Civic Groups and Nonprofits - need volunteers?

[Lee Cruz]

FOCUS on New Haven, a student-led program designed to introduce incoming students to the city of New Haven through the lens of community engagement and social justice has a group of students willing to volunteer for your organization or project.

FOCUS will partnerships with various organizations whereby their participants will engage in short term volunteer projects for three days. Last year, they had a mix of indoor, outdoor, and remote projects with organizations, and all of these options remain possible this year. Students plan to wear masks and follow any specific requests you may have to keep everyone safe.

 

This year, volunteer projects will take place from August 24-26. Participants will be available to join you in the mornings and afternoons, from around 10 AM to 4 PM, including a break for lunch (students receive food and transportation support from their program). FOCUS organizers are interested in tasks that will make their students useful not experiences that would require extra labor on your part. Please let them know if you envision any needs that a group of around 10-12 students, or multiple groups, could help with. In the past, they’ve helped community partners clean, paint, sort donated items, update online systems, make phone calls, distribute flyers around town, translate documents, pull invasive species, plant trees, help with fundraising, and more. This summer is looking to be our largest program yet in terms of participation (500+ students), so we would love to provide two, three, or four groups if there are tasks they can work on.

FOCUS organizers have developed a form to capture project information, site requirements, etc, that will ideally streamline communication and will greatly assist with our logistical support of the program to minimize confusion.  As you identify projects, please feel free to utilize the form here:  https://yalesurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4Mywo1pH7cTw7si.  

With Yale's recent decision to provide an orientation experience for all incoming students, they have a nearly limitless supply of volunteers this year.  

 

They would love to send more information your way, answer any questions, or discuss possible projects over a call or email. Whether you are able to host a FOCUS group or not, the staff and students at Dwight Hall would love to hear about any future volunteering opportunities throughout the school year. Please contact them directly at:  [e-mail]