Spring Storm showers community

by Jodi Hunley and

Audra Meiklejohn

Daily Lobo

The UNM community stormed Albuquerque on Saturday in the second annual Spring Storm community service project.

"Are you all excited?" Abby Hanson, executive director of Spring Storm, asked the hundreds of volunteers gathered at University Stadium to kick off the event dedicated to community service.

Spring Storm is an entire day that UNM students, faculty, staff and alumni devote to a variety of community service projects around campus and Albuquerque.

"It's a way to bring together a diverse student population with one common thread," said Dathan Weems, founder of Spring Storm. "That thread is a desire to help the community."

Sixty organizations participated in 45 projects around the city this year. Each volunteer project site provided its own supplies while Spring Storm provided the volunteers and any additional necessities for the project, Hanson said.

The Community Experience, which is the newest executive agency of Associated Students of UNM, organized the event.

The Community Experience was created to provide an opportunity for students to get involved in community service projects benefiting the city.

The day began at the stadium with a free breakfast for the volunteers and afterward, sunscreen and sack lunches were distributed to get volunteers on their way.

"Powdrell's, Krispy Kreme, Subway, Einstein Bagels and Starbucks gave us an awesome deal on everything," Hanson said. "They cut prices for us because it was such a great benefit. Student Activities provided vans for transportation and security."

The organization also received donations from some UNM administrators, including UNM President Chris Garcia's office as well as the Graduate and Professional Student Association and ASUNM, Hanson added.

After a short introduction, about 1,000 volunteers began dispersing to their various service sites around the city.

"It's nice to get out and give back to communities less fortunate than we are," said Joshua Derrig, a sophomore and member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. "You can tell the kids are having fun and appreciate having us here."

Derrig was one of many volunteers at the Annual Spring Celebration at the Whittier Shelter Center. Activities included face painting, a fun jump, singing, dancing, a baseball toss and handing out free food for the children of the community.

"Our volleyball team just came to help out the community," said Chelsea Sondrup, a freshman on the Lobo volleyball squad. "We heard about the Spring Storm and we thought it was a good idea to get involved."

Sondrup was overseeing the fun jump slide, one of the most popular events at the carnival. "My job is to make sure no one gets squished," she said.

The Albuquerque Fire Department was also on hand to help out, said Leroy Sanchez, a member of the fire department. Firefighters sprayed water from their hoses for children to play in.

Volunteers said Saturday's Spring Storm was not only an opportunity to aid the community, but also a chance to have some fun.

"We participated in Spring Storm last year, but it was mostly picking up trash," said Aaron Orosco, a UNM senior and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity member. "This time we got to interact with the community."

Meanwhile, 49 UNM students worked at the Roadrunner Food Bank repacking food such as corn-on-the cob, diced carrots, pinto beans and pasta.

"We're all having fun," said Skip Newgard, Roadrunner night and weekend manager. "The volunteers are very eager people - very eager to do anything you ask them to do - with a very positive attitude."

Newgard said the purpose of the Roadrunner food bank is to offer food to needy families and providers.

Volunteers packed food donated by General Foods, Smith's, Raley's and Wal-Mart. From the food bank, the food will be offered to agencies that will distribute it such as the Salvation Army and various soup kitchens, senior centers, schools and local churches.

Dressed in a hair net, smock and gloves, Cynthia Chavez, a UNM junior and member of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, helped pack more than 500 pounds of corn-on-the-cob. Chavez said she was proud to help her community.

At the food bank, college students were not the only ones donating their time and services. St. Pius high school sophomore Nick Atencio worked to fulfill a community service requirement.

"It's good we're here," he said. "They need a lot of volunteers."

Those who run organizations receiving assistance from Spring Storm volunteers agreed that they need the help.

"If it weren't for people like this we wouldn't get anything done - we wouldn't have enough man power," Newgard said.

At the end of the day, volunteers were rewarded for their hard work with a barbeque, games, prizes and music at the stadium.

"It's exciting," Hanson said. "I feel completely fulfilled. Everything went really smoothly. I'm already looking forward to next year."