2008 Woodie Awards
Into the Streets
VSB event connects students to their community
MATT ALMEIDA
Arbiter Journalist
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: News
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White is the poverty issues coordinator for the Boise State Volunteer Services Board. Before she worked for VSB, she was like any other student. She participated in clubs, did her schoolwork and worked a normal job to get by. While putting in service hours for a club she was involved in, White took part in something that impacted the direction of her life.
White attended a Service Saturday last spring to help with a project that involved painting a mural for the Boise Foothills Learning Center. While there, she met someone who got her in touch with the Snake River Alliance.
“I’m a bridge between the alliance and BSU,” White said. “I advocate for the use of renewable energy and I advocate against the use of nuclear energy, especially in Idaho.”
Into the Streets is an event put on by VSB. Every second Saturday of the month, the event sends volunteers from the BSU community to local charitable agencies. According to Director of Student Activities Kelly Stevens, this is a Boise State tradition dating back to 1992. Every year, Into the Streets brings students together to give back to their community.
The most recent Into the Street event took place Saturday, Oct. 11, and VSB has another planned for April 11 next semester.
“On a regular Service Saturday, we only offer four agencies to work with,” Tabatha Carroll, assistant director of VSB, said. “During Into the Streets, we work with over 20 agencies.”
Carroll comes from a small town and says she is used to seeing people help each other.
“It’s really awesome to see people from the community come out and bring their kids,” she said.
Both Carroll and White encourage students to involve themselves with Service Saturday.
“In the small group setting you can get the one-on-one interaction,” Carroll said. “It’s a good place to find internships.”
According to White, Service Saturday is also a great way to meet people.
“It’s nice to be able to walk around campus and recognize a lot of people I’ve worked with on [Service Saturday] projects,” White said. “A lot of people want to help out. We set it up and take them where they can help. We’re user friendly.”
For more information on Service Saturdays and VSB, contact their office at 426-4240 or visit their Website at http://vsb.boisestate.edu/home.cfm.
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