Special Service Events

If you are interested in participating or volunteering for any events, please contact: Hannah Zaic Campus Life email:  hzaic@rider.edu

We are pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Alternative Gift Fair at Rider University for the upcoming holiday season!  This event started last year as a new community service initiative to continue helping those in need throughout the holiday season.  The 2nd Annual Alternative Gift Fair will kick-off on Monday, November 24th and will conclude on Wednesday, December 10th.  This year our focus will be on children in need and the local beneficiaries will include Urban Warfare, HomeFront's Family Preservation Center and the Millhill Child & Family Development Corporation.

This is the perfect gift option for those "hard to shop for" people on your list; making a donation in his/her name to provide for a child in need in the local community.  Anyone interested in participating is asked to review the preliminary gift list below.  From 11/24 through 12/10 there will be "table days" on campus where you can directly make your gift purchase (cash or check only please - made out to the charity you are donating to). When you make your gift purchase, you will immediately receive a card from the organization with an insert of the gift you are giving.

Proceeds from this Alternative Gift Fair are non-designated and 100% of the proceeds will benefit a low-income client served by the organization.  Items listed represent some of the on-going needs of these three organizations. 

Please contact Carolyn Hoezle at choelzle@rider.edu or x7770 with any questions.  Or, stop by the Ticket Booth (second floor of the SRC) for more information.  We hope to see you at our table display on campus sometime during the Alternative Gift Fair from 11/24-12/10!  Also, anyone who would like to volunteer their time to help with this event is welcome and should contact Katie Damaroda (Damaroda@rider.edu). We are need of people to help sell the gifts and advertise the event.

Urban Warfare* $5:  Coloring book & crayon set for two children $10:  A favorite board game such as Life, Monopoly, or checkers  $20:  Snacks to feed 30 children for one night of a gang prevention program $50:  Materials for educational workshops on gang violence, anger management, nutrition, etc. $100:  Recreational materials such as a footballs, basketballs, jump rope, etc.

Millhill Child & Family Development Corporation* $5:  2 underwear and sock sets for a pre-school aged child $15:  Two weeks worth of toiletries (such as soap, diapers, and lotion) for three children $20:  10 meals for a pre-school aged child $50:  A weeks supply of diapers & Pull-Ups for potty training $100:  Buys twenty children his or her first book

HomeFront FPC* $5:  Family photo (for kids and mom) $10:  One haircut for a child $20:  One hat, scarf and glove set for a child $50:  Sports equipment for one child to participate in a team sport $100:     Towards a music and/ or art based enrichment program for one child

 

Past Special Service Events include ...
(May 11, 2008) RUN FOR MOM – Women’s Heart Foundation
This event is a 5K run/walk and a 1-mile health walk.  One month prior to the event, volunteers market the event using flyers.  Street teams saturate the Mercer County area.  The event is also publicized through notices to Comcast, event websites, and newspaper announcements.  The day before the event, volunteers set up tents, signs, banners, tables and water stations.  The day of the event, volunteers marshal the walk and run by safeguarding participants' run, report injuries, keep people on the course, cheer on runners and walkers at the finish line and hand out purple finisher ribbons.  They assist with registration, awards, welcoming of participants and coffee.  Some will sell jewelry at WHF Jewelry Table.  Others blow up and decorate balloons and face paint.  There is a post event buffet and volunteers need to prepare cut up oranges, bananas, and pastry.   After the event is finished, everything needs to be cleaned up and taken apart. 

(May 10, 2008) Step Up for the Arc
The Arc of Mercer County needs participants and volunteers to help with a one-mile walk through beautiful Veterans Park to raise money for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families living in the Mercer County area.  Participants will walk to raise money.  Volunteers will help direct walkers to the starting line, help set up tables and chairs, place trash bags in containers, set up tables for goody bags, and other general set up.  Some volunteers will be needed to assist staff with guiding walkers.  Also, volunteers will be needed at the end of the walk for clean

(May 8 2008) Blue Tulip Shopping Event - A New Season Engagement to Marriage Training Service
The purpose of the Blue Tulip Shopping Event is to raise funds.  15 % of the proceeds from each purchase will be donated to ANS.  Volunteers are needed to advertise and direct as many people as possible into Blue Tulip to purchase items.  We welcome all to come in and buy gifts.  Volunteers distribute flyers at different locations.  From 4 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., they strategically walk around the other stores along the strip and advise shoppers of the fundraising event.  During the event, volunteers move around the checkout area to make sure the shoppers either have the flyer or mention the fundraiser for ANS to receive the 15% for the purchase. 

(April 26, 2008) Spring Fling - Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church Nursery School
Spring Fling is a carnival-type event that is open to the local community and is jointly sponsored by the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church and the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church Nursery School.  The goals of this event are to create an enjoyable day for the local community, increase awareness about the nursery school and church and raise money to fund scholarships for needy students at the nursery school, extracurricular programs and classroom supplies.  Participants help run a variety of games and crafts such as, sand art, temporary tattoos, and food tables.  Volunteers also man three moon bounces.  Before the event, volunteers help set up tables, chairs, and games.  During the event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers help with various booth and games.  After the event, volunteers help put away tables, chairs, and games, and generally clean up the area until about 4 p.m.