8th Dimension

Volunteers helped paint an El Salvadorian-inspired mural for a local middle school last weekend!

Philadelphia Zoo
When: Saturday, April 9th. 1-4:30pm.
What: Help with crafts and activities for kids visiting the Philadelphia Zoo! Volunteers get free admission to the zoo so feel free to come early or stay late and spend a fun day at the zoo!
For more info: www.philadelphiazoo.org.

CosaCosa Photo Exhibit
When: Sunday, April 10th. 12-4pm.
What: Help set up a photo exhibit with CosaCosa, an organization that brings together thousands of citizens of diverse backgrounds to learn about art, each other, and working together. The exhibit is called “Change of Heart: Sustenance and Solidarity in El Salvador.”
For more info: www.cosacosa.org.

Plant Trees in the City!
When: Saturday, April 16th. 9am-12pm.
What: Plant trees on city blocks in South Philadelphia to celebrate Earth Day! We will be working with the Lower Moyamensing Civic Association, which partners with Pennsylvania’s TreeVitalize program to bring trees to urban spaces. No experience required!
For more info: lomophilly.org

East Egg Hunt
When: Saturday, April 23rd
What: Join 8th Dimension for one of our most popular community events! Children and families from the area will come participate in a big Easter egg hunt on campus. Volunteers will help fill eggs and “hide” them around campus for the kids to find.

Camphill Village Kimberton Hills
When: Saturday, April 16th 10am-2:30 pm
What: Camphill Village Kimberton Hills is a community for disabled adults and they have an organic farm/market/cafe that the residents work in. Volunteers are needed to help clean up near a creek on the grounds and do some work in the area to prevent erosion.
For more info: www.camphillkimberton.com

Book through Bars
When: Tuesday, April 26th. 7:30-9:30pm.
What: Come help sort books to send to Philadelphia prisoners! We will be sorting and packaging books into boxes to increase inmates’ access to reading material.
For more info: www.booksthroughbars.org.

Contact 8dstaff@haverford.edu for more information!

Spring is just around the corner, which means that there are even more amazing opportunities to get out and help your community! E-mail 8dstaff@haverford.edu for more information on any of these service projects.

The Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission
When: Saturday, March 19th.11:30-1:30.
What: Volunteer with an organization that provides services such as food and shelter to the homeless in Philadelphia. Come for fun and to make a difference in someone’s day–help serve Saturday’s lunch!
For more info: www.sundaybreakfast.org.

Royal Gardens
When: Saturday, March 26th.10am-1pm.
What: Volunteer with this amazing organization that helps restore the green space in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia and promote positive, constructive outdoor activities for all to enjoy.
For more info: www.royalgardensassociation.com.

Values through Sports & Arts
When: Saturday, March 26. 10:45am-2pm.
What: Guess Who, Operation, Life, glitter glue, Hugs juice drinks, touch football…do these all seem like things of the past for which you no longer have time? If you miss being a kid and your past opportunities to play endless amounts of board games or create masterpieces with construction paper and glue, then come volunteer with kids at the values through sports & arts program in Philadelphia. Transportation will be provided. It’s a fun and simple way to help the community!

Pegasus Riding Academy
When: Saturday, April 2nd. 9am-12pm.
What: Help provide disabled individuals with therapeutic riding lessons. Volunteers help lead the horse, spot the rider, groom and feed the animals, and clean the stables. Only 4 spots available.
For more info: www.pegasusridingacademy.com.

Philadelphia Zoo
When: Saturday, April 9th. 1-4:30pm.
What: Help with crafts and activities for kids visiting the Philadelphia Zoo! Volunteers get free admission to the zoo so feel free to come early or stay late and spend a fun day at the zoo!
For more info: www.philadelphiazoo.org.

CosaCosa Photo Exhibit
When: Saturday, April 9th
What: Help set up a photo exhibit with CosaCosa, and organization that brings together thousands of citizens of diverse backgrounds and differing abilities to learn about art, about each other, and about how to work together. The exhibit is called “Change of Heart: Sustenance and Solidarity in El Salvador.”
For more info: www.cosacosa.org.

Camphill Village Kimberton Hills

When: Saturday, April 16th 10am-2:30 pm

What: Camphill Village Kimberton Hills is a community for disabled adults and they have an organic farm/market/cafe that the residents work in.  Volunteers are needed to help clean up near a creek on the grounds and do some work in the area to prevent erosion.

For more info: www.camphillkimberton.com

Book through Bars
When: Tuesday, April 26th. 7:30-9:30pm.
What: Come help sort books to send to Philadelphia prisoners! We will be sorting and packaging books into boxes to increase inmates’ access to reading material.
For more info: www.booksthroughbars.org.

Ongoing:

Ardmore Tutoring
When: Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. 3:45-5pm.
What: Help tutor children from Ardmore and Philly at a local church (within walking distance from campus)

Street Outreach
When: Every Wednesday. 6:50pm.
What: Meet in the Dining Center to make and deliver sandwiches and soup to Logan Circle in Philadelphia.

Last weekend, three other students and I went to New Creation Community Center in North Philadelphia to volunteer with the values through sports and arts program. Kids from ages 5-15 are able to attend on Saturday mornings to spend time with each other, volunteers, and the program leader. Board games, arts and crafts, basketball, and football are activities readily available to the kids to help them learn the importance of working until a task is complete, teamwork, and developing life skills. At lunchtime, the program leader takes time to speak with the kids about important values that they may not learn otherwise. This past weekend the topic was hard work and why it is necessary to learn self-discipline if they want to succeed. The volunteers then had the opportunity to introduce themselves and tell the kids about what they were studying in order to help illustrate all the possibilities available. The program director sent an email to the volunteers later in the week saying, “I so appreciate the incredible compassion and desire to serve that is found in these young people.  It is so good to introduce them to the kids and let them tell the kids about their studies and what they want to do in the world. Half the battle is changing the vision of these youth in terms of what possibilities exist for them in the world.” Not only was it a great experience, but it was fun! I enjoyed a game of Life, Guess Who, shared in the making of multiple arts and crafts projects and was able to meet many interesting and funny kids.

Upcoming event: there will be another service day with the Values through Sports & Arts program on Saturday, March 26.

Last Friday, two other Haverford students and I went into Philly to volunteer with the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition (PICC), helping newly naturalized citizens register to vote. First, we went to their office for a quick training with one of their employees. We had to learn how to quickly spot errors on the registration form. After the training, we walked over to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office, where the naturalization ceremonies were taking place. We got there about 30 minutes early to help set up the registration forms, but when we walked in the room there were already about 100 people checking in before the ceremony even began! There were many families there as well. Another PICC volunteer, Rachel, came to help us out. Even though Rachel just moved to Philly, she had already volunteered there before, so she helped us get the hang of things. The ceremony began on time, and while it was only about 30 minutes long, it was amazing to see immigrants complete the process to be citizens. They took an oath, said the pledge of allegiance, and even watched a video of President Obama congratulating them. At the end of the ceremony, the officer announced that volunteers would be handing out voter registration forms. While some people were in a rush to leave, many chose to stay and take the time to register to vote. It was amazing to see how excited and happy people were to become citizens and take the first step in exercising their right to vote. I can’t wait to volunteer there again!

Help newly naturalized citizens register to vote! The Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition is looking for volunteers to attend naturalization ceremonies of new immigrants and assist them in their voter registration application. This is an opportunity to see immigrants complete the process to become citizens and help them exercise their right to vote.

The ceremonies are on weekdays, usually Wednesdays and Fridays, during the day (10 am, 12 pm, and 3 pm). The time commitment for one ceremony is only an hour, but if you can come for multiple ceremonies or just one!

You can get there by SEPTA or car and 8th Dimension will reimburse you for transportation costs!

Contact Laura Hecht (lhecht@haverford.edu) for more info!

As Thanksgiving approaches, consider the various opportunities to get off campus and donate a few hours of your day to something you truly care about. Here are 8th Dimension’s upcoming opportunities:

Inglis House: On Saturday November 13th, come have fun with the residents of Inglis House as you talk and play games with residents during their ice cream social. The Inglis House provides various services to people with physical disabilities such as housing, day programs, and employment. 1-3pm.

Mill Creek Farm: On Saturday, November 13th, volunteer at Mill Creek Farm, an educational urban farm in West Philly dedicated to improving local access to fresh produce, building a healthy community and environment, and promoting a just and sustainable food system. 11am-2pm.

SHARE: On Saturday, November 13th, Package food with the SHARE Food Program! Go into Philadelphia to package food for families in need. It’s only a 15 minute drive! 9am-12pm

Hunger Auction: Beginning this Sunday, November 14th, For new or forgetful students, the Hunger Auction is an annual event where students bid on items donated by Haverford community members. The auction is held on GO, where students bid on separate items (usually thirty or so different ones) and whoever has the highest bid when the auction closes wins that item. All proceeds go to St. John’s Hospice

Oxfam Fast: On Friday, November 19th, forgo your dinner at the dining center in exchange for a donation to Oxfam from Haverford Dining Services. Sign up the week before Thanksgiving in the DC for Friday night’s fast.

Habitat for Humanity: On Saturday, November 20th, volunteer at Habitat’s ReStore Warehouse from 9:30-2:30. Space is limited!

Philadelphia Marathon: On Saturday, November 20th or Sunday, November 21st, volunteer at the Philly Marathon. Various Volunteer shifts available between 6am-11am. All Volunteers will receive a free 2010 Philadelphia Marathon hoodie!

Pegasus Riding Academy: On Saturday, November 20th, help provide disabled individuals with therapeutic riding lessons. Volunteers help lead the horse, spot the rider, groom and feed the animals, and clean the stables. Only 4 spots available.

AIDS Memorial Quilt: From December 1-5, the AIDS Quilt, which commemorates the lives of individuals lost to AIDS, will be on display in Founder’s Great Hall. The display is free and open to not only Haverford College, but the surrounding community as well. The display will be open from 12:00pm to 8:00pm. Volunteers are needed to work two-hour shifts as monitors.

Terry Newirth’s Homeless Shelter and Soup Kitchen: On Wednesday, December 1st, help cook a meal on campus and bring it down to this winter shelter run by Terry Newirth, which provides 22 beds for homeless men in Philadelphia and serves hot dinner every night.

Hunger Holiday Dinner: On Saturday, December 11th, Street Outreach will holding its annual holiday dinner! Haverford students will box up turkey holiday dinners and bring them into Logan Circle in Philadelphia.

For more information on any of these service days, or to find out other ways to get involved, e-mail 8dstaff@haverford.edu. Transportation is arranged for all service days.

Wednesday September 29th: Volunteer with the Olivet Baptist Tutoring Program. Work with children ages pre-K through 8th grade on activities ranging from homework help, story time, puzzles, and much more. Only 10 spots available! 6-7pm.

Saturday October 2nd: Help plant trees at Ridley Creek State Park. 8:30-11am.

Saturday October 2nd: Help provide disabled individuals with therapeutic riding lessons at Pegasus Riding Academy. 9am-12pm.

E-mail 8staff@haverford.edu if interested!

On April 3, more than sixty families ventured to Haverford’s campus for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. With arts & crafts at the ready to entertain the kids until the hunt began, everyone seemed to be enjoying the beautiful day. It was an fun experience to provide this opportunity for so many community families. Parents commented on how pleasant it was to be able to show up, spend time with their kids and not have to worry about any of the details. At noon the kids were divided into two groups by age, with the older group going for their hunt on Barclay Beach and the younger kids on Lloyd Green. No matter the number of eggs each child found, they all seemed to have a great time.

collecting eggs in front of Lloyd

Come play games with the adorable children of Help Philadelphia, a transitional housing facility, while their parents learn life and job skills.

Volunteers needed on Monday, March 22nd
from 5:30-8:00pm

Space is very limited, so e-mail 8dstaff@haverford.edu if interested.