Community Service at Central Penn

A Unique Academic Experience

Central Pennsylvania College remains committed to a philosophy of community mindedness that prepares graduates to be contributing members of society. Combining aspects of service with career-oriented education helps to create model citizens.

 All students are required to fulfill a service requirement prior to graduation. Students seeking a bachelor degree are required to complete 50 hours and students seeking an associate degree are required to complete 25 hours. The hours can be earned throughout your education, but must be kept track of in a log. Service hours can take place on campus or in a community organization but must be of a volunteer and service-oriented nature. Club membership and meetings do not count; but club projects like the homeless sleep out or soup kitchen participation do count. Students are required to hand in a completed service log to the internship adviser with their completed internship packets. Internship grades will not be issued without successful completion of this service requirement. Continuing Education, transfer students and students that change majors or degree levels must also fulfill this requirement prior to graduation. Students who have already completed an internship will need to work with their academic advisor to ensure this goal is met prior to graduation.

Below are just a few of the organizations to which Central Penn students have already volunteered their time and energies, or will do so in the future:

Castaway Critters, The James A. Hueholt Memorial Foundation for Animals. Castaway Critters is a 501 (c) 3 , no-kill, foster home animal rescue and spay/neuter charity. We rely on donations, grants, and a great team of volunteers and supporters to operate. Since the organization began in 2002, we have found homes for nearly 6000 animals. Our website is www.castawaycritters.org.

Castaway Critters volunteers, fosters, and adoptable cats and dogs attend a number of events throughout the year, such as Woofstock (Harrisburg) and Pup-E-Palooza (Elizabethtown), as well as hosting our own fun community awareness events and fundraisers. We have regular adoption days at Petsmart locations in Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg. We are always looking for new foster homes for our animals, as well as volunteers to help out at events, host fundraisers, or assist with “at home” projects such as adoption application processing and other administrative tasks.

You can start by filling out a volunteer application on our website or e-mailing us with your questions at info@castawaycritters.org.

Volunteer Firefighters. West Enola Fire Co has a FREE LIVE-IN program for college students that are currently Volunteer Firefighters. The fire company has constructed new living quarters complete with full kitchen, bunk rooms, locker rooms, laundry, entertainment room & wireless and hard wired internet access. For more information, contact Chief Dressler at 717-732-1919 or visit www.westenolafire.com. Also, the Fire company seeks volunteers to help with various projects and fundraising programs.

UCP Central PA.  For over half a century, UCP Central PA has been offering programs and services to meet the needs of people of all ages and all types of disabilities. Throughput that time, UCP has continually evolved and grown to meet the needs of the community. We currently provide programs and services to over 3,500 individuals and families in 15 counties throughout Central Pa. We have opportunities in Adult Day Programs, Childhood Programs, & Special Events. We also need business support in our Administrative offices.

UCP Central PA
44 South 38th St
Camp Hill, PA 17011

Business hours are M-F 7am-5:30pm
Weekend hours are available for Human Services areas at our group homes.

Contact Casey Hurst, Community Relations Coordinator churst@ucpcentralpa.org or 717-975-0611 ext 217

Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center is a not-for-profit organization that provides a family centered education and therapy program for infants, children and adolescents with developmental delays and disabilities in the Lancaster county area. Our goal oriented approach maximizes each child's ability to function as independently as possible within the community.

Contact Marie Johnston, 393-0425 x 129 or mjohnston@schreiberpediatric.org for more details about exciting volunteer opportunities.

Board of Trustees with the Dauphin County Historical Society, located in Harrisburg in the Cameron Mansion on Front Street, we are currently building a team of volunteers who will work with our curator , director and others, to catalog thousands of photographs and objects which are relevant to the history of Harrisburg and to Pennsylvania. There is a need for volunteers for data entry of the information needed to complete this massive project. Volunteers will be able to work from home, after a short training session at the mansion.

We would ask that the volunteers "pledge" a number of hours that they feel they will be able to contribute to data entry. We will keep a log of pledged volunteer hours in a "bank" as a resource. As information is ready for data entry, we will contact those volunteers in the bank and provide them the information for transcription. Please contact Anne Kearney at voice (717) 576-2735 or Email valueit@ptd.net .

Northern Dauphin Revitalization Project, Inc. (NDRP) is a volunteer organization committed to eliminating abandoned and blighted properties in the downtowns of Halifax, Millersburg, Elizabethville, Gratz, Lykens, Williamstown, and Tower City and encouraging business development focused on tourism, education, and technology. The Project is non-profit and is affiliated with the PA Downtown Center, Dauphin County Department of Community and Economic Development, and PA State Department of Community and Economic Development, all of which office in Harrisburg.

Using the Main Street approach to downtown economic redevelopment, NDRP seeks college and graduate students to serve in research projects within the seven "anchor" communities. Projects involve customizing existing survey instruments (a 12- to 15-item questionnaire) for one of the towns, encouraging residents and patrons to complete the survey (about 125 surveys needed), analyze the results into a readable and logical flow of information, write up a user-friendly article to be published in the Upper Dauphin Sentinel newspaper (www.SentinelNow.com), and be interviewed on WQLV-FM radio, the new Love 98.9-FM (soft rock) during one of the morning shows, explaining the survey and the results for the town chosen. Contact Dr. Ben Scott, Regional Coordinator, 717-362-1438 (Voice), 717-362-1392 (Fax) or Email NDRPBen@epix.net.

River of God Church is an active, contemporary church with many opportunities weekly and throughout the year to meet many people and experience lots of different activities and events. Some of these events include Community Night w/Fireworks, Huge Community Picnic Celebration, Pumpkin Fest, Lite the Night, Harvest Carnival, Christmas Dinner Theater, Easter Production, Weekly Coffee Bar to mention just a few. Volunteers will serve in many capacities such as food service, coffee bar attendant, greeter, set-up/clean-up, various skill oriented areas (painting, carpentry, drawing, costuming, make-up etc. There are many more areas to serve with a guarantee that you will enjoy every minute and will be overwhelmingly welcomed and appreciated. Located at 747 Wertzville Road, Enola, PA 17025.

Volunteer Match. Where volunteering begins! This is a website that allows you to see what volunteer opportunities are available within 20 or so miles of Central Penn across a variety of interest areas.

Jewish Family Service of Harrisburg . We are always looking for college students who would be willing to help us out with our respite program. Respite is a time in which parents are able to relax, take some time out for themselves, and rejuvenate from the challenges they face 24/7 with raising special needs children. We take children on fun trips to places like the zoo, swimming, bowling, ice-skating, and much more. You would help us in watching these children and help them socialize with other adopted children who have been through similar situations as themselves. Our agency always provides a 2 hour course for those who would like to do respite. It will teach you about struggles that adopted children might face and how to best deal with the children. We also train on areas such as child development, grief and loss, attachment, discipline, and more. On average, there are about 8- 10 hours a month in which the college students can help out. Please contact me via Email or by phone, 717-233-1681. Thanks, Jennifer Prol, Adoption/Respite Coordinator, Jewish Family Service of Harrisburg.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Central PA Chapter, 2040 Linglestown Road, Suite 104, Harrisburg, PA 17110, 717-652-2108, FAX 717-652-2590, 1-800-227-2108, pac.nationalMSsociety.org. Contact Barbara Bradshaw, Director of Community Development, at barbara.bradshaw@nmss.org. Business hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, occasional weekend opportunities available. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Central PA Chapter, is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for people affected by MS, serving more than 5,300 people throughout a 30-county area. The Chapter is a driving force of MS research, relentlessly pursuing prevention, treatment and a cure. The Society serves as activists and fundraisers, mobilizing the talents and resources of the millions of people who want to something about MS NOW! Volunteer activities include participation in: walk MS (4/19/09) & (5/2/09), bike MS (7/18-19/09), Polo MS (8/7-8/09), internships, office assistance and MS Activists at the local, state and federal levels. Join the movement to stop the devastating effects of MS!

United Way of the Capital Region(Enola). We are in need of volunteers to assist us with some simple research. We have a lengthy list of names with addresses, but no telephone numbers. The project simply involves going on the Internet and "Googling" each name to get a correct phone number. We have work stations available Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:30 AM - 5:00 PM), and a staff person available to answer any questions that may arise. Because our offices are located so close to the College, we thought there might be students who still need volunteer hours who would be interested in helping us meet this important deadline. If you would be interested in helping, please call 732-0700, ext. 39. You also may contact Jennifer Daniels at 732-0700, ext. 31.

Capital City Computer Project is a non-profit organization, started in 1996 to teach children and adults computers in the Harrisburg and surrounding areas. We have a total of 85 Community Computer Centers in the Harrisburg, Steelton, Middletown, York, Dover, and Carlisle areas. We are looking for Central Penn students to come to one of our sites listed at http://www.capitalcitycomputer.org to teach Basic, Intermediate, Advance computer training, and Internet safety and awareness classes to the children, adults and senior citizens. The classes are taught from 4 to 15 weeks, in one of the listed sites.

POC is Charlene Morris who can be reached at 717 576-3947 or at Email at morris@capitalcitycomputer.org or Faxed at 717 234-3719.

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, We want your enthusiasm! Whitaker Center, housing an IMAX theater, a performing arts theater and a 3-story hands-on science center, welcomes youth (ages 16+) and adults to join our team, offering the best in customer service and interaction! Internships are also available. Contact Michelle Hornberger, Volunteer and Intern Coordinator at phone (717) 724-3857, Email mhornberger@whitakercenter.org.

Home Depot Kids Workshop, 5101 Jonestown Road, Lower Paxton, PA 17112, POC Ben Folk - Email: bfolk82@comcast.net , work phone (717) 651-9699 (ask for Ben Folk) and home phone (610) 413-9036. Volunteer Hours: 8 AM - 2 PM first Saturday of every month beginning April 2. The Home Depot Kids Workshop is offered to children ages 4-12. The program teaches children basic motor skills involving screwdrivers and hammers through monthly projects. The volunteers would be involved with the setup of the Kids Workshop and aiding the children in the construction of the projects. The volunteers are expected to act in accordance with guidelines and values set forth by The Home Depot while aiding with the Kids Workshop.

WITF, Inc., WITF Public Media Center, 4801 Lindle Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112. Contact Volunteer Services, volunteer@witf.org or 717.910.2942. Business Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Friday, occasional weekend opportunities available. WITF, Inc., is Central Pennsylvania's public broadcasting station, and includes a TV station, FM radio station, and magazine geared towards Central Pennsylvanians. Volunteer activities include: Answering telephone calls during our TV and FM membership campaigns; representing WITF during special events, fundraisers, and concerts; assisting our FM and TV production departments; helping to prepare bulk mailings; facilitating parenting-education workshops for WITF's Ready to Learn Program, and much, much more! Updated information!

Shining Light Thrift Shop (SLTS) is a non-profit ministry of the Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick. They provide clothing, household goods and furniture to the homeless and economically disadvantaged of the Harrisburg community. They do this through free and discount programs based on household income. They are in need of volunteers that can help in their store doing many different tasks such as sorting clothes, tagging clothing, hanging clothes, putting clothes on racks, and many more. You may volunteer as little as 2 hours a day. Or if you can assist them with Ebay please let them know.

Please call Gregory Beatty Mgr. at (717) 234-2436 or you may Email him at ShiningLightThriftShop@gmail.com. The Shining Light Thrift Shop is located at 1310 & 1306 N. Third St. in Harrisburg. Hours of operation are: Monday to Saturday 10 to 4:00.

Harrisburg Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), provides community service through the organized effort of young people ages 21-39 of our community; promotes the welfare of our community through active and constructive projects; and provides our members with leadership training and experiences in order to enhance their capacity as emerging leaders. Contact us at www.harrisburgjaycees.com. Opportunities include:

Citizen Bee: Procter an event to test the skills of competing high school students.

Lake Tobias Outdoor Tour: Take up to seventy Boys and Girls Club kids on an outdoor adventure. Help watch over kids, hand out food, and set up and tear down the picnic area.

Habitat for Humanity: Help build a home for a deserving family. Brush up on your home improvement skills at the same time.

Greenworks: Help clean up and beautify our designated section of Interstate 83, and many, many more!

Charitable and service organizations - Would you like to see your information posted here? Then please Email us with all of your particulars including organization name, address, contact information (phone number and Email) as well as your business hours and a short paragraph on your activities. We'll review your information and post it to our Website in no time!

Students should use the following form to maintain an official record of their community service hours.

Community Service Hours Log