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`More than 125 Millersville students volunteered, April 10 to clean up Lancaster County and visit elderly residents and disabled children for the 9th annual “Into the Streets.” Organized in 12 student-led groups and individuals, volunteers made their way to 12 Lancaster county agencies to lend a helping hand.
Led by Howard Jones, Community Services Coordinator; and Audrey Lilley, AmeriCorps VISTA, staff of the Volunteer Central in the Bedford House, Into the Streets called all Millersville students, faculty, and staff to get out for a fun day of meaningful volunteer work. Devoted to bettering the Lancaster County area through a combination of efforts by nonprofit organizations, “Into the Streets” allows volunteers to help paint a room, fix a fence, visit with elderly residents or play games with disabled children.
Volunteers visited agencies such as Willow Valley Retirement Communities entertain the elderly and San Juan Bautista Thrift Store to paint the shelves that hold food products.
“Into the Streets” represents the collective of 77 students and representatives from colleges, and student community service programs from across the country. The groups gathered at a summit conference at the United Way of America’s national headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, December 14 and 15, 1990. The purpose of the summit, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, was to bring together representatives from a broad spectrum of organizations to collaboratively plan a national youth/student service project. It was also an opportunity for these 77 representatives to share their thoughts on the future of youth service activities and organization, as well as their work in striving to channel the positive energy of students across the nation into a reflective and diverse service experience.
“Into the Streets” is designed to increase student awareness of issues that affect our society. Students learn to interact with diverse people; develop creative ways to empower communities, discuss social issues; build leadership and interpersonal skills; and increase self esteem.