Students, faculty and staff at Texas A&M University-San Antonio can use teamwork and communication skills to give back to the community at the Spring 2023 Paws Up Service Day from 7:30 a.m. to noon Feb. 25.
Participants will meet inside the east lobby of the Science and Technology Building. They can choose from five locations to volunteer:
- Haven for Hope
- San Antonio Food Bank
- Morgan’s Wonderland
- Texas Diaper Bank
- A&M-San Antonio greenhouse and garden
All participants must pre-register for their volunteer activity and will be shuttled to off-site locations; however, participants are able to commute independently to meet with their group.
Activities include sorting or packaging merchandise and landscaping, said Aaron Guerrero, civic engagement coordinator with the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement.
The center is hosting the event to offer an easy volunteer opportunity for students, faculty and staff to engage with the community while helping disadvantaged families, Guerrero said.
To register by 6 a.m. Feb. 25, visit JagSync and click the GivePulse link. Participants planning to travel to the San Antonio Food Bank must register at least 72 hours before the scheduled volunteer event.
The Paws Up Service Day is allowing 180 volunteers. As of Feb. 16, there were 86 spots open.
On previous service days, there have been over 100 participants. In fall 2021, there were an estimated 146 volunteers. Last semester, the event attracted about 160 participants.
The event includes free breakfast tacos and T-shirts for participants. Children ages 12 and over are welcome to participate, but two locations have different age requirements based on the activities: the Texas Diaper Bank allows children ages nine and up, and Morgan’s Wonderland requires student volunteers to be at least 14, and anyone under the age of 18 to have a signed waiver and be accompanied by an adult.
Guerrero recommends wearing comfortable clothes or activewear and closed-toe shoes.
Guerrero said the service day is hosted once a semester and was formerly called Choose. Act. Impact. Day of Service.
To host the service days for the fall and spring, the Mays Center uses $8,000 to $10,000 from its budget.
For more information, email Aaron.Guerrero@tamusa.edu or call 210-784-2427.
