MB's Community Service Program

Martin Luther King Jr's Celebration this Saturday, 4/4/09

2009-04-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

Mt. Hope Learning Center is scheduled to host a special celebratory event this Saturday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The event was originally planned to take place in the month of January. However, due to inclement weather conditions at the time, it was rescheduled for this Saturday, 4/4/09. Moses Brown students are encouraged to partake in the event. Participation will include helping younger attendees in mainly artistic activities. Ginny Fox, a local artist, plans to be on site to help those in attendance create peace flags.

The event will be held at the Martin Luther King Elementary School, 35 Camp Street. We will be there from 11AM to 1pm.

This event will be the second in recent weeks that students from MB have been involved with as regards Mt. Hope. On March 14, 2009, student volunteers performed yard work at the organization's main headquarters (also located on Camp Street).

MB Students Volunteered at PARL

2009-02-17T05:46:00.000-08:00

On 7 February 2009, a group of Moses Brown students, along with some parents, visited the Providence Animal Rescue League(PARL) to do volunteer work. The work involved painting three offices onsite. There were a total of about 12-15 volunteers. Employees at the site were congratulatory as regard the job that the volunteers were able to accomplish. In addition to this venture, PARL served as one of the sites that was used as part of last year's community service day and a drive was organized few months ago that encouraged students and others to bring in blankets and other items to donate to the site.

Special Talk by Christine Rhodes, Supervisor at Amos House

2009-01-23T10:51:00.000-08:00

Christine Rhodes, supervisor of Social Services at Amos House, will give a talk on campus about her organization. The event will occur on February 3, 2009, starting at 12:30PM, in the Webinar Room.
Gifts collected by students in the upper school during the holidy season were donated to children served by Amos House. Ms. Rhodes will share how the lives of the children were affected by the gifts, among other topics.

All are welcome to atttend the talk.

Service Opportunity at Camp Street, Sat. 1/24/09

2009-01-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

Exams are next week...take a break from studying this weekend and do some volunteer work at Camp Street Ministries on Saturday, 1/24/09, 10AM-12PM.
Camp Street would like student volunteers to help re-arrange it's resource room area. Residents from the community use the room to look for jobs, learn computer skills, and for educational instruction, among other activities and tasks.
Camp Street is located at 194 Camp St. in Providence, RI.

Big Brother/Sister Project

2008-12-18T10:12:00.000-08:00

MB is in the process of joining forces with the Mt. Hope Learning Center to institute a big/sister program.

Students from MB will be paired with students from an after school program at the Martin Luther King elementary school. The latter program is sponsored by the Mt. Hope Learning Center.

The project requires a once per month commitment, often on Saturdays, by students. Participants will communicate with each other through journaling (i.e. when they do not meet on a designated Saturday). For more information about this program or to become involve with it, please speak to a member of the service board.

Students help out kids at Amos House this Holiday Season

2008-12-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

Members of the service board selected to help out children serviced by the Social Services Program at Amos House, by arranging a gift drive. A total of 38 advisory groups were involved in the drive. Collected gifts went toward children at Amos House. This site is a local non-profit organization that provide various services to those who are in need. For more information on this site, visit www.Amoshouse.com

Hamilton House Holiday Sale

2008-12-02T06:34:00.000-08:00

Hamilton House is a local geriatric center. MB used the center as a volunteer site on community service day of last year. Hamilton house will host a series of holiday sale events, starting Saturday December 6th (10AM-2PM). Other dates of the sale are Monday December 8 to Friday December 12, 10AM to 2PM and Wednesday December 10th, Thursday December 11th 4pm-7pm. The sale promises to contain unique items and great bargains.

The site is in need of helpers, especially in storing the items at the end of the sale (on each of the posted dates). Interested volunteers can contact Hannah Mason at 401-831-1800. Hamilton House is located at 276 Angell St., Providence, RI.

Candy Cane Sale!

2008-12-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

The community service board (in conjunction with Wheeler and Lincoln Schools) will run a candy cane sale from December 1-5th to benefit local centers for domestic violence. Students can send candy-canes to their friends at other schools. Slips for candy-canes will be sold for 1 dollar by members of the community service board. If you are interested in purchasing a slip, please contact ealves@mosesbrown.org

Blood Drive, 5 December 2008

2008-12-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

The second of four blood drives planned for the academic year will take place this Friday. The drive starts at 8AM and ends at 3:30pm. The location is Alumni Hall. Anyone 17 or older is welcome to donate blood. 17 year old students need to bring a signed parental permission form. You do not need to make an appointment before hand in order to participate in the drive. Thanks in advance for giving the gift of life!

Coats for Teens

2008-12-01T11:18:00.000-08:00

I recently received a request for coats from a site that caters to teen boys and girls. The site is called The Susan Wayne Center of Excellence at River Run Academy. It is a residential school for developmentally delayed teens. The programs caters to about 10 teens total. It plans to shelter and provide services for more teens in the future. In addition to winter coats (which are of priority), the site needs fleece, hats, gloves, etc for the residents. The contact person is Susan Ellis, assistant program director, Sellis@jri.org (email) and 860-928-5900 ext. 203.

You can donate items by taking them directly to the site or dropping them off at school (MB) in the upper school office. Items can be dropped off until 19 December 2008.

Providence Animal Rescue League

2008-12-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

Winter is on the way, and the animals need more bedding. The Community Service Board will be collecting quilts, fleece, blankets, and towels for the Providence Animal Rescue League. Donations may be dropped off at Friends Hall, RM. 103 or at the CS Office through December 17th, 2008. If you are interested in volunteering at the PARL, please contact Kmores@mosesbrown.org

Community Service/GLSBA Sponsor Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive, 2008

2008-11-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

The Community Service Program and the Gay Lesbian Straigh Bi-sexual Alliance (GLSBA) are working together in sponsoring this year's canned food, non-perishable items Thanksgiving Drive. Items collected will benefit food pantries at Camp Street Ministries and Youth Pride Inc (YPI).

The drive starts today and will run until the 22nd of November 2008. Students from the two organizations plan to visit advisory groups (i.e. in the mornings) until the end of the drive, in order to persuade their peers in donating items toward the drive. Announcement of the drive will be made during tomorrow's CAP, when the entire upper school student body meets in the auditorium.

We encourage that in addition to students, staff and faculty members provide help in ensuring that the drive is successful by supporting the collaborative effort. Donation boxes are in the uppers school office, Upper Dwares, and the coomunity service room.

Thank you,
Students representing CS and GLSBA

Swim Team Raises $940 for Charity

2008-10-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

On Sunday October 19, 2008, the Swim Team participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI. The team was joined by other members (students and staff) of our school community. The walk is an annual event and is sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS). Participants were were encouraged to make others aware of this frightening disease and how it can affect the lives of people. In addition, particpants of the walk raised money which was donated towards the fight to find a cure for cancer.

We are happy to report that the Swim Team raised a total of $940, all of which will be donated to the ACS. The team sponsored a bakesale on the Friday prior to the walk. A total of $163 was raised from the sale. The additional amount came from private donors and sponsors. This campaign could not have been successful without the hard work as displayed by the Swim Team and other members of the school community and beyond in supporting the cause.
Congrats!

Great Day of Service, 10/13/08 (Monday) Columbus Day

2008-10-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

On Monday, October 13,2008, Columbus Day, Rhode Islanders from all backgrounds and walks of life will participated in a special event. This "day of service" is organized and sponsored by Beyond our Walls (www.bowri.org) an East Bay interfaith non-profit organization.
The Great Day of Service, now in its 4th year, has grown from 200 volunteers in the first year, to 2007's 600 individuals, teens, children and families participating in projects such as: painting kennels at SPCA, making and delivering pizzas to group homes, sandwich making for the homeless, cleaning up trash at local beaches and parks and much, much more.
For more information about the day and the work sites, please visit www.greatdayofservice.com

Picking Squash in Rehoboth, Mass

2008-10-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a great opportunity to do something that is not only fun but also beneficial to others. A farmer in Rehoboth grows and donates squash to local food pantries. She is looking for student volunteers to help pick the squash this coming weekend. If you are interested, please let us know and we'll send you the contact info. This activity, if performed, will count towards the service requirement.

The Gemma Project/Water Fire

2008-10-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

Students in the two units on service had the opportunity to work with Kindergarten and Fourth grade students on a very special project. There were two meetings that occurred last week. The students collaborated in decorating boards that will be used as part of the Water Fire Celebration scheduled for Saturday evening, 10/11/08. The boards, about 50 total, were donated to the lower school by a donor associated with the Gemma Project. This organization is involved with the continued fight against breast cancer.
Students from the service classes worked along students from the lower school in decorating the boards. The decorated boards will join others as they are inflamed as part of the Water Fire event. Putting fire to the boards symbolizes the hope for survival as experienced by many families affected by breast cancer.
The school is invited to attend the event. Activities should start by 6pm.

Swim Team To Participate In Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk!

2008-09-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

The Moses Brown Swim Team has chosen to join the fight against breast cancer by participating in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in October. I hope you will join us by making a donation in support of our effort.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is a noncompetitive walk that takes place in 120 communities across the country. Making Strides walkers unite to honor breast cancer survivors and to educate women about early detection and prevention. By raising money to support the American Cancer Society fight against breast cancer, we help fund groundbreaking research, public awareness campaigns, improved access to mammograms, and services that improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

I hope you will support our efforts by making a donation on our personal fundraising page. It's safe and simple. All you have to do is click the link below and follow the few easy steps.

Last year, 500,000 Making Strides participants across the U.S. raised $50 million ($7.5 million of that in New England), and they did it one donation at a time. So, whether you're able to give $5, $50 or $500, every bit truly does help fight a disease that 1 in 8 women will face in her lifetime.

Hope starts one dollar at a time. Hope starts with me and with you.

Contact the community service program at moses.brown250@gmail, if you would like to donate towards the team's effort to fight against cancer.

P.L.A.F.F

2008-09-26T10:03:00.001-07:00

The 16th annual Providence Latin American Film Festival started on Wednesday 9/24 and will run until Sunday 9/27/08.

One film that I recommend viewing is called Price of Sugar (El Precio del Azucar). It's a documentary film that focuses on the lives and treatment of migrant Haitian workers in the Dominican Republic. Our school plans to sponsor a trip during Springbrak to work with this group and it would be great for students to gain some exposure about some of the issues pertaining to the workers prior to the trip.

To see more about this film and other that are part of the festival, visit
http://www.plaff.org

Special Olympics Rhode Island

2008-09-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

Special Olympics Rhode Island (SORI) is looking for student volunteers to work with its athletes. SORI is a non-profit organization that provides sports trainng and athletic competition for children as well as adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization serves a total of 2,500 athletes. For more info., please visit the SORI website at http://www.specialolympicssri.org

If you are interested in volunteering, please pick up an application in the community service room.

Interested Helping Out With A Music Program?

2008-09-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

This project is to let students give music lessons to under privileged children.
Last year, the project pulled together a space, instruments, and had students teaching children how to play instruments for the first time for an hour once a week.. The space is owned by an alum's family and is located in Pawtucket (past the top of North Main St.). There are many wind, brass, and percussion instruments. This project allows MB students who play a musical instrument(s) a fun and rewarding community service opportunity.
Challenges involved in the project include: finding MB students to teach and under privileged students to learn, managing the instruments (the project lost a few last year when students did not return), and setting up a system so that the project continues in the future.
There are many great resources available to this project. It simply needs a leader to step up and bring the resources and idea to its full potential.

International Day of Peace Celebration, Sunday, 9/21/08

2008-09-17T06:42:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the International Day of Peace, the Peace Flag Project, will host a celebration at Burnside Park/Kennedy Plaza (Downtown Providence) on Sunday September 21, 2008 from 3-6pm. To learn more about the Peace Flag Project, visit www.ThePeaceFlagProject.org

The project is a local organization run by a parent of a former student of our school. The parent often comes on campus to work with faculty members and students in the making of peace flags. These flags are a great way to bring attention to the need for peace in our world and also to celebrate the work of those who are working towards peace.

The celebration on Sunday is open to the public. It will feature performances from various artistic groups (i.e. dancing, singing, etc) in the Providence area. There will also be many activites for attendees to get involved with.

Student volunteers are needed throughout the year to work with the project. Click on the link above or come to the service room to learn more about the project, if you are willing to work as a volunteer.

School Supply Drive for MLK!

2008-09-15T15:19:00.001-07:00

Last week the Community Service Board kick started the year with the beginning of our school supply drive for Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. The goal of the drive is to gather as many school necessities (folders, binders, notebooks, pencils, pens, etc.) so that the children at MLK may have the necessary tools to further their learning experience. Anyone who has volunteered at the after school program will recognize how much these items would help the kids, and it is our goal to make sure that no child is restricted from learning effectively because he/she does not have the necessary supplies.

We hope that everyone takes the time to clean out their desks to look for that extra notebook that you may have bought but never used or spends an extra dollar in the school bookstore to buy an extra packet of pencils. Little contributions like these can make a huge difference if everyone takes a few minutes out of their day to think of others. We hope to get as many contributions as possible. Collection boxes are in the CS Office and the Upper School Office.

Thank you so much for all of your help!!!

Pet Walk RI 2008!

2008-09-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

The 20th Annual Pet Walk benefiting the Providence Animal Rescue League will take this Saturday, September 13, 2008. The event involves a 3.5 walk through Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI. There will also be lots of family fun and activities such as pet games and contests, activities for kids, and fabulous raffle prizes. The event runs from 8:30 AM to 1:30PM. For more information please visit www. PetwalkRI.Org

Students should note that the Providence Animal Resue League or PARL, the sponsoring agency of the event, is always looking for volunteers. MB students have worked with PARL in the past, so there is a an established relationship with the school. Our very own K. Morse is heavily involved with PARL and is available to speak with anyone about this organization.

Interested in tutoring kids?

2008-09-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

The Summerbridge School Year Program 2008-2009 is looking for tutors. The goal of the tutoring program is to provide academic assistance to students who demonstrate a need to receive one-on-one academic support from a high school or college student who is skilled in the content area of concern. Tutoring sessions will take place at the Wheeler School on most Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00pm-5:15pm throughout the school year. Sessions will begin in mid-October and end in mid-May of the school year.

To request an application to tutor, please call 401-528-2152 and speak with Rameka. Rameka will visit our campus on Wednesday, 9/17/08 to recruite tutors. You can get an applicaiton from her then. The meeting will take place in LE2 (Elvis' room) during lunch.

-Elvis

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

2008-09-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Below is a letter from Dianne Fonseca. She will visit our campus on Monday 9/15/08 to speak to us about her personal fight against breast cancer and how our school can help support her organization. The talk will take place in the Gifford Room (RM15) during lunch, 11:10-11:40 AM. All are welcome to attend.

Dear coworkers, friends, and family,
This year, more than 250,230 women and men will hear the words, “You have breast cancer,” and there’s a good chance that some of them will be people we know and love. I have chosen to fight back against this disease and help make a difference by participating in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Providence, and I hope you will join me.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is our opportunity to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about early detection and prevention, and raise money to fund lifesaving research and support programs that help ease the burden of patients and their families. But Making Strides is more than just the name of a walk; it describes the amazing progress we can make if we work together to defeat a disease that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with in their lifetime.
Below is a link to my personal page. I hope you will visit my site and sign up to join my team. If you prefer, you can start your own team, sign up to walk as an individual, or make a donation. Hope starts with me and it can continue with you. Please join my team and walk with us to experience an incredible day of inspiration and meaning, and to provide hope for all people facing breast cancer, as well as the next generation.
To donate now, use this link to visit my personal page.
Sincerely,
Dianne Fonseca
For cancer information 24/7, 365 days a year:1.800.ACS(227).2345https://mail.mosesbrown.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cancer.org/https://mail.mosesbrown.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cancer.org/NEsupport
View the American Cancer Society Privacy Policy and State Fundraising Notices.

Application for board membership, 2008-09

2008-09-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

The application for new membership on the community service board was recently sent to the entire student body. To save some trees and be in accord with the current enviro-friendly movement, the application was disseminated via email. Yep. Let's hug, I mean save, some trees. The application is also on display in the main office. This office has a huge in-door window through which students are always peering. Instead of peering through the window, I encourage brave souls to step inside the office and grab an application. The due date for the application is Monday 9/15/08. Return it to me, one of the current board members, or place it in the small basket located in the main office.
We are looking for applicants who will help make the community service bigger and better than it ever was. Our school has many talented students. It would be great to have the talent shown in the creative ways that the service program involves itself with constructive projects and events this year. The current board members and I talked about making the program more inclusive and transparent. In having these goals, we are aware of the need of proper leadership (basically people who like to get things accomplished and in the process reach out for help). In other words, we seek to have a team mentality, composed of hard and smart workers.
This blog is one way that we hope to make the program more transparent. We are asking you to use it to share with us ideas, suggestions, and other concerns you may have about community service. A great start would be for you to blog about the application process.
See you around,
-Elvis