Ramapo College of New Jersey || Cahill Center

Community Service Center

Service Learning

Events:

The student managed Ramapo Community Service Center (CSC) promotes, facilitates and organizies community service by members of the Ramapo community, especially students within clubs and organizations. The CSC strives to respond effectively to needs identified by community agencies by empowering and uniting the campus to effect social change through direct service. In promoting service, the Center aims to support a lifetime commitment to social justice within the student body.

Community Service Center Staff
Florangel Cabrera
Chris Doyle
Jessica Gaeta
Jonathan Panico
Katie Walton

Hours of Operation
For your convenience, we are available:
Monday through Thursday, 12pm-5pm
Friday, 12pm-4pm

Spring 2008 Schedule of Service Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
Online Service Project Registration

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who are some of our community partners?

Bergen County Center for Food Action
Oasis Haven for Women and Children
DACKKS Affordable Housing Group
Helping Hands for the Homeless of Spring Valley, NY
Habitat for Humanity of Bergen and Morris
Inter-Religious Fellowship for the Homeless
Lorrimer Sanctuary
Meals on Wheels
House on the HIll
Greater Newark Conservancy

What kind of service projects are planned?

Read Across America Programs
Homeless Outerach Programs
AffordableHousing Construction
Community Park and Watershed Clean Ups
Fund Raisers for Local Non-Profit Agencies (501c3)
Campus Food Drives

What is CSC responsible for when dealing with campus clubs and organizations?

Working with Student Activities Revenue Management, CSC is responsible for documenting and registering all community service activities on campus for clubs. To facilitate this, they work directly with students to help them meet their club/organization's community service requirement to maintain a Student Activities budget. By catering to the interests and needs of students, CSC helps clubs and organizations design substantive service projects that meet real needs in the local community. CSC also works with students trying to start new clubs and organizations by helping them complete service hours to gain recognition by Student Activities.

Why should students work with CSC when they can plan service projects on their own?

Students can be certain that they are having a direct impact on the community because CSC communicates regularly with local agencies to identify the greatest needs. At the same time, CSC projects also nurture solidarity with other clubs and organizations by bringing them together to address common interests in public service. Furthermore, CSC encourages community interaction and reflection on each project, which result in a more meangingful experience for all participants. They also arrange transportation to and from the service site.

What if a club/organization has an idea for a great service project is seeking help?

Because CSC has a large base of community partners, they can help students transform their ideas for service projects into reality by connecting them with the appropriate agencies. The CSC staff facilitates the planning process because they assist with project logistics. They can also enlist the help of other clubs and organizations, making the impact of service proportionately larger.

How do students register for projects?

The online registration form is available on the CSC website, and after registration students must leave a five dollar deposit before the project in which they wish to participate. Deposits may be left in the Community Service Center Office (Room C-209) located in the Cahill Center. If CSC staff members are not present to take your deposit, you may leave it in the secure drop box located in the CSC Office. Students who do not leave a deposit may be deregistered form the event. The deposits are returned to student participants who successfully complete the service project. However, students who fail to complete the project will lose their deposits.

How do students find out about the service projects sponsored by CSC each semester?

Event schedules describing each service project are available online. Hard copies of the schedule are available in the Cahill Center and the Student Activities Revenue Management Offfice at the beginning of each semester. You may also pick them up during President Treasurer and Advisor (PTA) club meetings.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Ramapo College Community Service Center
Cahill Center for Experiential Learning and Career Services
505 Ramapo Valley Road
Mahwah, NJ 07430
(201) 684-7586 Telephone
(201) 684-7452 Fax

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SERVICE PROJECT SCHEDULE

DATE & TIME	EVENT & LOCATION	DESCRIPTION
February 2 Saturday, 12:00pm-5:00pm	Broadway House Newark, NJ	Work with an agency dedicated to helping people with AIDS.
February 9 Saturday, 8:30am-4:00pm	Street Project The Bronx, NY	Join 'Street Project' and 'Publicolor' in painting DeWitt Clinton High School. You will be matched with teenagers from the area to beautify their school
February 9 Saturday, 11:20am-5:45pm	Snow Bowl Fundraiser East Rutherford, NJ	Come help run a flag football tournament at Giants Stadium to raise money for the NJ Special Olympics.
February 13 Wednesday, 8:20am-2:30pm	Oasis Center Paterson, NJ	Stock the food pantry, serve lunch, and spend an afternoon tutoring at a center for inner-city women and children.
February 16 Saturday, 7:45am-4:45pm	Habitat for Humanity Denville, NJ	Build and renovate homes for low-income families. No prior experience required.
February 16 Saturday, 1:30pm-3:30pm	Sweethearts' Dance Paramus, NJ	Come to Dellridge Care Center for a Valentine's Day Sweethearts' Dance. Help with the party and even dance with the residents to make their day!
February 23 Saturday, 8:30am-4:30pm	Strengthen Our Sisters	Help out around the house at this battered/homeless women's shelter. Missed today? We're going back in March!
February 23 Saturday, 7:30am-2:30pm	DACKKs Group Hackensack, NJ	Help to set up an apartment for a low-income family with DACKKs for Supportive Housing Development, an agency that helps homeless people transition into independent living.
March 1 Saturday, 11:30am-4:30pm	Shelter Our Sisters	Be active in Women's Month by helping with spring cleaning at a battered women's shelter. Help brighten someone's day!
March 1 Saturday, 9:15am-3:45pm	Camp Vacamas West Milford, NJ	Spend the day helping out at a non-profit camp for inner-city children.
March 5 Wednesday, 8:10am-1:00pm	Read Across America Goshen, NY	Promote literacy by reading at House on a Hill, an organization that provides day care services for children of migrant workers.
March 19 Wenesday, 8:30am-4:30pm	Strengthen Our Sisters	Help out at a women's shelter dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence, poverty, and abuse.
March 29 Saturday, 8:00am-1:00pm	Greater Newark Conservany Newark, NJ	Conserve the garden at the Harriet Tubman School with an agency that focuses on environmental education. Missed today? We're going again in April!
March 29 Saturday, 7:10am-5:00pm	Habitat for Humanity Edgewater, NJ	Build and renovate homes for low-income families. No prior experience required.
March 30 Sunday, 9:00am-6:00pm	The Apostles' House Playground Project Newark, NJ	Come out and build a playground for the children at the Apostles' House, an agency that provides social service to homeless and "at risk" families.
April 5 Saturday; 8:40am-12:20pm	Lorrimer Wildlife Sanctuary Franklin Lakes, NJ	Help the Lorrimer Sanctuary pull weeds, garden, and revitalize trails. Participate in many other outdoor projects in order to maintain wildlife.
April 6 Sunday, 8:20am-4:30pm	Bear Mountain Trail Construction Harriman, NY	Blaze a trail with the NY-NJ Trail Conference. Cut, Flatten, and plow new trails in Bear Mountain to make it safe for hikers.
April 10 Thursday, 9:00pm-11:00pm	Yard Sale Dorm Storm On Campus	Help us in a campus wide dorm storm where we will collect just about anything (except food) for our annual benefit yard sale.
April 12 Saturday, 8:00am-1:00pm	Greater Newark Conservancy Newark, NJ	Conserve that garden at the John F. Kennedy school with an agency that focuses on environmental education.
April 19 Saturday, 8:30am-11:30pm	Head Start Park Clean-Up Spring Valley, NY	Celebrate Earth Day by helping clean up trash on 2nd Avenue in Spring Valley. Make a positive difference in your environment.
April 19 Saturday, 8:00am-4:00pm	Benefit Yard Sale On Campus	Come out to the CSC's annual benefit yard sale whether to donate, volunteer, or just to shop! On-campus clubs and organizations are welcome to participate.
April 20 Sunday, 8:00am-4:00pm	Benefit Yard Sale On Campus	Come help at day two with our annual yard sale!
April 23 Wednesday, 9:00pm-11:00pm	CFA Dorm Storm On Campus	End the school year with a BANG! by participating in a campus-wide dorm storm to help collect non-perishable foods for the Center for Food Action, which serves low-income families in the area.

~Remember~ Alterative Spring Break Applications are due February 1, 2008. Yyou can pick up a copy of the application in C209. For more information on this year’s programs, please visit http://ww2.ramapo.edu/cahill/serviceLearning/altbreak.aspx
Note: A refundable $5 deposit must be left prior to being confirmed for any project. Transportation available. If you have any questions, call us at ext. 7586, email us at CSC@ramapo.edu or visit the CSC Office located in the Cahill Center (C209).
SIGN UP FOR PROJECTS HERE!

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