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Third “UIS Cares” will focus on Washington Middle School

March 31, 2005

SPRINGFIELD - The University of Illinois at Springfield’s Office of Student Volunteers and Service Learning will sponsor the third annual “UIS Cares” event on Saturday, April 16.

UIS Cares is a half-day community service event in which UIS students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends take on a community service project in partnership with a community-based organization. This year UIS will again partner with Washington Middle School, 2300 E. Jackson, to work on landscaping projects on the school grounds. Pat Robertson, director of the Office of Student Volunteers and Service Learning, will coordinate the project.

Volunteers should meet at WMS and the session will begin with coffee and doughnuts at 8:30 a.m. Work will focus on landscaping and outdoor beautification -- a long-term goal of the school staff and Parent Involvement Project. An indoor lunch will be served at approximately 12:30 p.m. at the school.  Participants should wear heavy shoes and bring tools and work gloves if possible. 

Students from UIS have been lending a hand as tutors and mentors at Washington Middle School for the past year.  The university is working to continue efforts to provide a wide range of volunteer and service support, including the establishment of a soccer team at the school with the help of UIS Soccer Coach Joe Eck and members of the Prairie Stars soccer team. 

To sign up as a volunteer or for information about other ways to help, contact Pat Robertson at 206-7828.