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While students, faculty, and staff undertake a variety of service projects in the Easton area, nine regional alumni chapters will be volunteering in their communities during Lafapalooza: Lafayette’s National Days of Service, April 13-15 and 21.
Other than Lafayette Alumni of the Lehigh Valley, this is the first year that alumni chapters are participating in Lafapalooza. The Landis Community Outreach Center is playing a significant role in the effort.
“Our alumni, students, faculty, and staff are immensely talented. Together, they can strengthen their communities by providing a wide array of services through their volunteer efforts,” says Sherri Jones, director of alumni affairs. “It will also provide a wonderful opportunity for our constituents to work side by side in serving the needs of the community.”
Online registration for Lafapalooza is available through the alumni web site. The alumni affairs liaison for Lafapalooza is Jamie Hughes ’05, assistant director of alumni affairs, jhughes@alumni.lafayette.edu, (610) 330-5899, 1-800-LAFAYETTE (outside Pa.).
Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Chapter will sort canned goods from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 14, at the Philabundance Food Bank facility, 302 West Berks Street; food donations are encouraged. Volunteers must wear sneakers and be at least nine years old. Chapter contacts are Carrie Chaitt ’03, chaittc@yahoo.com, and EllenPoriles Weiler ’83, ellenweiler@hotmail.com, (215) 247-9069.
Founded in 1984, Philabundance is the region’s largest food bank and food-rescue organization dedicated to fighting hunger and malnutrition in the Delaware Valley. It provides food for approximately 100,000 people per week. The volunteer coordinator is Jan Barnett, (215) 739-7394 ext. 118.
Delaware Valley and North Jersey Shore
The Delaware Valley and North Jersey Shore chapters will work with the Stephen Crane House, 508 4th Avenue, Asbury Park, (732) 775-5682. From 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 14, volunteers will plant a variety of flowers around the historic landmark and prepare an outer building for touch-up painting. Additionally, alumni will assist in weeding and yard cleanup activities. Alumni are asked, if possible, to bring work gloves and a rake, shovel, or pruning shears. The chapter contact is Lee Purcell ’66, leopard980@comcast.net.
Washington, D.C.
The Washington, D.C. Chapter will participate in an MS Walk around the D.C. area Saturday, April 14. The Lafayette team will meet 8:30 a.m. in front of the AMC Loews Theatre, 3111 K Street in Georgetown, and begin the walk at 9 a.m. The seven-mile walk begins at Washington Harbor and runs to Glen Echo Park, where a full lunch will be provided. Walkers can then take buses back to downtown Washington, D.C.
Chapter contacts are Meegan McVay ’95, mmcvay@crdf.org, and Christina Griffin ’99, cgriffin@gwu.edu. To register, visit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society web site, click on “MS Walk” on the left, and choose “Join an existing team.” On the resulting screen, enter “Lafayette College D.C. Alumni Chapter” for “Team Name.” Click on the chapter’s name and proceed with registration.Although the webpage includes a field for a donation and one would be welcome, it is not required.
South Jersey and Jersey Shore South
The South Jersey and Jersey Shore South Chapters will work with the local Ocean Conservancy on a Strathmere Beach cleanup, starting 1 p.m. Sunday, April 15, in the south parking lot of Mildred’s Restaurant, Commonwealth Avenue in Strathmere.
Directions: Take the Garden State Parkway to exit 25 into Ocean City, N.J. Make a right onto West Avenue and follow to 55th Street. Make a right at the light onto Ocean Drive, continuing over the Strathmere Bridge (Corson’s Inlet). Mildred’s Restaurant is on the left, seven blocks from the bridge at the Prescott Avenue intersection.
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley Chapter will again serve in the Easton area along with Lafayette students, faculty, and staff. Planning is still underway and more opportunities will be added. Some projects can handle a limited number of participants. Confirmed projects on April 13-14 are:
To register, email your top two or three choices to alumni@lafayette.edu along with your name, address, phone number, and email address, or call alumni affairs, (610) 330-5040.
Greater Boston
The Greater Boston Chapter will work from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 21, with Cradles to Crayons, 82 Myrtle St. in Quincy, which provides low-income and homeless children with supplies essential to their health, education, and well-being. Volunteers will inspect books, pack clothing, sort through toys, and assemble packages. Alumni should dress comfortably for warehouse work with warm clothing (layers are best) if it is cold outside; no sandals or flip-flops. For more information on Cradles to Crayons, visit its web site, which provides directions, or call (617) 471-8417.
The project can accommodate 20-25 volunteers from the chapter. The chapter contact is Meg Bennett ’78, meg.bennett@db.com.
New York City
The New York City Chapter is working with Friends of Van Cortlandt Park (Bronx) from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 14, to remove invasive plants and help plant native trees and shrubs. Suggested dress is long pants and close-toed shoes; clothes will get dirty. RSVP by April 6 on the Lafapalooza web site. The chapter contact is Jon Ellis ’98, jonathan_ellis@earthlink.net.
Directions: Public transportation — Take the 1 Train to the last stop (Van Cortlandt Park South). Board the 9 bus going north and get off at Mosholu Ave. (next to the riding stables). Follow the drive into the park and meet at the end of the road. Driving – Enter the park at Broadway and Mosholu Avenues and walk to the riding stables. More details will follow.