A Meaningful Pause

Dickinson to participate in its first campuswide Day of Service

by Matt Getty

September 28, 2011

Students participating in a Day of Service last fall helped clean up Kings Gap State Park. This year, Dickinson employees can join in to help a range of local organizations including the Salvation Army, Hospice of Central Pennsylvania and My Brother’s Table.

Dickinson is encouraging faculty, staff and students to lend a hand to the local community during fall pause through the first Dickinson Day of Service for employees and students, Tuesday, Oct. 18. The event, which kicks off the 2011 United Way campaign, invites faculty and staff members to take the morning off from their usual work and instead clean toys at a local shelter, paint classrooms at the Employment Skills Center or assist with a range of other projects for local service organizations.

“It’s a great way to start this year’s campaign by getting directly involved in some of the services that the United Way helps provide throughout the community,” said Steve Riccio, director of staff development for Human Resource Services, which is co-sponsoring the event with the Office of Religious Life & Community Services. “In addition to the satisfaction that comes with service, this event will allow volunteers to see how their donations support the United Way.”

Each year Dickinson holds a campus campaign to support the United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County. Last year, the college raised nearly $40,000 for the organization, which funds more than 40 service programs throughout the Carlisle region. Following the Dickinson Day of Service, the campaign will urge the campus community to support the United Way through gifts, a 50/50 raffle and change buckets across campus in the hopes of raising $45,000 by the conclusion of the campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Employees interested in participating in the Dickinson Day of Service should get permission from their supervisors and then register by Oct. 7 through Human Resource Services by using CLIQ, e-mailing hrservices@dickinson.edu or calling 245-1503.