:15pm

2nd Annual Make A Difference Day - Saturday, October 27th, 2012 @ 9:30am

21st Annual Fall Leaf Raking - Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 @ 7:45am and/or 12:45pm

Check out the SVS Database for more information!


Search for an Opportunity
Program Type: One Time/Short Term -> Search
Pick your volunteer opportunity!

BSU HOMECOMING 2012: Play Your Cards Right!

 

Last Monday (10/1/12), our Homecoming Royalty candidates Vic Scotland and Angelina Zulas hit the Pruis stage for the Fashion Show dressed as 
Interracial Malibu Barbie and Ken. Stylin'!

SVS Program Coordinators have been hard at work, preparing for the 
Homecoming Week! 

 

Here are some beautiful ladies making decorations for the Homecoming Parade.

Our Homecoming Banner is set up in the Alumni Center. Here's how it turned out:
 

A team has also come together to work on an AirJam routine for this year's competition. 

They have been hard at work, bustin' out the moves. 

More pictures to come!

- - - EDIT! - - -

Last night (10/11/12), the AirJam team put on an outstanding performance and had so much fun doing it, too!

 You can check out the video on our FACEBOOK PAGE.

Here are just a few shots from the evening:

 

If you're interested in searching through our database, here are some simple instructions:

1. Visit www.bsu.edu/svs
2. Refer to the right side toolbar. Click 'SVS Database.'
3. Click 'register here' and sign in with your BSU login.
4. If you have never volunteered with SVS, complete the questionnaire. Once completed, you will find yourself at your personalized main menu. Here you can search for volunteer opportunities, view/edit your personal information, and check your logged hours.

5. SEARCHING FOR A VOLUNTEER POSITION: At your main menu, click 'Search for an Opportunity.'
6. When you're searching on our database, you have to be mostly NONSPECIFIC. The more specific you are, the less likely you'll get results (even if your search preferences directly match a program). My best suggestion is that you choose one of the 3 program types in the drop down menu and hit 'Search.'

7. PROGRAM TYPES: We have coordinated, independent, and one time programs. The coordinated programs are lead by the student leaders of the organization. These students will be the liaison between you and the organization, take you to the service site, and log your hours. Independent programs go according to your schedule and transportation and SVS will log your hours. The one time events are events that the Program Coordinators help plan throughout the year, a chance to make a commitment without dedicating your entire busy schedule/semester to it.