Friends & Neighbors Day November 2021

Beautification + Senior Citizen Assistance

Rosa Park Villas – In Person / Off Campus Project  (8:45am-12:30pm) 

In partnership with the local neighborhood ward, students will provide assistance with cleaning out the trash rooms and painting walls as well as trash chutes at the Rosa Park Villas. The Rosa Parks Villas provides housing for elders ages 62+ in 60 apartments. The work is important as the Villas are a home for elders. We are helping to maintain the quality of life for them and creating an environment where they can remain independent.

Ward Villas – In Person / Off Campus Project  (8:45am-12:30pm) 

In partnership with the local neighborhood ward, students will provide assistance with sorting and organizing the inventory at Ward Villas. The Ward Villas provide housing for elders ages 62+ in 120 apartments. The work is important as the Villas are a home for elders. We are helping to maintain the quality of life for them and creating an environment where they can remain independent.

Environment

Santa Monica Beach Cleanup – In Person Off Campus Project (9:00am-1:00pm) 

Santa Monica State Beach is a California State Park operated by the city of Santa Monica. At 3.5 miles long, Santa Monica State Beach is a heavily trafficked location for its beauty and entertainment offerings. Unfortunately, high foot-traffic has resulted in a large amount of trash left in the sand. This project focuses on collecting litter and disposing it in Santa Monica’s trash bins. If you are new to California, or Los Angeles, this is a great way to help the environment, meet new friends, and enjoy the ocean breeze.

USC Neighborhood Cleanup – In Person Off Campus Project (9:00am-11:30am or 11:00am-1:30pm)

Housing on campus is very limited, so many students live in apartments and houses in the neighborhood surrounding USC. This project focuses on cleaning up our local streets west of Vermont Ave in an effort to give back to the community that has welcomed and housed so many of our Trojan Family. This is a great way for students to begin to develop good relationships with University Park’s long-term residents.

Health & Wellness

USC Staff Appreciation Care Kits – In Person / On Campus Project (9:45am-12:00pm) 

Since the onset of the pandemic, USC student health professionals have been working hard at COVID pop up testing sites and taking on risks so students could return to an in-person college experience. To show our gratitude and appreciation for our student health staff, we will be writing appreciation notes and putting together care packages for them! You will also have the opportunity to create a few kits for professors or other USC staff that you want to recognize at the end of the project.

LGBTQ+ Sexual Wellness Fair – In Person / On Campus Project (9:15am-11:00am)

In partnership with QUASA, the USC LGBT Resource Center, USC RSVP, USC Student Health, and the LA LGBT+ Center, and USC Flow, we will be hosting a hybrid service and resource fair! We will be creating condom packs to benefit the USC LGBT Resource Center and the LA LGBT+ Center. In addition, volunteers will learn more about the unique challenges LGBTQIA+ individuals face related to sexual health access. (NOTE: Since this project is short and ends very early, we will be providing breakfast but lunch is optional)

Hunger

AfricActive – In Person / Off Campus Project (9:15am-1:00pm) 

AfricActive is a local non-profit organization focused on tackling food insecurity within the South Central Los Angeles community. AfricActive works through community organizations and local churches in Los Angeles and throughout Africa. The org transforms lives and communities by offering free resources and services that address immediate and long-term needs. Volunteers will be distributing food to community members at a local park.

LA Works – Virtual Project (10:00am-12:00pm)

Food Oasis is a website created by Hack for LA that aims to make it easy for people to both access and donate food, closing the food redistribution loop. Help the hungry find food by calling, emailing, and researching food pantries and soup kitchens for Food Oasis. This virtual volunteer opportunity occurs via Zoom. It starts off with a training where you’ll learn about food insecurity and also how to gather the needed information. After that, you’ll all spend an hour doing independent research.

Education

Jumpstart – In Person / Off Campus Project (8:45am-12:00pm) 

Jumpstart provides language, literacy, and social-emotional programming for preschool children from under-resourced communities and promotes quality early learning for all. Be prepared to create and organize preschool materials for children to use both in the classroom and at home!