Wheaton freshmen begin college with day of volunteer service
September 7, 2000
As the last step in orientation, Wheaton's first-year students, President Dale Rogers Marshall and other students, faculty and staff fanned out across the area for a day of serice to others earlier this week.
Among other things, Wheaton's freshmen cleared walking trails in a local nature preserve, harvested vegetables at a community garden and campaigned for an inner city literacy program.
This continuing tradition of volunteer work is part of each first-year student's orientation. Sites at which Wheaton volunteers worked include:
In Norton
- Camp Edith Reid: outdoor improvement projects at a local Girl Scouts camp
- Norton Library: "spring cleaning" in the fall, organize shelves and closets
- Norton Place Assisted Living Center: interact/socialize with residents, and join them in playing "Bingo" and "Life Stories"
- Norton Land Preservation Society: clear trails in public woods
- Norton Head Start: "spring cleaning" in the fall, prepare the classrooms and facilities for fall program
In Boston
Boston Food Bank: sort and package surplus food for distribution
In Providence
The Providence Plan: paint a mural for a pedestrian bridge linking two communities; complete clean-up projects throughout the adjoining park
In Taunton
Taunton State Hospital: painting and other outdoor improvement projects
In Attleboro
Capron Park Zoo: clear land around pond to prepare for future pedestrian bridge and new exhibits
In Mansfield
Hockomock YMCA: close down outdoor camp facilities; clean and paint indoor facilities
In Plainville
Crystal Spring: assist with harvesting in the community gardens
In Brockton
Brockton "Leaps in Literacy": With staff from the Brockton YMCA and Generations Incorporated in Boston, travel around Brockton distributing program materials in public settings. The aim is to publicize this literacy tutoring program to potential senior volunteers.
In West Warwick
Rhode Island Community Food Bank: sort and package surplus food for distribution