2022-2023 Days of Service - Vikings Days of Service - Information for Employees - The Center at St. Johns River State College

Fall 2022 Projects List

Friday, September 16, 2022

Project 1: Let’s Get Trash(y)! SJR State Highway Cleanup

From 1:30-3:30pm, SJR State will hold a Highway Cleanup on the main public road nearby each campus. Highway cleanup participants will gather in the Student Center of each campus on Friday, September 16, 2022, at 1:30pm for a safety chat and to receive safety vests, garbage bags, and disposable plastic gloves. Everyone should plan to dress comfortably and must wear closed-toe shoes and attire suitable for working outdoors in the public. Participants are encouraged to bring heavy work gloves to layer on top of the provided disposable gloves.

Questions about the Highway Cleanup? Reach out to any of the Highway Cleanup Site Captains:

Orange Park Campus Highway Cleanup Site Captains: Mike Keller and Paula Reeger
Palatka Campus Highway Cleanup Site Captains: Melanie Brown and Kara McKinley
St. Augustine Campus Highway Cleanup Site Captains: Myrna Allen and Royce Bass
Workforce Training Center Site Captains: Jay Paterson and Michelle Gibson

Project 2: Viking Exchange Showdown!

Monday, 9/12/2022, through Friday, 9/16/2022, SJR State will hold a collection drive on each campus for nonperishable food, school supplies, and other items needed by our own students. All appropriate donated items will be distributed to our own students who are in need through the Viking Exchange. Any items not well suited for distribution through the Exchange will be donated to a local food pantry.

Bragging rights will be awarded to the group or individual who collects the most items by weight and variety!

Questions about the Viking Exchange Showdown? Reach out to any of the Viking Exchange Collection Site Captains:

Orange Park Campus Viking Exchange Showdown Co-Captains: Kendall McCurley and Michael Ramey
Palatka Campus Viking Exchange Showdown Co-Captains: Ann Spinler and Heather Jones
St. Augustine Campus Viking Exchange Showdown Co-Captains: Brenda Hoffman and Stephen Tomasovitch
Workforce Training Center Viking Exchange Captain: Jay Paterson and Michelle Gibson

Results

In total, 4,305 grocery store-sized items in boxes, cans, jars, tubes, bottles, and pouches weighing in at 1,928.9 pounds were donated! Once we break things into individual items (as appropriate), it's well over 20,000 items! By campus:

OPC 804 items weighing in at 518.2 pounds.
PAC: 1,641 items weighing in at 749.8 pounds.
SAC 1,860 items weighing in at 660.9 pounds. The Chancellor's Team donated 233 items to SAC weighing 84.8 pounds.

We had 11 employee teams and 3 student teams sign up for the Viking Exchange Showdown! The employee teams were organized into 3 categories and donations were scored on weight and variety. The combined score determined the winner of each category and overall winner. And those winners are:

TEAM CATERGORY	NUMBER OF TEAMS	TEAM CATEGORY WINNER
The Small but Mighty! 5 members or fewer	3	The A Team in St. Augustine with 285.5 points!
Marvelous Mediums! 6 – 19 members	3	IT Takedown in Palatka with 425 points!
Supersized Superstars!	2	Student Affairs in Palatka with 305.4 points!

The winner of the Student Team category is the SNA Superstars with 151.2 points! The Student Nursing Association did an amazing job collecting items for our students in need!

And finally.... The overall winner of the 2022 Viking Exchange Showdown is IT Takedown with 425 points! I and the PAC counters can personally attest to the exemplary job IT did to win the Showdown fair and square. With 11 members on their team, they won all 60 of the available points for variety and donated a whopping 365 pounds of goods! Kudos to IT!

Spring 2023 Project List

2023 Spring into Service Projects

SJR State will be Springing into Service on Friday, January 20, 2023! View the complete 2023 Project List as a pdf or see below!

Click HERE to volunteer for one or more of the Vikings Spring into Service projects! Site captains will email registered volunteers on Monday, January 16, 2023, with final details about the project. If you have questions about a project, please reach out to the project’s site captain.

Clay County Projects

Orange Park Campus Beautification Project: Dixie Square - Volunteers will work with SJR State Orange Park Facilities staff to reseal the ‘Dixie Square’ concrete patio adjacent to the Orange Park Campus Library.

Project Work Hours	9am-11am
Minimum # of Volunteers	3
Maximum # of Volunteers	5
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Minimal painting skills, ability to walk distances, bend, and carry a 10 pound load at distance
Required Attire	Closed toe shoes, work gloves, painting attire.
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	NA
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captain	Paula Reeger paulareeger@sjrstate.edu

Orange Park Campus Highway Cleanup - Highway cleanup participants will gather in the Student Center of each campus at 1:00pm for a safety chat and to receive safety vests, garbage bags, and disposable plastic gloves. Everyone should plan to dress comfortably and must wear closed-toe shoes and attire suitable for working outdoors in the public. Participants are encouraged to bring heavy work gloves to layer on top of the provided disposable gloves.

Project Work Hours	1pm-3pm Gather in the Orange Park Campus Student Center at 1pm.
Minimum # of Volunteers	6
Maximum # of Volunteers	NA
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Walking, bending, stooping, carrying garbage bag
Required Attire	Closed-toe shoes, weather- and sun-appropriate attire
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	NA
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captains	Mike Keller mikekeller@sjrstate.edu Jim Rogers jimrogers@sjrstate.edu

Orange Park Campus Viking Exchange Showdown - Tuesday, January 17, through Friday, January 20, SJR State will hold a collection drive on each campus for nonperishable food, school supplies, and other items needed by our own students. All appropriate donated items will be distributed to our own students who are in need through the Viking Exchange. Any items not well suited for distribution through the Exchange will be donated to a local food pantry. Note: All members of SJR State's community are invited to participate in the Viking Exchange Showdown, and individuals do not need to pre-register in order to participate. Any Student Club, Department, or other "group" of employees or students who would like to participate as a "Team" in the Viking Exchange Showdown are asked to pre-register.

Project Work Hours	Bring donated items to collection points on each campus starting Tuesday January 17 until 12 noon Friday January 20.
Minimum # of Volunteers	NA
Maximum # of Volunteers	NA
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	A giving spirit!
Required Attire	NA
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	A suggested list of items to donate will be emailed and can be found online at https://learningresources.sjrstate.edu/VikingExchange/donations
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captains	Anastacia Hohrath Anastaciahohrath@sjrstate.edu

Putnam County Projects

All Hands on Deck at Water Works: Shifts 1 and 2 - The Water Works Environmental Education Center (WWEEC) is a nature-based learning center with a focus on local water history and environmental stewardship. It is owned by the City of Palatka, and the Water Works Committee and its Volunteers build trails, conduct tours, host field trips and meet regularly to review goals and progress. The WWEEC provides a tranquil place for reflection, a site for community activities, and a platform for experiential learning through informative exhibits, walking trails, natural habitat demonstration areas, special projects, and community interactions. Projects WWEC volunteers will be asked to assist with may include:

1. Remove air potato vines, Ardisia, & other invasive plants

2. Work in Food Forest area to pull weeds and replace mulch

3. Fertilize stone fruit and pecan trees

4. Pressure wash and clean sidewalks and metal railing –washer provided

5. Help repair gopher tortoise enclosure –materials and tools provided

6. Clean and paint foot bridges

7. Work in Glade (weeding, mulching, etc.)

8. Build earthen terrace steps down to Glade area

9. Place pavers next to Gopher Tortoise Slide

10. Defrost little refrigerator

Service Project Location	Water Works Environmental Education Center 1101 Whitewater Drive Palatka, FL
Project Work Hours	Shift 1: 8am-noon Shift 2: 1pm-5pm
Minimum # of Volunteers	5 per shift
Maximum # of Volunteers	25 per shift
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Ability to do yard work
Required Attire	Closed toe shoes
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	NA
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captain	Richard Anderson richardanderson@sjrstate.edu Royce Bass roycebass@sjrstate.edu

Keep Putnam Beautiful Road Cleanup - The mission of Keep Putnam Beautiful is to impact the attitudes and actions of the citizens of Putnam County regarding waste disposal and environmental beautification. A litter clean-up of 309C from State Road 100 to Wes Larson Road. Volunteers will be provided personal protection gear and clean-up supplies and will clean-up trash along the roadside.

Service Project Location	309C from State Road 100 to Wes Larson Road Palatka, FL
Project Work Hours	9am-noon
Minimum # of Volunteers	6
Maximum # of Volunteers	None
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Need to be able to walk, stand and bend. The trail is well paced and those in wheelchairs or walkers are able to use the trail.
Required Attire	Comfortable attire, closed toe shoes, sun protection.
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	Please bring water in a reusable bottle.
Restrictions for Volunteers	No young children
SJR State Site Captain	Brittnee Fisher brittneefisher@sjrstate.edu Jay Paterson jaypaterson@sjrstate.edu

Palatka Campus Beautification Project: Refreshing the Flowerbeds - Volunteers will work with SJR State Palatka Facilities staff to plant flowers and mulch flower beds on the Palatka Campus.

Service Project Location	Palatka Campus
Project Work Hours	9am-11am
Minimum # of Volunteers	3
Maximum # of Volunteers	5
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Minimal gardening skills, ability to walk distances, bend, and carry a 10 lb load at distance
Required Attire	Closed toe shoes, work gloves, painting attire.
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	Small gardening tools (optional)
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captain	Jack Hall jackhall@sjrstate.edu

Crafting and Games with the ARC - Mission of the organization - Providing advocacy and opportunity to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During this service project, volunteers will interact with and lead ARC participants in a day of crafts and games.

Service Project Location	Whittaker Center-The Arc 1209 Westover Drive Palatka FL 32177
Project Work Hours	1pm-4pm
Minimum # of Volunteers	8
Maximum # of Volunteers	15
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	No skills needed, just a willingness to participate in crafts or games
Required Attire	Casual comfortable attire.
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	Paper, glue, crayons, markers, and other crafting supplies identified and requested in advance will be provided by a donor. Volunteers to bring their creativity and enthusiasm.
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captain	Diane Pagano dianepagano@sjrstate.edu

Palatka Campus Highway Cleanup - Highway cleanup participants will gather in the Student Center of each campus at 1:00pm for a safety chat and to receive safety vests, garbage bags, and disposable plastic gloves. Everyone should plan to dress comfortably and must wear closed-toe shoes and attire suitable for working outdoors in the public. Participants are encouraged to bring heavy work gloves to layer on top of the provided disposable gloves.

Project Work Hours	1pm-3pm Gather in the Palatka Campus Student Center at 1pm.
Minimum # of Volunteers	6
Maximum # of Volunteers	NA
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Walking, bending, stooping, carrying garbage bag
Required Attire	Closed-toe shoes, weather- and sun-appropriate attire
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	Participants are encouraged to bring heavy work gloves to layer on top of the provided disposable gloves.
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captains	Melanie Brown melaniebrown@sjrstate.edu Kara McKinley karamckinley@sjrstate.edu

Palatka Campus Viking Exchange Showdown -

Tuesday, January 17, through Friday, January 20, SJR State will hold a collection drive on each campus for nonperishable food, school supplies, and other items needed by our own students. All appropriate donated items will be distributed to our own students who are in need through the Viking Exchange. Any items not well suited for distribution through the Exchange will be donated to a local food pantry. Note: All members of SJR State's community are invited to participate in the Viking Exchange Showdown, and individuals do not need to pre-register in order to participate. Any Student Club, Department, or other "group" of employees or students who would like to participate as a "Team" in the Viking Exchange Showdown are asked to pre-register.

Project Work Hours	Bring donated items to collection points on each campus starting Tuesday January 17 until 12 noon Friday January 20.
Minimum # of Volunteers	NA
Maximum # of Volunteers	NA
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	A giving spirit!
Required Attire	NA
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	A suggested list of items to donate will be emailed and can be found online at https://learningresources.sjrstate.edu/VikingExchange/donations
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captains	Ann Spinler annspinler@sjrstate.edu Heather Jones heatherjones@sjrstate.edu

St. Johns County Projects

Meal Packing and Food Distribution Event

Sponsoring Community Organization/Agency/Group	Sea Community Help Resource Center (United Way of St. Johns)
Mission of Sponsoring Community Organization	SEA Community runs a small food pantry and clothing closet on site and is constantly working to meet the basic needs of their community. They organize a summer lunch program to make sure that school children on summer break get meals in the middle of the day. They coordinate visits from the St. Vincent’s Mobile Health Outreach bus, organize a book bag drive just before school starts each year, and work to support migrant farm workers who visit every year to work the fields in the rural part of the county.
Service Project Description	Every Friday, SEA Community hosts a food distribution and serves hundreds of families. They are always in need of volunteers to help pack and distribute. Located in St. Johns County, near the Putnam County line, the event provides food to members of both counties.
Service Project County	St Johns County
Service Project Location	6408 Armstrong Rd. Elkton, FL 32033
Project Work Hours	8am-1pm
Minimum # of Volunteers	10
Maximum # of Volunteers	20
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Ability to lift more than 20 pounds and adhere to food handling guidelines
Required Attire	Comfortable clothing and comfortable closed-toe shoes (such as tennis shoes or boots).
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	NA
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captains	Summer Garrett summergarrett@sjrstate.edu Meghan Deputy meghandeputy@sjrstate.edu

Habitat for Humanity Construction Site - Mission of organization: Our vision is to live in a world where everyone has a healthy, affordable place to call home. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion.

Service Project Description	Habitat St Augustine/St John’s County is looking for general construction volunteers to join us on the build site to assist with various construction projects (painting, putting baseboards, siding, placing sod, etc.) under the watchful guidance of the site supervisor. No experience is necessary.
Service Project County	St Johns County
Service Project Location	West St. Augustine—exact address to be provided the week of the service project
Project Work Hours	8am-3pm
Minimum # of Volunteers	5
Maximum # of Volunteers	20
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Able to lift 20 pounds.
Required Attire	Closed toed shoes and comfortable weather appropriate work clothes.
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	Habitat will provide water, ice, t-shirts and tools but please bring your own lunch.
Restrictions for Volunteers	The minimum age required is 16 with a parent waiver. Every applicant needs to sign the waivers.
SJR State Site Captains	Dustin Latta dustinlatta@sjrstate.edu Stephen Tomasovitch stephentomasovitch@sjrstate.edu

St. Augustine Campus Beautification Project: Flowerbed Refresh - Volunteers will work with SJR State St. Augustine Facilities staff to refresh flowers in the Criminal Justice Courtyard on the St. Augustine Campus.

Project Work Hours	9am-11am
Minimum # of Volunteers	3
Maximum # of Volunteers	5
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Minimal gardening skills, minimal painting skills, ability to walk distances, bend, and carry a 10 lb load at distance
Required Attire	Closed toe shoes, work gloves, painting attire.
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	Small gardening tools (optional)
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captain	Thomas Lewis ThomasLewis@sjrstate.edu

Gardening for St. Augustine’s Seniors

Sponsoring Community Organization/Agency/Group	St. Johns County Council on Aging Coastal Community Center and Sunshine Center
Mission of Sponsoring Community Organization	To lead and advocate for the dignity, independence, health and community involvement of older St. Johns County residents.
Service Project Description	SJR State’s Chapter of PTK installed an herb garden for the kitchen staff to have access to fresh herbs when preparing meals for the seniors. This project will have volunteers working with PTK members to expand and maintain the garden.
Service Project County	St Johns County
Service Project Location	Coastal Community Center and Sunshine Center 180 Marine St. St. Augustine FL 32084
Project Work Hours	12 noon-2pm
Minimum # of Volunteers	6
Maximum # of Volunteers	12
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Mobility is needed. We will be raking, planting and weeding.
Required Attire	Wear clothing you don't mind getting dirty.
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	Gardening implements and gardening gloves will be provided.
Restrictions for Volunteers	N/A
SJR State Site Captain	James McCaughern-Carucci jamesmccaugherncarucci@sjrstate.edu

St. Augustine Campus Highway Cleanup - Highway cleanup participants will gather in the Student Center of each campus at 1:00pm for a safety chat and to receive safety vests, garbage bags, and disposable plastic gloves. Everyone should plan to dress comfortably and must wear closed-toe shoes and attire suitable for working outdoors in the public. Participants are encouraged to bring heavy work gloves to layer on top of the provided disposable gloves.

Project Work Hours	1pm-3pm Gather in the St. Augustine Campus Student Center at 1pm.
Minimum # of Volunteers	6
Maximum # of Volunteers	NA
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	Walking, bending, stooping, carrying garbage bag
Required Attire	Closed-toe shoes, weather- and sun-appropriate attire
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	Participants are encouraged to bring heavy work gloves to layer on top of the provided disposable gloves.
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captains	Tim Adams timadams@sjrstate.edu Myrna Allen myrnaallen@sjrstate.edu

St. Augustine Campus Viking Exchange Showdown -

Project Work Hours	Bring donated items to collection points on each campus starting Tuesday January 17 until 12 noon Friday January 20.
Minimum # of Volunteers	NA
Maximum # of Volunteers	NA
Required Skills/Physical Abilities of Volunteers	A giving spirit!
Required Attire	NA
Items Volunteers Required to Provide	A suggested list of items to donate will be emailed and can be found online at https://learningresources.sjrstate.edu/VikingExchange/donations
Restrictions for Volunteers	NA
SJR State Site Captains	Renee Bachman reneebachman@sjrstate.edu Brenda Hoffman brendahoffman@sjrstate.edu

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