Maroon Volunteer Center

Up'til Dawn: Team Application for Letter Writing Event

2012-01-12T11:41:00.001-08:00

Participate in an Alternative Spring Break you will never forget.

2011-10-31T13:07:00.000-07:00

9/11 I will Pledge Card

2011-09-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

In support of the 9/11 "I WILL" campaign, please complete the pledge card above. These cards will allow community and campus members to pledge their SERVICE to STATE and to their COUNTRY in support of 9/11 victims and heroes.

Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity Information

2011-08-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again, Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity. For those students and groups that want to volunteer, slots are available on Friday and Saturday from 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm.

For those that volunteer for this years house, you can sign up online at www.mvc.msstate.edu

1) Click on the Habitat for Humanity icon on the front page
2) Click "volunteer now" to sign in to the volunteer calendar.
3) Click on your preferred date and time, then enter your information in to volunteer

Groups that want to sign up, please email volunteer@saffairs.msstate.edu

Directions:
The house is located at 70 Murdock Lane, Starkville, MS. There is no shuttle to the house, students will need to provide their own transportation. If you have trouble finding transportation out to the work site, please email volunteer@saffairs.msstate.edu to see if we may be of assistance.

Below is a link to a map to the Habitat location from the MSU campus:
Map to 70 Murdock Lane, Starkville, MS

Thank you for your service! Please email volunteer@saffairs.msstate.edu for any questions, or call the Habitat office at 662-324-7008.

Updated Storm Recovery Efforts

2011-05-18T14:16:00.001-07:00

Storm Recovery Efforts

05/26/11

Leaders with Oktibbeha-Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Services have organized a work team to travel to Chickasaw County to assist in cleanup and relief efforts there.

Volunteers will gather at 6:00 a.m. at the OSERVS offices located at 100 Highway 12 East at South Jackson Street and depart at 6:30 a.m.
Volunteers should bring work gloves, wear footwear appropriate for walking amid storm debris and wear work clothing.
Volunteers should also bring a sack lunch; OSERVS will provide water and soft drinks.

Those interested in joining the relief team must call the OSERVS office at 384-2200, so leaders will know how many people will be planning to participate. Chainsaws, rakes, hoes are always needed.

OSERVS - 100 Highway 12 East, Starkville, MS 39759 Phone: 662-384-2200 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 662-384-2200 end_of_the_skype_highlighting | Fax: 662-384-2210 | www.oservs.com

05/02/11

The Maroon Volunteer Center and the Barnes & Noble at Mississippi State will be collecting food and supplies continuously. Toiletries are much needed, along with towels, bedding, and blankets. The Maroon Volunteer Center is located in South Hall, room 306. Please email volunteer@saffairs.msstate.edu for a pick up! Or take items to the Barnes & Noble located on the MSU campus.

05/02/11 – 05/07/11

United Way is coordinating volunteers for the Tornado Relief at Cadence Bank. We will need volunteers from 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day through Saturday, May 7th. If you would like to volunteer, please call the United Way office at 323-3830. Needed items and/or money can be donated in front of Cadence Bank.

05/04/11

Wednesday, Leaders with Oktibbeha-Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Services organized a work team to travel to Smithville to assist in cleanup and relief efforts there. This Wednesday, volunteers will gather at 6:00 a.m. at the OSERVS offices located at 100 Highway 12 East at South Jackson Street and depart at 6:30 a.m. Volunteers should bring work gloves, wear footwear appropriate for walking amid storm debris and wear work clothing. Volunteers should also bring a sack lunch; OSERVS will provide water and soft drinks. Those interested in joining the relief team must call the OSERVS office at 384-2200, so leaders will know how many people will be planning to participate. Chainsaws, rakes, hoes and other power and conventional tools used in cleanup are needed.

05/05/11

Bloodmobile at Amory High School - behind school by Vo-Tech 8am - 2pm. Call School Office at 256-7601 or online at www.bloodhero.com Use sponsor code: amoryhs OR you may call United Blood Services at 842-8871 to schedule for this drive.

The Salvation Army is accepting clothing donations for tornado victims. The Salvation Army has a new location-- down Industrial Park Road and it is the last building on the left (right before Dancing Feet Academy).

05/11/11

NETTLETON FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH (NETTLETON, MS), immediate needs are: Ground beef, Hamburger/hot dog Buns, Ketchup, Mustard, and Mayo. They need enough to feed 300 per day. They are running out of items such as toilet paper, razors, towels, wash cloths, new underwear. Lots of families relocating to the Nettleton area! Please click on the link below for more information. http://smithville.monroecountyweb.com/directory/centers-by-city/nettleton/nettleton-first-baptist-church/

The Columbus, MS donation drop off point is in the parking lot of Southern Family Market East Columbus, MS (look for the semi.)If anyone can help us out we need volunteers next week for the drop-off trailer location in the Southern Family Market parking lot, 2-4 hour shifts. Please click on the link below for more information. http://smithville.monroecountyweb.com/directory/volunteer-opportunities/columbus-ms-drop-off-point/

Volunteers are needed to help remove debris in Cumberland, MS (Webster County) following the tornado of April 27, 2011.Contact Barry Rushing at (662) 552-3563 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (662) 552-3563 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or (662) 552-7007 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (662) 552-7007 end_of_the_skype_highlighting between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. to volunteer or for any additional information. http://smithville.monroecountyweb.com/directory/volunteer-opportunities/cumberland-ms-webster-county-debris-removal/

The Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 1453 C/R 402 Houston MS, 38851, 1.5 miles above the intersection of Old Hwy 8 and Hwy 47 was destroyed by the Tornado on 4-27-2011.The Church is asking for volunteers to assist in cleaning the church property on Saturday, May 21, 2011 beginning at 8:00 am. For further information, please contact: Thomas Guido @ 662-456-4659 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 662-456-4659 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or Pastor Alan Atkinson @ 662-840-5212 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 662-840-5212 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. http://smithville.monroecountyweb.com/directory/volunteer-opportunities/pleasant-grove-missionary-baptist-church/

Monroe County Sav-A-Life - Amory, MS Meals needed for volunteers: Anyone willing to help with food and/or a meal for volunteers we have a need for this Saturday lunch and dinner and then meals for next week starting on Monday, May 9th.Please call Susan Smith at 662-436-0623 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 662-436-0623 end_of_the_skype_highlighting if you can help! Click on link for more information. http://smithville.monroecountyweb.com/directory/volunteer-opportunities/monroe-county-sav-a-life/

Current Storm Recovery Efforts

2011-05-03T08:46:00.001-07:00

05/02/11

05/02/11 – 05/07/11

United Way is coordinating volunteers for the Tornado Relief at Cadence Bank. We will need volunteers from 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day through Saturday, May 7^th. If you would like to volunteer, please call the United Way office at 323-3830.

Needed items and/or money can be donated in front of Cadence Bank.

05/04/11

Wednesday, Leaders with Oktibbeha-Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Services organized a work team to travel to Smithville to assist in cleanup and relief efforts there. This Wednesday, volunteers will gather at 6:00 a.m. at the OSERVS offices located at 100 Highway 12 East at South Jackson Street and depart at 6:30 a.m. Volunteers should bring work gloves, wear footwear appropriate for walking amid storm debris and wear work clothing. Volunteers should also bring a sack lunch; OSERVS will provide water and soft drinks. Those interested in joining the relief team must call the OSERVS office at 384-2200, so leaders will know how many people will be planning to participate. Chainsaws, rakes, hoes and other power and conventional tools used in cleanup are needed.

05/05

Bloodmobile at Amory High School - behind school by Vo-Tech 8am - 2pm. Call School Office at 256-7601 or online at www.bloodhero.com Use sponsor code: amoryhs OR you may call United Blood Services at 842-8871 to schedule for this drive.

2011-02-22T06:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.reflector-online.com/news/group-plans-to-travel-to-florida-1.2476227

Group plans to travel to Florida

Students to volunteer during spring break-By MEGAN MCKEOWN -The Reflector

Published: Monday, February 21, 2011

While many Mississippi State University students will spend their spring break relaxing, a small group of students will participate in different community service projects.

Thirty students and faculty will divide into three service teams to work with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Head Start, the Boys and Girls Club and a local food bank as an alternative to a spring break trip.

Rochelle Smith, graduate assistant for the Montgomery Leadership program and co-coordinator for the Alternative Spring Break Trip, said the Montgomery Leadership program previously organized a service retreat for two or three days for its own members. The new program has been extended to five days, and any student can participate.

"Because we are doing several different projects, it makes the trip attractive to a broad spectrum of students to come together to engage in community service," Smith said.

Some students on the trip will have the opportunity to be site leaders, which means they will facilitate group discussions and will be general leaders for the activities during the day, she said.

MSU has partnered with Breakaway, a company which links universities and community organizations in need. It has paired MSU with Community Collaborations, which is focused on ecosystem restoration, she said. Therefore, one day of spring break will be dedicated entirely to an environmental relief project.

The group will stay on the shore of the Choctawhatchee Bay at Camp Timpoochee and will work from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day of the trip. The students are doing these projects to benefit the Muscogee Native American Community.

"We will have group reflections of the day's activities to determine what went well, what didn't go as well and what things we can do to contribute to group cohesiveness. This ensures that all of our students get the most out of the experience," Smith said.

After working each day, the students will have time to engage in different activities such as basketball, volleyball and bonfires. The students will also listen to a guest speaker on one of the nights.

Joy Kimble, junior communication major and trip attendee, said she is excited to have a chance to serve the community without outside distractions, like class and homework.

"I expect to have a humbling experience because we get so caught up in doing things our own way," Kimble said. "This [program] will help me refocus on the things that I'm passionate about in a community that really needs the help."

Matt Sherman, sophomore business information systems major, said he is excited to go down to Florida to help the community.

"I used to live in Florida, so going down there and doing community service will be a great experience," Sherman said.

He also said he will consider going on the trip again if everything goes well.

Jeremy Hall, graduate assistant for the Maroon Volunteer Center and co-coordinator for the trip, said the most difficult part of the organization process was selecting which students would attend the trip. Fifty students applied for the trip but only half of the students could be picked because of the limited number of spots, he said.

In the future, Hall said he hopes participants will use the program to reach out to other social organizations on campus to help them set up their own alternative spring break trips.

"I think it's a great opportunity for students to go down there and represent the campus outside of the local community. They get to enjoy spring break in a non-typical way that most students do not get to experience," Hall said.

Kimble said she does not feel like she is giving up her spring break because this five-day trip could impact the community for years to come.

"It's not a sacrifice," she said. "It's an investment that I'm very excited about being able to participate in."

Volunteer during Spring Break with the Maroon Volunteer Center

2011-01-03T12:04:00.001-08:00

The Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement and the Maroon Volunteer Center are sponsoring an alternative spring break trip for 27 MSU students. Alternative spring breaks allow students to engage in community service and hands-on activities in communities across the country. In March, students will travel to Niceville, FL and volunteer with local community agencies to address social needs.

All those interested in participating must attend an interest session on January 19th at 5:30PM in the Colvard Student Union (Room 324).

For more information contact: Jeremy Hall at jhall@saffairs.msstate.edu or Rochelle Smith at rsmith@saffairs.msstate.edu .

Join the Maroon Volunteer Center

2010-12-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hello from the Maroon Volunteer Center!

Here on the Mississippi State University campus, the Maroon Volunteer Center has a mission to engage our faculty, staff, and students with becoming active in our Starkville community. It’s time we become active in the change that we want to see.

By registering with the Maroon Volunteer Center, you become a part of one of the largest networks of student volunteers in your area!

JOIN

Don't just hope for Change, become a part of that Change, be the difference, VOLUNTEER!

Maroon Volunteer Center Offers Ways To Give Back This Holiday Season

2010-12-10T12:54:00.001-08:00

Giving Tree for the Palmer Home
Take part in the Giving Tree this holiday by sponsoring a child from the Palmer Home in Columbus, MS. Sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega and the Maroon Volunteer Center, the Giving Tree is located on campus at the Barnes & Noble book store. Choose a tag from the Giving Tree, write your name and address on the back of the tag, then purchase a gift or bring a gift to give the cashier to put under the tree. Give back this holiday season and help bring joy to your community.

East Oktibbeha Food Drive
Help us collect non-perishable food items for the East Oktibbeha canned food drive. Just look for the boxes at the following locations: the Union, Allen, McCool, the Library, and all residence halls. Then, place all donated items into the boxes before the pickup date on December 12th.

For more information please email volunteer@saffairs.msstate.edu