‘Ripple Effect’ Sends UA Students into Community for Service

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Center for Service and Leadership is giving students a chance to meet fellow students before classes start while giving back to the community.

On Tuesday, Aug. 18, students will volunteer their time to help out the Tuscaloosa area in a program called Ripple Effect. Service projects will rum from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The center is partnering with University Programs, alongside faculty and staff, to plan Ripple Effect, its annual day of service. Volunteer opportunities include sprucing up local public schools, helping families receive new homes, getting local gardens ready for new life and spending time with local veterans.

In 2014, more than 26,000 students participated in more than 1 million hours of community service via UA.

Buses will depart from the Ferguson Center at 8 a.m.

Ripple Effect is one of the signature events during UA’s Week of Welcome,  a series of activities for first-year and transfer students to assist them with their transition to academic and student life at UA. For more information about University Programs and its WOW events, go to up.ua.edu or wow.ua.edu.

University Programs also is on Instagram and Twitter at either @UAwhatsUP or @UAWOW. For more information on Center for Service and Leadership and volunteer opportunities, visit volunteer.ua.edu or go to Instagram and Twitter at @volunteerbama.

Areas where students will be volunteering include:

— Central Elementary School, 1510 Dinah Washington Ave., Tuscaloosa.

— University Place Elementary, 3834 21st St., Tuscaloosa.

— Woodland Forest Elementary, 6001 E. Hargrove Road, Tuscaloosa.

— Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, 3701 Loop Road East, Tuscaloosa.

For more details, contact LaToya Scott, director, University Programs, scott060@sa.ua.edu or 205/348-7252, or Courtney Chapman Thomas, director, Center for Service and Leadership, Ccthomas2@sa.ua.edu, 205/348-2865 or  713/818-8712.