Area residents are invited to help make a difference in lives of others by
participating in a series of community outreach events as part of Owens
Community College’s first-ever Charity Week, Jan. 23 to 26.
Coordinated by the College’s Student Activities Office, the various activities will
occur daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center on
the campus located on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.
"Community service is about helping others and Owens Community College’s Charity
Week is intended to provide opportunities for students and area residents to
engage in such outreach activities through service projects," said John
Byers, Owens director of student involvement. "I encourage individuals to
help in lifting the spirits of another person by participating in one of the
college’s many projects during Charity Week."
Each day, participants will have the opportunity to engage in several hands-on
activities, which will include sewing pillowcases into bright, colorful dresses
for Haitian children and creating knot fleece blankets for the Oglala Sioux
Tribe in Pine Ridge, S.D. Attendees can also put their decorative and writing
skills to the test by making inspirational cards for residents of nursing homes
throughout Northwest Ohio.
Additionally, Owens’ Department of Fine and Performing Arts is partnering with the
College’s Student Activities Office on Charity Week community outreach as
participants will be using the costume shop to create the pillowcase dresses.
Activities will include cutting open the seam end of the pillowcase, adding
elastic to the top portion of the pillowcase and sewing armholes for the
dresses.
The Toledo School for the Arts is also collaborating with Owens on the Haitian
outreach initiative by creating their own pillowcase dresses as part of a class
project. All completed pillowcase dresses from both projects will be on display
at a Toledo School for the Arts performance event at Owens later this year.
In addition to the hands-on Charity Week activities, community members can assist by
donating gently-used pillow cases and blankets and thread, rick rack and
elastic. Individuals can drop off their donations in Student Health and
Activities Center Room 165 throughout the week.
All completed projects from Charity Week will be delivered to the appropriate
community groups and organizations throughout the spring semester. For more
information about the upcoming Charity Week community outreach activities, call
(567) 661-2569 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext. 2569.