by Eva Dameron
Daily Lobo
One thousand sandwiches were provided for the 700 volunteers who showed up at 9 a.m. at University Stadium for Spring Storm on Saturday.
Breakfast, lunch and a barbecue dinner were provided to student organizations and students who volunteered Saturday.
Wristbands with seating numbers grouped students at the stadium. Packets on bleachers told them where to go and what they would be doing.
Four members of Delta Psi Rho sorority and three other students were assigned to work at Working Classroom, an organization that provides artistic and educational opportunities for low-income students.
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In the back of Working Classroom, the Delta Psi Rho sorority volunteers lifted chairs and boxes in the bright sun. They cleaned out a storage room in the back of the building and put down pallets to guard the contents of the room from watery ruin.
Sam Johnsen, director of ASUNM's Craft Studio, was one of three inside painting the walls.
"Volunteering creates a structure for altruistic endeavors that people wouldn't know how to facilitate," he said, situating himself into a corner to carefully paint a low edge.
Nedra Iwerks, from Delta Psi Rho, said she was taught to be nice and do things for other people.
"Sometimes people lose touch with humanity, so it's good to get out and help," she said.
Another painter, Josh Goldstein, had not volunteered for a decade. He said he forgot how good it feels because he had not done it in so long.
"People who don't volunteer are selfish, but not in a bad way. They just have too many things to do," he said.
He compared the glory of volunteering to "Star Trek." In the show, society no longer operates under the reign of money. People perform their jobs because they want to.
"I think our society should move in that direction," he said.
The women finished before the men, so they went inside to help speed up the process.
Alumnus Dathan Weens dreamed up the idea for Spring Storm. The first Spring Storm was on April 6, 2002.
"I was familiar with similar events around the country, and it seemed like something to do," Weens said. "Spring Storm is unique with the kick-off and barbecue element."
He wanted to find a way to bring all types of students together.
"Service events get the broadest cross-section of people," he said.
Saraswati Khalsa, director of Community Experience and Chelsea Armstrong, assistant director, have been planning the event since January.
Khalsa said the hardest part was finding good projects for groups to volunteer with.
"I like spending my time on things that are worthwhile," Khalsa said. "You want to get cool projects for people to do."
