8th Dimension

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!

Need something exciting to do for Spring break? 8D’s annual Alternative Spring Break with Habitat for Humanity is the answer!  Two groups will go to West Virginia and one to North Carolina from Sunday, March 6th until Saturday, March 12th.  Food, housing, and transportation are provided.  There is a fee due to Habitat for Humanity for each project, but everyone going can participate in a fundraiser to help with the fee.  If you are interested contact Stephanie Strockis at sstrocki@haverford.edu.

The AIDS Memorial Quilt in Founders Great Hall

Starting on December 1st, World AIDS Day, through December 4th, Haverford College’s 8th Dimension and AIDS Service Network hosted a display of the NAMES Project’s AIDS Memorial Quilt.

The Quilt, which was started in 1987, began as a way for family and friends to honor those they have known and loved who have died from the disease, and remains the largest community art project in the world. A memorial, a tool for education and a work of art, the Quilt is a unique creation, an uncommon and uplifting response to the tragic loss of human life. The Quilt features the legacy of over 91,000 people, has been viewed by more than 18 million, and has raised over $4,000,000 for direct services for people with AIDS.

This annual event was attended not only by people from Haverford College, but also the surrounding community, including a Gay/Straight Alliance Club from a local high school.

It was a great event that will be held for years to come.

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.

1) This year’s Hunger Auction will be starting at midnight on Sunday, November 14th (between Sunday and Monday) and will be closing at 11:59 on Thursday night, the 18th. 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. More details will follow, but at this time we are asking culinary-inclined students to donate items to the auction. In the past, students have donated baked goods like cookies, brownies, and cakes, but we have also had donations of a crepe breakfast and homemade pizzas so feel free to get creative! Cooking is fun and for this event you get to help a great cause too. You wouldn’t need to actually prepare/obtain your item until after Thanksgiving break, so if you’re swamped with work now, don’t worry; there will be plenty of time to make the necessary preparations. Proceeds go to St. John’s Hospice.

Contact 8dstaff@haverford.edu if you’d like to donate something!

2) The AIDS Memorial Quilt is coming! Volunteers needed!

From December 1st through the 5th, the 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 for five days, and we need a monitor with the quilt at all times during those hours. The shifts will only be two hours, and you are welcome to do other work during that time. This event will not happen without monitors, so if you can spare a couple, or even one 2 hour time slot, we would greatly appreciate it!

Contact Josh Dubow at jdubow@haverford.edu or Stephanie Strockis at sstrocki@haverford.edu if interested.

Sunday, October 31st: Volunteer at a 5 mile race in Radnor for the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania. All the money raised goes towards lung disease and cancer research, as well as helps fund programs in schools and businesses to teach kids about smoking and help adults to quit. Various volunteer shifts available between 6am-11:30am.

Sunday, October 31st: Volunteer at Elmwood Park Zoo for their Halloween celebrations! Students will be helping out with Halloween related activities like crafts with kids, costume contests, the graveyard trail, and the Mad Doctor’s Laboratory. 11am-4pm.

Sunday, November 7th: Join Jewish Relief Agency’s mission to relieve hunger for low-income and elderly families by packing non-perishable kosher food for delivery. A busy hour-and-a half of packing will serve 1,600 families in the Northeast and beyond. 10am-11:30am.

Saturday, November 6th: Make a difference in a child’s life by volunteering at Greater Philadelphia Cares Discovery program! Discovery is a fun academic enrichment program that offers hands-on science learning to 3rd and 4th graders at Sheppard Elementary School. 9am-12pm

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.
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.
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
Friday, November 19th: The Oxfam Fast is your opportunity to 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.

For more information on any of these events, e-mail 8dstaff@haverford.edu.

Early in October, volunteers went to Pegasus Riding Academy and helped mentally disabled kids ride horses. Located in the middle of the city, Pegasus is the only location that offers therapeutic riding. One volunteer described her experience: “Volunteering at the Pegasus Riding Academy for children with disabilities was very rewarding. We got to work hands-on, and were kept busy throughout the entire time. It was evident that our help was needed and much appreciated. It was truly a unique experience to be able to give my time and compassion to the community at Pegasus: the horses, the children, and the caring staff. I can’t wait to go back!”

Interested in participating in the future?Look out for an upcoming service event at this location, or email esteiner@haverford.edu or 8dstaff@haverford.edu for more information.

Sunday, October 31st- Volunteer at the Elmwood Park Zoo! Spend time at the zoo making Halloween fun for area children.

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!

Contact 8dstaff@haverford.edu if you would like to volunteer!