Volunteer Opportunities
Dear Penn Community,
The Netter Center for Community Partnerships would like to announce the following upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Change Drive: March 7-21. This is a non-tuition scholarship donation given to graduating high school students accepted at an accredited college or university. The program has been in existence for over 20 years and has made a difference in many students’ lives.
The program name was changed to the Marie K. Bogle Scholarship in 2017. Students have used the funds to buy books and the many other items needed to make a home away from home.
For more information, visit: http://www.nettercenter.upenn.edu/what-we-do/programs/penn-volunteers-public-service-penn-vips/marie-k-bogle-scholarship-sponsored.
Career Buddies. Volunteer to provide support to graduates of the University Assisted Community Schools Nights Professional Development Program. Local members of the community will undertake classes in resume writing, interviewing techniques, time management, customer service, and more in preparation for job hunting.
Career Coach Buddies will be assigned a participant and will work virtually with them over a 3 month period by being encouraging, suggesting resources, doing follow-up, and being a friend. Buddies will make one weekly contact with assigned participant.
Join Penn VIPS Dropsite Committee. Penn volunteers provide a drop off location to collect the many donated items we receive during our annual drives.
A variety of drives are conducted during the course of the year to partner with and help support local schools, families, and agencies.
Dropsite volunteers are located throughout campus. Volunteers post the events, set up collection sites and help select the recipients for the donations. They also participate in an annual thank you luncheon.
Drives are held during the following times:
- School Supplies Drive: August
- Food Drive: November
- Gift/Toy Drive: December
- Change Drive: March
Donations can be taken to the following sites coordinated by the Dropsite Committee:
| President's Office | Brenda Gonzalez | |
| Franklin Building Lobby | Sharon Barkley | |
| Netter Center |
Isabel Sampson-Mapp |
|
| Wharton | Jennifer O'Keefe | |
|
Residential and Hospitality Services |
Linda Kromer | |
| Research Services |
Evelyn Ford and Tina Nemetz |
|
|
FMC |
Gretchen Ekeland |
|
|
Comptroller’s Office |
Celestine Silverman | celes@upenn.edu |
| Van Pelt Library | Illene Rubin | |
|
Physics and Astronomy |
Michelle Last | |
| Nursing | Pat Adams |
Reorganizing? Do you have furniture no longer needed by your department? Local nonprofits are in need of your items! Do you have any computers to donate? Had a conference? Do you have left-over bags, tee-shirts, tchotchkes? Need to empty out your storage space?
Please donate them to Penn VIPS. We will put them to great use by donating them to community members, and many of the students we work with and also use them to thank our many volunteers.
UACS Nights. Teach adult learners about your area of expertise. Teach resume writing, interviewing skills, computers, employment prep, dance, cooking, and or a subject you are passionate about.
Teach once a week for a one or two hour period for four to six weeks. We also welcome classes that can be taught in one session.
Classes are held on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at West Philadelphia High School on Tuesdays and West Catholic High School on Thursdays.
Create your own volunteer activity. Would you and your colleagues or friends like to participate in a volunteer activity? Penn VIPS is happy to connect you to an activity or help you develop one of your own.
Contact Isabel Sampson-Mapp at (215) 898-2020 or e-mail: sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu for additional information, to volunteer for a program, and/or to make a donation.
—Isabel Sampson-Mapp, Associate Director, Netter Center for Community Partnerships