Kutztown University Students Dedicate Themselves to Community Service

Kutztown, PA (05/07/2019) — Every year, hundreds of Kutztown University students commit themselves to assisting the Kutztown community through various volunteer and community service efforts. The opportunities for service activities both on- and off-campus are endless for students who choose to get out and explore those possibilities. This year in particular, the annual community service efforts in the borough have seen increasing KU student participation.

One of the biggest departments on-campus leading volunteer and community service efforts is the student-led KU Community Outreach Center (COR). The COR offers volunteer opportunities for one-time, weekly and monthly volunteers and is always looking for students to join in service opportunities. They can help students find volunteer opportunities that best match their interests and fields of study, as well as facilitate strong community relationships. One of the most popular volunteer services offered by the COR is the trips to Kutztown Manor to assist in creating and running activities with residents.

Various student groups volunteer through Friend Inc., assisting with the food bank and events such as Friend Fest and Breaking the Cycle fundraisers. Students spend their time stacking shelves and doing inventory for Friend Inc. in addition to assisting with numerous canned food drives that student organizations conduct throughout the year.

Another service effort includes Sunday clean-ups, which are organized by the Kutztown Community Partnerships. Many fraternities, sororities, sport teams and other clubs volunteer their time on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers walk around the streets of Kutztown picking up trash and litter they come across, helping to maintain the cleanliness and beauty of Kutztown.

Students also assist KuBok, which is a joint effort between the borough and university under the umbrella of the Kutztown Community Partnership. It is a safety walk/neighborhood watch that occurs every Friday and Saturday night from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. The walk is open to students, staff, faculty and community members, though students currently make up about 90 percent of the walkers.

Many student groups and individual students volunteer their time and efforts at various community events each year, including the Block Party and Christmas in Kutztown. Service efforts include helping with set up, take down, trash, face painting, children's games and more. If in town over the summer, students even volunteer during summer events like Dinner on Main, Kutztown Kruizz and the Rotary Club's "Taste of Kutztown."

For more information on community service at Kutztown University, please visit https://www.kutztown.edu/life-at-ku/student-involvement.htm or contact the Office of Student Involvement at involvement@kutztown.edu or 610-683-1383.