Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon: Year 2

Hey y'all!
The office has been busy lately as we settle in, preparing first year students to complete their service requirements and securing program volunteers for the semester, but we're still pressing forward!

This week, in honor of recruitment week for Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon (CRDM) 2012, I'm excited to tell you all a bit about the program and share some updates with you.

To begin, Dance Marathon is a national program designed for participants (AKA dancers) to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network. Dancers are required to stand for 12 hours without caffeine. All Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon funds go directly to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital focusing on non-cancer related medical expenses for families, things for the children staying there to do, improving the classroom for long-term patients, research, et cetera. They chose non-cancer related issues because the University of Iowa's Dance Marathon, which also benefits U of I Children's Hospital, focuses on cancer.

Last year, CRDM raised more than $25,000; this year's goal is $35,000. All dancers are encouraged to raise $100 to support 15 families currently staying at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. So far, just over $9,000 has been raised!

As mentioned above, this week is recruitment work. You can help make miracles by heading out and donating money or attending one of these events:

• Tonight was CiCi's Night
• Tuesday, Feb 21: Coldstone Night (6-9pm)--it's also Teal Tuesday so wear teal!
• Thursday, Feb 23: Info session at 8pm in Stuart 405 @ Coe--come learn about CRDM!
• Saturday, Feb 25: PUB Dance with Rugcutters-8-11pm
• Tuesday, Feb 28: IHOP Day-come to IHOP for a free stack of pancakes and donate to CRDM! 8am-8pm

To donate, register as a dancer, or learn more about CRDM, click here! Only 53 days to go! The big event is April 14, 2012! Don't miss out!

Cedar Rapids Honors MLK, Jr.

As classes begin yet again, Coe students have enveloped themselves in the spirit of service as some participated in activities on MLK, Jr Day of Service. Approximately 175 Cedar Rapids residents and 15 Coe students volunteered to make a difference.

Noel Rozum, VISTA in the office, welcomed the audience at an opening ceremony at Mt. Mercy University and introduced Mt. Mercy's chaplain who opened with a prayer, thanking God for allowing us to be there to help others.

Rozum then introduced Mt. Mercy's president, Dr. Blake who officially welcomed the audience to Mt. Mercy and thanked everyone for being there.

Mayor Corbett was also introduced and officially dubbed Monday, January 16, 2012, as MLK, Jr. Day of Service. Then he introduced Coe student Tevin Bell, who recited part of MLK, Jr's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

In the lobby, Mt. Mercy students created a post-it note mural where participants were prompted to write notes of encouragement including their hopes, dreams, and wishes.

As the ceremony ended, the audience dispersed to their service sites. As they painted, served the homeless, chopped wood, changed locks, and organized food pantries, they were reminded of Martin Luther King, Jr. who dedicated his life to justice and service. His dream was to live in a nation that would "rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

From the incredible turnout, clearly we are seeing MLK's dream through--treating those in need as our equals, and always remembering a brave man who fought for his entire country, that we would be a prosperous, forgiving society dedicated to assisting those in need. There's not a better way to celebrate such an important man.

Homeless and Hunger Week!

This weekend, our wonderful crunch berry city hosted the Cedar Rapids Sleep Out for the Homeless.  Approximately 150 people participated, and the event raised $11,000.00 toward the local shelters.  Channel 2 were also in attendance to broadcast the sleep out. 

There was a cardboard shelter building competition for everyone to build homes out of sheets of cardboard and packing tape.  The Coe women's basketball team won an award for the most interesting cardboard box. 


Noel Rozum from the Office of Service-Learning and Campus Engagement brought a team of 13 under the name of Team Coe to the event as well.  Team Coe raised $137.00 which contributed to the $11,000.00 that the event made.  The team also made 150 fleece hats, 6 blankets, and 6 scarves all to be donated to the homeless. 


Picture Time!

AFB Minneapolis/St. Paul

Fall break is a time for rest and relaxation.  A time for students to catch up on sleep, go home, and visit friends.  Fall break is, by its very name, a break from school and worries and responsibility.

Yeah, right.

Twelve students, including myself, didn’t get the memo.  Instead, we packed up our bags and headed off to the Twin Cities to serve the homeless population and those in extreme poverty.  Our whirlwind adventure began on Saturday morning, when we drove up to Minnesota, and didn’t end until Tuesday evening when we finally arrived back at Coe and wearily unloaded the vans.

During that four day span, we managed to get in a lot of quality service.  Our team worked together on a variety of projects.  On Sunday, for example, we packed food for three hours at the Dorothy Day Center in the heart of St. Paul.  We also got to sit down and eat lunch with the homeless clients, which was a new and interesting experience for some of us.  It was a little awkward at first for me, but once I had a conversation going I heard some amazing fact and stories.  It was refreshing and humbling to see the city from a different point of view.

The AFB students also worked in a family shelter, Sharing and Caring Hands, on Monday and Tuesday morning.  There, they served breakfast to over two hundred people each day.  In addition, the students worked at sorting donated clothing and cleaning up Como Park.  In a special service opportunity, a few students got to work with Project Home, which offered a place to sleep at night for homeless families in the basement of the same church that gave our group a place to sleep as well.  It was touching to work with kids who were carefree and happy to just play at night, even considering their situation.

Despite our hard work, we also found time to squeeze in a little fun:  Ethiopian cuisine, an impromptu tour of the St. Paul Cathedral, and free time in the Mall of America were an added bonus.  We spent a little time exploring the neighborhood we were staying in and got to compare and contrast different subcultures within the cities.

In the end, we left a mark on the Twin Cities; however, the people we met and served made a positive impact on us in return.  What we saw and what we learned will forever influence our actions and choices.  I can’t wait to take my new knowledge and apply it to fighting homelessness and poverty in the city of Cedar Rapids!

Hannah

Fall Mid-Term

Hey all!

With mid-terms basically finished and all rested after fall break, it is a great time to think about serving! Come stop by the office to check out our cool programs. There really is service for any one whether you have a tight schedule, artistic, athletic, chatty, shy, passionate, or your just looking to meet new people I'm sure we can find something for you!

I help with the Four Oaks-The Bridge Art Program meet every Thursday from 4:00-5:30. We plan the crafts, pick the supplies and then finally do the craft with the kids. If your creative, love kids, or just need a study break we would love to have you! Last week we made wreaths from leaves and the before that bugs with toilet paper rolls! It was a blast! Next on the list, a craft with a Halloween theme. Shoot me an email if your interested!

Amanda

Service Events on September 11th

This past Sunday was the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.  Even after ten years, it is hard to come to terms with the tragedy that took place here on U.S. soil.  To commemorate the people who lost their lives and to recognize those who have served and are currently serving in the United States military, September 11th has been designated the National Day of Service and Remembrance.  On this day, across the nation people band together to support those affected by all types of conflict, especially war. 

This year, Coe College participated in the National Day of Service and Remembrance by sending care packages to soldiers who are currently overseas.  Students, faculty, and staff were asked to recommend soldiers to receive the packages as well as donate non-perishable items.  On Sunday the 11th, a group of students met to pack the boxes with the donated items.  In total, 30 care packages were packaged and sent to soldiers who have a personal connection to someone here at Coe. 

In addition to the packing of care packages, many other activities took place on the 11th.  One of these included a spiritual reflection with the chaplain.  Not only is it important to do something good for the community - like send care packages - but reflection is also a necessary factor to really understanding the significance of things. 

The day was a great success, and hopefully will continue to be in the future!

Welcome Back!

Hello, beautiful readers!

It's been an exciting few weeks back in the OSLCE office. Tuesday, September 6 was our Service Fair. Lots of community partners came to Coe to explain their missions to Coe students, especially freshmen looking for service options to complete 20 hours of service.

Since then, the student staff have been working diligently to get their programs up and running by contacting community partners, training at service sites, holding orientations, and trying to find students to volunteer.

Of course, that's not the only thing we've been working on!

After receiving a grant, the OSLCE and the Chaplain's Office collaborated to find donations to fill 20 boxes for American soldiers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Donations included: razors, food, shampoo, books, magazines, cards, lotion, money, et cetera. Luckily, we received enough donations to pack 29 boxes!

Then, students ate lunch together and discussed patriotism. Afterwards, they headed to Veterans Memorial Stadium to participate in an interfaith memorial service for those who were effected ten years ago today.

It was an insightful day as Coe students chose to "Remember, Reflect, and Respect" those who lost their lives and whose lives were forever effected because of events that changed us on September 11, 2001.

Thanks for reading!