College community service can foster personal growth and introduce volunteers to our community’s needs and the causes behind them. At Lehigh, we have many great opportunities to benefit the quality of life for members of the South Bethlehem community. Here are some ways you can help make an impact.
Volunteer Experience
Kick off your freshman year with the Volunteer Experience, a pre-orientation program with the goal of introducing first-year students to Lehigh’s campus and the neighboring area through community service. For the three days of the Volunteer Experience, first-year students engage in rewarding service projects led by upper-class students, many of whom participated in the program as first-year students. You are encouraged to get out of your comfort zone and make new connections with other incoming first-year students.
Feel Good Friday
Lehigh students have the opportunity to give back and do something kind for their local community each and every Friday. Join the Community Service office and lend a helping hand to organizations that greatly benefit all residents of the greater Lehigh Valley, such as the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley and the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center. Feel Good Friday allows students to build empathy, practice social skills and learn from diverse perspectives by listening to the needs of the community.
America Reads America Counts
Lehigh has been a part of the America Reads program since 1997 and the America Counts program since 1999. Lehigh students who participate in these programs work with students from SouthSide schools, including Fountain Hill Elementary School, Donegan Elementary School and Broughal Middle School. Both in-school and after-school for the Homework Clubs, volunteer tutors help students sharpen their math and reading skills, while leaving a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families living in and around South Bethlehem.
Move Out Collection Drive & The Great South Side Sale
It’s a ritual for Lehigh students at the end of the spring semester to donate to the Move Out Collection Drive. Donations will be sold at The Great South Side Sale to benefit children and youth programs in South Bethlehem. Students can also volunteer with collecting clothing, appliances, food, books, furniture and other usable items for this great cause. Through the Move Out Collection Drive and The Great South Side Sale, students can help out the local community by not only raising money for children’s programming but also building a sustainable community where everything is being used to its maximum potential.
SERVE Trips
SERVE is a week-long experience designed for Lehigh students to immerse themselves in communities similar to South Bethlehem, where Lehigh is located. Since 1995, students and faculty advisers have volunteered their time and effort contributing to non-profit organizations working towards affordable housing, environmental conservation and helping serve those who need immediate assistance. SERVE trips focus on building partnerships with local non-profit organizations who provide students with experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom. Past locations include the American Hiking Society in Natural Bridge, Va., Feeding America of Southwest in Roanoke, Va. and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis, Md. On SERVE trips, Lehigh students can show initiative by fostering a greater awareness of the issues in their community and strengthening their commitment to action through community service.
Victory House
Victory House is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing shelter and transitional services to homeless men, many who have been veterans. Lehigh students volunteer by cooking dinner for residents of Victory House and assisting with kitchen clean-up every week. It is a great opportunity to develop positive relationships and take part in providing service that is effective and beneficial to South Bethlehem community veterans.