Faculty and staff are invited to accompany incoming first-year students during a half-day service experience as part of Detroit Mercy’s Prologues, Transitions and Viewpoints (PTV) freshman orientation program. Volunteers are needed on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and/or Thursday, Aug. 27, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Participants will meet in the Fountain Lounge of the Student Union at 8 a.m. for pre-reflection along with breakfast and orientation, followed by University-provided travel to community engagement sites. Volunteers and students will participate in service activities from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. before returning to campus for lunch.
This year’s service opportunities include work at community gardens, a senior center, neighborhood beautification projects and agencies serving specific populations, including Focus: HOPE, Zaman International, the Islamic Center of Detroit, the Center for Works of Mercy and SDM2. Other service opportunities include work with organizations focused on youth education, such as Brilliant Detroit and local elementary schools.
As part of PTV, approximately half of the students will participate on Aug. 26 and the other half on Aug. 27. Faculty and staff may volunteer for either day or both days. Volunteers also may request a specific service site or type of work, and organizers will do their best to accommodate preferences.
No experience is required, just a willingness to accompany new students in this part of their introduction to Detroit Mercy’s mission.
To volunteer or learn more, please contact Fr. Tim Hipskind at hipskijt@udmercy.edu or 313-993-2003. Be sure to indicate which day or days you are available.