Serve-a-Thon is the volunteer organization’s annual service project and joint fundraising effort.
“A few of our volunteer programs have already teamed up with Alice Birney School through its After School Program and it seemed only natural to offer our service project to a current community partner,” said Mary Stuart, Operations Manager for Y.E.S.
Typically 70 to 90 Y.E.S. volunteers participate in the service project after the organization’s volunteers have solicited donations for the fundraiser. Those donations pay for volunteer background checks and other unfunded program expenses.
This year instead of a project primarily involving weeding or other similar manual labor, volunteers will have a chance to work directly with groups of children in leading projects inspired by the life and efforts of Cesar Chavez.
The student volunteers will be spending half of their HSU Cesar Chavez holiday (March 31, from 10 to 2 p.m.) working with the children on art projects, a simple play, planting-related projects, and playing games. Volunteers will also help with the school garden and repainting the schoolyard’s world map.
“School personnel want to focus the day on the impact Cesar Chavez has had in improving the lives of the migrant farm workers and in furthering many causes such as civil rights and environmental awareness. Volunteers with Y.E.S. are pleased to be able to play an important role in this effort,” said Stuart.