Fresno State Celebrates National Volunteer Week
Presented by the Richter Center Ambassadors
April 24-28, 2017
“Fresno State National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate Fresno State students, staff, and faculty who are engaged in service throughout the community.”
Continue reading “The Ambassadors Celebrate National Volunteer Week 2017”
The end of the semester is quickly approaching, so many are asking “What are you doing this summer?” Some are traveling, working, or taking summer school courses, which are great ways to keep busy. However, summer is a time of year where most of us have a little more free time. It is okay to be lazy for a bit, but why not do something more meaningful with your summer? Why not find a way to serve your community?
There are so many places and ways to serve this summer, whether it is in an area where you hope to build a career or just a cause you are passionate about. Do something you enjoy, go regularly, and make it a habit. Last summer, I began volunteering for the Fresno Rescue Mission by serving dinner. Each time I volunteered, it felt great to have used my free time to do something positive for someone else.
So use your summer to benefit your community. A great way to find to volunteer in various areas is through HandsOn Central California. Using this website, you can browse organizations and find countless opportunities.
Finally, come visit the Richter Center in the Thomas building Room 107, email us Ambassadors at fresnostaterca@gmail.com, or call us at 559.278.7079. We would be happy to help you find a way to make a difference this summer.
Will you use your summer to serve? Where will you make a difference?
-Ambassador Heather
Fresno State is known for its traditions, and one in particular has literally been saving lives: on-campus blood drives. For the last blood drive of the academic year, the school is doing something a little different: hosting a blood drive competition amongst the student clubs and organizations. The interested groups will sign up for a 2-hour shift at the time, day, & location of their choice. During this time frame as well as the 3-day period, the groups will recruit potential donors whether it be other classmates, professors, or even family members. The top 3 clubs/organizations with the most recruited donors win!
The interested groups are asked to email the head coordinator, Bianca Mancilla, at bmancilla@csufresno.edu by Wed, March 25th.
Do you know someone that loves to volunteer and should be recognized? Well, you are in luck! The Richter Center is now accepting nominations for the Volunteer of the Year award. This award is given to Fresno State students who have volunteered their time and efforts to better the community. Anyone can be nominated! Whether you are nominating someone else, yourself, or being nominated you can simply fill out this application. The applications are due to the Richter Center by Wednesday, March 25, 2015 before 5 p.m.
This is an awesome way to highlight the students of Fresno State that are committed to service. Moreover, it is a reminder to continue to serve. It is getting towards the end of the year where everyone is busy with midterms and sometimes we get so caught up in our work that we don’t take a break. Don’t get burnt out! Try to get out and volunteer instead. It doesn’t matter how long, it still makes a difference. Don’t forget that if you are ever looking for a service activity, the Richter Center provides an endless amount of opportunities! Come by and check us out if you have any questions. We’re in the Thomas building room 107, or call us at 559-278-7079.
Who will you nominate and why? Have you ever volunteered recently? Where is your favorite place to volunteer?
~Ambassador Nicole
You too can serve the children and families of Valley Children’s by participating in this year’s Kid’s Day on Tuesday March 3, 2015. You can sell papers, spread the word, and/or buy a paper from students around campus. Hopefully, we will surpass last year and raise even more money! Be a part of this special event, serve your community, and have fun!
It’s not too late! Registration closes February 27th so don’t hesitate! Click to register!
-Ambassador Heather
The United States sets aside a day for giving thanks annually, and this Thursday families from all across the nation will be sitting around the dinner table to a turkey dinner in the spirit of giving thanks. Before you sit around the dinner table with family and friends this year, take the time to consider those who do not have the privilege of a home-cooked meal. You have the ability to provide them with a reason to be grateful. A simple gesture may brighten someone’s day. Perhaps you are unable to provide them a turkey dinner around the dinner table, but here is a recipe you can give:
Ingredients:
*Add the ingredients to your own preference. The recipe above may not be entirely edible but is guaranteed to feed your soul.
For more ingredients please visit the Richter Center. Or read this post by Ambassador Shola with more ideas on giving back during the holidays. The opportunities for giving are endless!
What are you thankful for? How do you give back? What is your recipe? What other ingredients can we add to our recipe?
-Ambassador Juan
As the holidays approach, individuals take the time to reflect about what they are thankful for and are often more willing to donate food, some of their time, and attention to those less fortunate. Because people are filled with the spirit of thankfulness and giving back, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign against Hunger and Homelessness sets aside the week prior to Thanksgiving every year to sponsor the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week, more than 750 high schools, universities and community groups all across the nation unite to raise awareness about hunger and homelessness. This year, NHHAW will take place November 17th-22nd on our campus. Fresno State will be participating in NHHAW through the engagement of service learning classes, clubs and organizations in different events and activities to bring awareness to these social issues in the nation, California and the San Joaquin Valley.
Your participation in the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week will not only help raise awareness for the community, but can help build your leadership skills as you collaborate with your friends, classmates and other student leaders. Collectively, we can work to eliminate the myth that hunger and homelessness are inevitable in our society and instead realize that ending hunger and homelessness is attainable.
I encourage you or your organization to participate in the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. You might know someone who is affected by hunger or homelessness. You might know someone who knows someone who is affected by these issues. Regardless, think about why this week is important and the impact your service can have on our community.
What ideas do you have that can help raise awareness about hunger and homelessness?
If you cannot donate your time, what else can you do to end hunger and homelessness?
~Ambassador Juan
Schedule of Festivities Celebrating Fresno State’s Random Acts of Kindness Week!
Kindness Kick-Off
Monday, November 10, 2014 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Free Speech Area
Stop by the Richter Center Ambassador Random Acts of Kindness Table for kindness ideas and contribute to our thank you poster for local Veterans.
Veteran’s Day Parade
Tuesday, November 11, 2014 | 11:00 AM | Downtown Fresno
Celebrate and thank our Veteran’s for their service at the parade in downtown Fresno. (Learn more about the parade: http://www.fresnovdp.org/index.php)
Fishing for Kindness
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Free Speech Area
Stop by the Ambassador booth to “fish” for some kindness ideas. Vintage Days, USU Productions, and Alternative Spring Break will also be on-hand to share their ideas for spreading kindness.
Movie Night featuring The Ultimate Gift – A Life Experience Becomes a Gift
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 | 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM | McLane Hall 121
When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens inherits his grandfather’s crash course on life: 12 tasks-or gifts-designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways. The “course” sends Jason on a journey of self-discovery that forces him to reevaluate his priorities and determine what he thinks the most important things in life really are.
Kindness Report
Thursday, November 13, 2014 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Free Speech Area
Celebrate World Kindness Day by visiting the Ambassador Random Acts of Kindness table to share your story of kindness and get a treat!
Kindness Panel
Friday, November 14, 2014 |12:00 PM – 12:50 PM | FFS 313
Guest speakers Dr. Nkosi, Dr. Levine, and Dr. Zografos will offer their thoughts and wisdom about kindness.
All week, we encourage you to participate in Random Acts of Kindness to help perpetuate a culture of kindness. Share your kindness stories with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/richtercenter or tweet @richtercenter using #RAKweek14 and #FresnoStateServes.
Hi Everyone!
My name is Shola and I am a first-time Ambassador. I’m very excited to do my first blog post!
After Halloween, all the holidays seem to rush and overlap one after another. During that time, while we are celebrating our families and what we are thankful for, we should keep in mind that there are individuals and families that are less fortunate than us.
There are so many volunteer organizations in Fresno that aim to assist the best they can. The Poverello House is a well-known and its great place to begin your community service journey. Fresno Rescue Mission is another great place to inquire about volunteering.
For the past few years, I’ve started to become more aware of the issue of being homeless for the holiday. It worries me that over the next few years, we will be seeing more and more families and people on the streets, with no one to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other family or religious traditions.
You might be thinking, “it’s so far away, I can worry about it later”. That, however, causes the issue to become less important. Thinking about the issue and how getting involved now will be worth it to see those that need your help feeling happy and thankful for their 2014 year.
~Ambassador Shola
The Richter Center Student Leaders 