Illinois College to hold 26th Annual Community Service Blitz
More than 400 volunteers from Illinois College will participate in the 26th Annual Community Service Blitz on Sunday, August 25, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m.
With the Service Blitz, we hope to ... introduce the concept of service to first-year students — demonstrating how they can make an impact in the community in their next four years here.
The annual Service Blitz has become a tradition, signifying the start of a new academic year at IC. It is again scheduled for the Sunday before classes begin on Tuesday, August 27. First-year students, transfer students, student leaders, faculty and staff from IC will complete a variety of service projects. Their community projects include painting, landscaping, general cleaning and other tasks.
Ryan Flynn ’15, director of community-engaged learning, is helping to organize this year’s Service Blitz. He shared that the Service Blitz has become an integral part of the first-year experience for students.
"With the Service Blitz, we hope to accomplish three things: first to provide a large number of volunteers to help organizations accomplish tasks they may have delayed doing due to capacity; to introduce first-year students to Jacksonville and the potential opportunities around them; and to introduce the concept of service to first-year students — demonstrating how they can make an impact in the community in their next four years here,” said Flynn.
Illinois College has been nationally recognized in recent years for its sustained commitment to service, notably earning a top ranking in the Midwest for community service based learning by Washington Monthly. The annual Service Blitz demonstrates one way in which IC prepares students to lead fulfilling lives of leadership and service.
Service Blitz volunteer sites for 2019 include Jacksonville Pony/Colt Baseball Association, Our Redeemer Day Care, Morgan County Fairgrounds, Prairieland Heritage Museum, Jacksonville Area Baseball, David Strawn Art Gallery, Jacksonville Public Library, Governor Duncan Mansion, Professional Clothing Closet, Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, Presbyterian Day Care, The Nursery School, Bob Freesen YMCA, Educational Daycare, Woodlawn Farm, North East End Development, Protecting Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Bright Beginnings Child Care, and Western Illinois Youth Camp. West Central Mass Transit District will provide transportation.
For more information contact Ryan Flynn, director of community-engaged learning, at 217.245.3630 or email at ryan.flynn@ic.edu.