Serving People in Need
Alpha Phi Omega (APO) |
Description: APO is a national co-ed service fraternity based on the founding principles of service, friendship, and leadership. Along with hundreds of other chapters around the nation, St. Olaf's Iota Tau chapter is committed to service to the college and the community and to developing leaders to serve this campus and beyond. APO members are involved in service activities such as helping first year students move in during Week One, cleaning up our piece of Adopted Highway, reading to grade school students, visiting residents at retirement homes, volunteering for the Minnesota AIDS Project and at Peoople Serving People in Minneapolis, dog walking at the Fairbault Humane Society and collecting clothing and food for shelfs in Northfield. APO also holds many fellowship activities such as pack outs, movie nights, game nights, bonfires, and toga parties (because, hey, we are a frat!).
Directors: Stephanie Larson <larsons>
Contacts: N/A, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions
Time: Sunday meetings at 6 p.m. |
Blue Key |
Description: Blue Key is an honor society for servant leadership. It sponsors the biannual Red Cross blood drive and other service projects. Students are inducted their sophomore or junior years on the basis of faculty recommendations and an application. Go to our website, www.stolaf.edu/orgs/bluekey, for information about our Last Lecture Series.
Directors: Rachel Woldum <woldumr>
Contacts: N/A, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions
Time: varies |
Feed My Starving Children |
Description: Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a Christian organization that started in Minnesota in 1987. In FMSC's 3 permanent Twin Cities locations, volunteers package nutritious meals (rice, soy, freeze-dried veggies, and vitamins) that get sent to starving children around the world. A streamlined assembly-line process allows for quick packaging--and requires many volunteers. A group of St. Olaf students will go to the Eagan site for a 2-hour shift one Monday and one Wednesday a month, September through April (transportation provided). Oles can attend just one trip or go multiple times throughout the year.
Directors: Lam Cao <cao>, Linnae Stole <stole>
Contacts: Contact NA, <info@fmsc.org> (651-379-2775), FMSC, 990 Lone Oak Road, Suite 124, Eagan, MN 55122
Time: 2 hour shifts, one Monday and one Wednesday a month |
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Description: Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit ecumenical organization that works to build affordable, decent housing for people who are in need. Habitat is run on the principle of putting Christian love into action, but you need not be a Christian to receive a home. Habitat is not a give-away program - people work to build their own homes. Habitat helps to create a diverse, loving community of people helping people, and is currently the largest homebuilder in the nation.
Everyone is welcome to participate! St. Olaf Habitat's biggest projects are our spring break trips; for a week, we go to locations around the country to work with other Habitat affiliates. It's always a great experience, and we like to have as many participants as possible! We do encourage you to do volunteer work with our organization before trip sign-ups in February, though it is not required; join our alias to find out about the other volunteer opportunities we offer throughout the year!
Directors: Nate Van Wylen <vanwylnm>
Contacts: N/A, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions
Time: varies |
Healing Outreach Prevention Education (HOPE) Center |
Description: HOPE Center, formerly the WomanSafe Center, delivers advocacy and crisis intervention services to victims of domestic abuse, child abuse and sexual assault through healing outreach, prevention and education. HOPE Center was formed in 1994 by merging the Rice County Sexual Assault Program, Battered Women's Program and the Northfield Helpline. The result is an advocacy organization that provides extensive services to victims of violence in Rice County. If offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities and allows for volunteers to work with both children and adults. Some opportunities include aiding in conversations and presentations about abuse to both children and adults, playing with children, serving as a role model for youth, and helping at health fairs.
Directors: Christina Hodge <hodge>
Contacts: Melia Garza <melia.garza@gmail.com> (507-332-0882). 303 1st Ave. NE, Suite 365, Faribault, MN 55021
Time: 1 day/week, plus an initial 6-week training period (8 hrs/wk) |
HealthFinders Collaborative |
Description: The Mission of Health Finders is to provide quality, accessible and culturally appropriate healthcare services, at no cost, to low-income and uninsured residents of greater Rice County. HealthFinders allows students to become directly involved in translating services (in Spanish for doctors and patients) at the clinic. The clinic is located on County Road 88/130th Street in Dundas, MN.
Directors: Anna Larson <larsona>, Jessica Johnson <johnsjc>
Contacts: Angelica Koch <koch.angelica@healthfindersmn.orf> (507-330-4031), 2980 130th St. East, Dundas, MN
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-8:30pm |
Make-a-Wish St. Olaf |
Description: Founded in 1982, Make-A-Wish Minnesota has been granting wishes for children with life-threatening diseases. St. Olaf students looking to participate in this program may serve by lending a hand at various Make-A-Wish functions, spending time in the Make-A-Wish office or by becoming a wish granter. Volunteers who are 21 may become certified to grant wishes after completing a one time training session (transportation provided). Interested students should contact the program directors to get more information about specific opportunities. *Must be 21 years of age to volunteer is some capacities.
Directors: Luke Dueffert <dueffert>, David Sandness <sandness>, Bryan Dyer <dyerb>
Contacts: N/A, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions
Time: 1-1.5 hours per week (students may involve themselves as much or little as they desire) |
Northfield Community Action Food Shelf |
Description: This Program coordinates and transports St. Olaf volunteers to the local food shelf where our students help distribute the food to families in need.
Directors: Linnea Logas <logas> and Marija Knudson (second semester) <knudson>
Contacts: <bickel.judy@northfieldcac.org> (507-664-3550), 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS 200, Northfield, MN 55057
Time: 1-3 hrs/week |
People Serving People |
Description: People Serving People is the largest homeless shelter in Minneapolis, providing both emergency and empowering services to families who need assistance. We go up to the shelter several weekends a month to serve hot meals that are prepared by cooks cafeteria-style in a serving line. We get to meet people from all walks of life through the kitchen staff as well as the residents. Transportation is provided.
Directors: Anna Sauer <sauera>, Jeanette Strommen <strommen>
Contacts: Erika Iverson <erikai@peopleservingpeople.org> (612-277-0256), 614 South Third Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Time: 4 hours per trip: 10:30am to 2:30pm (several weekends a semester) |
Serving Our Society |
Description: SOS serves families through social change by providing three volunteer opportunities per month.
Directors: Mai Vang <vangmat>
Contacts: N/A, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions
Time: varies |
Special Olympics |
Description: This program works with people who have mental and/or physical disabilities. Volunteers provide athletic opportunities like basketball, swimming, adaptive bowling, and track. All of these activities are conducted on-campus, except bowling.
Directors: Sommer Wild <wilds>
Contacts: Kathy Lean <kathryn.lean@nfld.k12.mn.us> (507-663-0630), 1400 Division Street South, Northfield, MN 55057
Time: varies |
St. Olaf Disability Awareness |
Description: St. Olaf Disability Awareness (SODA) provides outreach and a consistent volunteer base to regional disability non-profits such as Courage Center and the Laura Baker House. In addition, SODA provides the St. Olaf community with a source of information, active dialogue and activities focused on disability awareness. Ultimately, the organization strives to reduce the stigma often attached to people with disabilities and include them in our dialogue of diversity at St. Olaf College.
Directors: Matt Nesheim and Andy Crofton
Contacts: -
Time: - |
Stiches for Peace |
Description: Stitches for Peace is an organization dedicated to outreach in both the local and global community. Members meet weekly to knit, crochet, or sew clothing, blankets and other itmes to donate to various charities. Members will teach anyone interested how to knit or crochet so that they too can participate in the group's efforts. Students, faculty and community members are all welcome to join!
Directors: Heidi James <jamesh>
Contacts: N/A, contact Kris Vatter <vatter> with questions
Time: Wednesdays at 8:30-9:30 pm |
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