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Volunteer Spotlight:Charisse Stevens

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Calendar of VSLC Upcoming Events

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Operation SunshinePirate Fest

A Pirate’s Guide to

A publication of the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center

Over spring break, 55 ECU students traveled across the globe to make a difference.

In Roatan, Honduras, 13 students cleaned up beaches and built a foundation for an environmentally friendly building where women could sell handcrafts made form recyclable materials. Mike Loeffelman, the VSLC staff member who attended the trip, described it as an intense trip; they witnessed “poverty in paradise.”

In New York City, 15 students worked with the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and Junior Achievement New York where they helped prepare for a fundraising AIDS Walk in May and tutored children. In Carteret County, nine students worked with the NC Coastal Federation, bagging oyster shells and helping care for a bird nesting area. They also volunteered at the Pine Knolls Shore NC Aquarium. A fourth group of 18 students traveled to New Orleans to help neighborhoods still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The students painted, cleaned and landscaped, among other tasks.

“This gives students an opportunity for deep personal reflection,” Loeffelman said. “It also helps students work better as a team and develop communication and leadership skills.”

TRIPS 2011

Service“Where Every Girl is the Belle of the

Ball”As you walk into the room, dresses of every style, color and size hang in front of you. A smiling face comes over to greet you; your own personal shopper is ready to help you pick out your perfect dress. Going through the racks, you pick out several that match the image you had in your head of your perfect prom look. Then, you’re led to another room. This one has shoes, jewelry and all sorts of accesso-ries waiting for you to choose.

This was the experience that nearly 30 high school Fairytale Boutique participants had the weekend of February 18th-20th. These girls, who were selected in cooperation with local guidance counselors, were able to come to the boutique and find their perfect dress. “It’s all about having that girlie moment and making sure they feel like the belle of the ball or a princess when they get to their prom,” says Jessica Gagne-Cloutier. She, in conjunction with a small committee, has worked to bring the boutique to life. Donations of gently used dresses and accessories from the past few years were collected from members of the community to give these girls an opportunity to find their perfect prom dress.

You can be a part of this dream come true! To donate your old formal gowns, shoes or accessories, please contact Jessica Gagne-Cloutier at gagnej@ecu.edu.

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A Pirate’s Guide to Service Page 2

Each year, hundreds of students at East Carolina University participate in service-learning classes as well classes with service requirements. Four years ago, Charisse Stevens was in one of those classes - English 1200. Her class participated in a “trick or canning” food drive where the students drop off empty bags on community doorsteps and come back on Halloween to retrieve canned food donations. Today, Charisse is the first intern with the Volunteer and Service Learning Center.

Meet Charisse Stevens!

Charisse is a senior communications major. After that initial service experience in class, she has gone on to volunteer with the Ronald McDonald House, Boys and Girls Club, The Campus Kitchen at East Carolina University and many other organizations. She has also participated in the MLK Challenge for three years running, and has participated in NC-ACTS for two years. NC-ACTS (North Carolina-Activating Citizenship Through Service) is an AmeriCorps nation-al service program hosted by North Carolina Campus Compact wherein participating students donate 300 hours of service to their local communities. At the completion of their 300 hours, students are awarded an educational award of $1,132 which can be used to pay for educational expenses.

Last year, she helped coordinate the Girl Scouts’ “Favorite Guy Dance.” This dance allows girl scouts to have an evening out, complete with food, fun and games, with their fathers, grandfa-thers, uncles or any other significant man in their life. “It was fun to watch them have fun,” she said.

When asked what service means to her, Charisse answered, “It is helping to benefit the community and others.” She says, “Service has given me a better appreciation for the things I have. It made me realize there is a world outside of college.” As this pirate ventures out into life after college, she is sure to take her experiences with her and continue to make a difference.

If you would like more information on how to get out and make a differnce, come by the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center on the first floor of theOld Caferteria Complex.

“The true meaning of leadership is

service.”

-Carter Woodson

Phone (252) 758-5315 • Fax (252) 758-2328

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A Pirate’s Guide to Service Page 3Operation Sunshine

Pirate FestPirates aren’t a thing of the past anymore. In fact, they are a thing of tradition here at East Carolina University; and on April 8th and 9th, 2011, they will be roaming on the East Coast once more. At least, in Greenville they will be.

Pirate Fest is returning for its fifth year to Greenville. Downtown shuts down to make way for vendors offering food, fun and all things pirate. Attractions will include: carnival games, music, and exhibits by local artisans. Blackbeard’s Market will also be open to satisfy your taste buds.

If you are interested in volunteering with Pirate Fest, contact Mike Loeffelman with the Volunteer and Service-Learn-ing Center at loeffelmanm@ecu.edu or 252-328-2802. Hope to see you there, matey!

In conjunction with a new program, “Generation Y, Striving to be Fit,” Operation Sunshine also feeds the students snacks, and along with The Campus Kitchen at ECU, meals to the girls when they come to the center. They also make it a point to discuss nutrition and exercise with the girls. Each year, the center offers a trophy, “Miss Operation Sunshine,” to celebrate the girl who had the best year. Over the summer, the girls go bowling, swimming, and take trips to the planetarium, among other activities.

If you are interested in helping out, Operation Sunshine needs volunteers! If you want to come for two hours or two years, they would love to have you! Also, monetary donations or donations of products are greatly appreciated. To donate, contact Latoya at operationsunshineinc03@hotmail.com or at 252-758-5315.

After first opening on Third Street, the center has moved several times. They purchased their building on Chestnut Street in 2003 and have been there since.

Operation Sunshine’s mission is to provide a structured and nurturing program to encourage academic success and personal growth to females ages 5-13. They receive referrals from social services for the girls in their program. While they cater to single parent and low-income households first, they do accept two parent homes as well.

Barbara Davis and Latoya Mobley work alongside volunteers to bring these girls together and offer a supportive environment. Latoya, who came to work at Operation Sunshine after completing an intern-ship there says, “I love working with the girls, I’ve seen them grow, graduate and attend college.” They offer two programs, an afterschool program during the school year and a summer program. As a part of their program, the students work on homework, have guest speakers talk about topics such as bullying, and self esteem and learn social skills together.

Operation Sunshine opened its doors in the 1970’s. Begun by a group of women from a local church, the idea was to help latchkey and other children by offering them educational, social, and emotional support.

A Pirate’s Guide to Service Page 4Calendar of Upcoming Events

Volunteer and Service-Learning CenterOld Cafeteria Complex

252-328-2735 (phone) 252-328-0139 (fax)www.ecu.edu/vslc vslc@ecu.edu

Judy Baker, Institutional and Community Development ConsultantJessica Gagne Cloutier, Service-Learning CoordinatorMichael Loeffelman, Volunteer CoordinatorShawn Moore, Community Partner CoordinatorAlice Tyson, Office ManagerKatie Winn, AmeriCorps*Vista Member

March 2011

Blood Donation Fact

Source: www.bnl.gov

Wednesday, March 30Giggle GangJenkin Fine Arts Center Room 1327 3:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m.Volunteers will plan art projects, help participatnts to develop basic art skills and creativity, set up materials, work one on one with the students, and clean up. You will be working with students with disabilities. Please contact Michelle at 973-248-7954 or cavalloM09@students.ecu.edu or Cynthia at 252-328-1293 at bickleygreenc@ecu.edu.

Saturday, April 2Kids FestViQuest Center 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m.Volunteers will assist with fun games and events for young children and their families. Please contact Tammy Whitten attammya2bellagurl.com. For more information go to: www.encpartners.com/runlikeakid.html.

Saturday, April 2 Special Populations PromBoys and Girls Club West Firetower 9 a.m.-2 p.m.Volunteers will set-up, do hair and make-up, be a lobby attendant, escort and clean-up. Please contact Shoneice Scoyners at 252-626-7183 or sconyerss07@students.ecu.edu.To register: www.piratealumni.com/promvolunteers.

Sunday, April 3Camp TuscaroraEastern 4-H Center, Columbia, NC 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Volunteers will interact with the campers with disabilities. Please contact Amanda Leggett at amanda.leggett@nc.eastersealsucp.com. or 252-756-6533 ext 201.

Saturday, April 9Froggs Table at PirateFestDowntown Greenville 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Volunteers will maintain the table, hand out flyers, answer questions, and sell raffle tickets for Kayak. Please contact Kelly Jochim at 252-946-7211 or kelly@ptrf.org.

Saturday, April 16Riverkeeper Cleanup ChallengeGreenville Town Commons 7:45 a.m.-12 p.m. Volunteers will be collecting trash and debris along or in the river. Kayaks are available for use on first-come, first-served basis. Contact office to reserve. Please contact Kelly Jochim at 252-946-7211 or kelly@ptrf.org.

For more volunteer opportunities, visit the Volunteer andService-Learning at www.ecu.edu/vslc.

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Students gather with local site leaders on their last day of service on a spring break trip in Hondouras. Over 50 ECU students

participated in spring break trips this year.