Florida Southern students volunteer at area nonprofit agencies

LAKELAND, Fla. (Feb. 2, 2009) — The Student Government Association (SGA) at Florida Southern College is sponsoring the 6th annual Week of Impact. Beginning today through Feb. 7, the SGA will provide community service opportunities on and off campus for student volunteers as well as on-campus events to increase awareness of the need for volunteers in the community and around the world.

This evening at 8 p.m., the Academy Award winning documentary "Born into Brothels," a 2004 film about the children of prostitutes in Sonagachi, Calcutta's red light district, will be shown in the Thrift Alumni Center. On Tuesday and Thursday, Feb. 3 and 5, students may gather at Wynee's Bistro between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to make Valentines Day cards for residents at Florida Presbyterian Homes.

Oxfam America, an international relief and development organization, will be on campus Wednesday, Feb. 4, to speak to students during convocation at 10:10 a.m. on "Framing the Global Food Crisis." In addition, Oxfam will hold a workshop at 3:30 p.m. on "Identifying Man-made Struggles and Solutions to the Global Food Crisis;" and at 7 p.m. will present a "Humanitarian Emergency Simulation," an interactive role-play activity on responding to natural disasters.

Throughout the week off-campus opportunities for volunteers will include assisting various local nonprofit organizations. Students will do yard work and cleaning for Lighthouse Ministries; garden, straighten clothes, prepare for a yard sale, tutor and play with children and help make crafts at Farmworkers Ministry; and perform lawn and yard maintenance and help with activities for children at Florida Baptist Childrens Home.

Participants will earn points for their volunteer time with the winning group or individual receiving $500 plus an additional $500 designated for a nonprofit of their choice. Funds for the contest have been donated by the SGA.

For more information about Week of Impact, please contact Jenna Lynn Halk at jennalynnhalk@gmail.com or 502.724.3084.