by Arthur Simoni
Daily Lobo
The Community Experience is extending its March 10 deadline for applications for Spring Storm 2003 to March 28.
Community Experience, an ASUNM executive agency, was created last fall to allow students to participate in community service projects around Albuquerque.
Spring Storm, a one-day, volunteer-led community service project, is the culmination of the agency's work.
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"We really want to increase awareness this week and focus on student groups over spring break," said Abby Hanson, executive director of the Community Experience.
Last year, more than 700 students, staff, faculty and alumni participated in the event's inaugural activities.
"We have about 300 signed up right now," Hanson said. "We are looking to make it the largest community-service event in the United States. In order to do that, we need over 1,000 volunteers."
The purpose of Spring Storm, which will be April 12, is to provide volunteer service to Albuquerque-area groups and organizations in an effort to "give back" to the community, Hanson said.
She added that it provides a way for students to feel better about themselves and appreciate what they have by helping those who are in need of assistance.
Students may register as a group or as individuals. Participants must attend one of the Community Experience's meetings to learn more about the event prior to April 12. Faculty, staff and alumni are also invited to join students in more than 100 community service projects citywide. Participants can choose from indoor or outdoor activities and labor or non-labor projects.
Labor projects include landscaping, building and painting, while non-labor projects consist of visitation and education, examples being visiting senior citizen homes and reading to children at local hospitals.
The service depends upon what the needs of the community service recipient are, Hanson said.
"We accommodate the organizations we are giving service to by providing volunteers," she said.
The scheduled events for April 12 will begin at 9 a.m. at University Stadium. Event coordinators will assign projects at that time.
At 10 a.m., Hanson, Dathan Weems, the founder of Spring Storm, and Jennifer Onuska, Associated Students of UNM president, will address those in attendance. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers will work on their various community service projects around the city. A "Barbeque Bash" will be held at the stadium from 3:15-6:30 p.m., and will feature games, music and raffles, along with barbeque provided by Powdrell's.
