"Through the Eyes of a Child" is an annual event sponsored by Circle K International in which 100 Cleveland children visit JCU's campus for several hours of holiday fun and activities. This year's event will be held on Saturday, December 5, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and activities will include cookie decorating, story time, a visit with Santa, arts and crafts, time in the gym, and lunch in the cafeteria. This year, the children will come from St. Thomas and St. Francis Elementary schools in Cleveland.  Each child will be paired with a JCU student. JCU students are asked to spend up to $20 to purchase a gift for their "little buddy" (Santa will give the child the gift, of course!) This is a great event for anyone who is looking for a fun and rewarding service project for the holiday season.

Service participants in this activity will assist with stuffing mailboxes for Circle K's annual "Through the Eyes of a Child" holiday event.

NOTE: This activity takes place on-campus of JCU.  Registered participants should go directly to the LSC Atrium at 1:00pm and report to Courtney Maistros, who will take attendance and give you instructions as to how to proceed.

You can be a part of World AIDS Awareness Week! Help prepare for World AIDS Day 2009. Where the JCU community unites with the world to bring about awareness on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. At AIDS Awareness hot spots outside the Dolan Science Center, Rodman Hall, and the Lombardo Student Center Atrium, students will be able to pick up red ribbons and AIDS Information. There will also be baked goods and fair trade hot chocolate available.


Participants in this activity will assist in assembling red ribbons and donation boxes to help make World AIDS day 2009 a success.  

NOTE: This activity takes place in room A202/203 in the Dolan Center for Science and Technology.  Registered participants should go directly to this room at 2:00pm and report to Molly Gradowski and Betsey Haigh, who will take attendance and give you instructions as to how to proceed.

A Cleveland Catholic Charities Community Services Program, Fatima Family Center is a multi-purpose neighborhood center serving the Hough-Central area.  This year, Fatima is a designated recipient of JCU's annual "Giving Tree" program.

Participants will research requested gift items from Fatima Family Center to determine approximate price and to see if there are any product recalls on the items. 

NOTE: This service opportunity takes place on the campus of John Carroll University. Participants should meet in room BR 43, on the first floor of the administration building right down the hall from Einstein Bagels.

Should you choose to register for this service activity, you will still receive an automated email confirmation which will instruct you to "Meet your driver on Administration Drive." Please ignore that instruction and report directly to BR43. 

NOTE: This activity is restricted to students in Dr. Linda Seiter's Intro to Software Development course ONLY.

CHAMPS is a grant-funded enriched program designed to serve the needs of at-risk youth in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. The program meets daily after school and provides instruction in reading and math, homework assistance, social skills training, and recreation. CHAMPS serves to work with the whole child and to provide support in a variety of ways.

This service activity involves assisting CHAMPS students in 6th grade. Service participants will provide insturciton on using a 3D programming environment to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or crafting a video to share on the web.

NOTE: This service opportunity is within walking distance of JCU; most students are able to walk to this site in about 15 minutes (view a map here).  Should you choose to register for this service activity, you will still receive an automated email confirmation which will instruct you to "Meet your driver on Administration Drive." Please ignore that instruction and report directly to Wiley Middle School. 

IMPORTANT: Participants MUST sign in and out on the Participant Service Hour Tracking form at Wiley EVERY time they participate in service. Failure to do so may result in not getting credit for service time or in removal from the activity.  Please see the CHAMPS site coordinator, Brandi Hawkins to sign in/out.

 A Cleveland Catholic Charities Community Services Program, Fatima Center is a multi-purpose neighborhood center serving the Hough-Central area. Programs are available for persons of all ages, races, and religious beliefs; the only requirement for use of services is need and a resident of the area. Available programming includes the Women's Saturday Breakfast Club, Emergency Assistance, GED Program, Literacy Program (children in grades 1-6), Senior Program, the Women's Boutique, the Learning Center (children ages 6 months to 5 years), WIA, and Computer Studies.

Service Participants assist with children's programming at Fatima Family Center, Service participants will provide instruction on using a 3D programming environment to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or crafting a video to share on the web. 

IMPORTANT: Participants MUST sign in and out on the Participant Service Hour Tracking form at Fatima EVERY time they participate in service. Failure to do so may result in not getting credit for service time or in removal from the activity.  Please see the site coordinator, Wanda Small, to sign in/out.

SELF-PLACEMENT--This activity is  NOT open for registration.

Huron Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital, is an acute care, teaching hospital located in East Cleveland. This not-for-profit teaching hospital has provided nationally-recognized health care and outreach programs for those in need for over 135 years. Huron Hospital offers medical services in cancer care, critical care, geriatrics medicine, cardiac care, infectious disease and surgical care. Also, Huron is a leading facility for the care of diabetic patients and complications associated with this disease. A behavioral medicine component providing adult, inpatient mental health, outpatient chemical dependency and detoxification services and a Women’s Health Center with a full range of gynecological and obstetrical care and outpatient pediatrics are located on the hospital’s campus. Huron Hospital’s mission is to be the health care provider of choice in the communities it serves by continuously improving its delivery of services as part of the Cleveland Clinic Health System.

Service participants in this activity may interact with patients in a variety of ways, including:

• assisting with dietary selection, preparing patients for mealtime, getting beverages 
• reviewing educational materials, distributing reading materials 
• surveying patients relative to their patient care, responding to call lights 
• providing spiritual counseling, listening and conversing
• returning medical equipment, conducting clerical assignments, assembling patient admission packets
• providing other support services as requested by appropriate staff 

NOTE: In order to participate in service at Huron Hospital, volunteers MUST:

1. Complete this application and waiver to allow Huron Hospital to run a background check and email it to tpatterson@jcu.edu by Monday, September 14th.
2. Arrange to have a 2-step TB test at JCU's Health Services office (216.397.4349). There is NO CHARGE for this test, however, participants MUST contact the Student Health Office by Friday, September 18th to set up an appointment for their first test, with a second test to follow within a week.
3. Attend the first day of service, as training and a volunteer interview will be conducted on that day.

In addition, participants should read the Volunteer Guidelines for Huron Hospital.

Participants who do not follow through on these requirements will be removed from the service activity.  

NOTE: This is a restricted activity and not open to general registration.

Gearity Professional Development School focuses on providing a comprehensive and integrated education to children in grades K-6. As a foundation for life-long learning, Gearity strives to foster thinking skills and problem-solving activities, promote a positive attitude towards education, and create positive self-perceptions for students. The three R’s of Gearity include: Respect for oneself, respect for others, and respect for the environment.
Service participants at Gearity Aftercare assist with children in grades K-2 in various educational and recreational activities, with an emphasis on reading and literacy. 

NOTE: This service opportunity is within walking distance of JCU; most students are able to walk to this site in about 15 minutes (view a map here).  Should you choose to register for this service activity, you will still receive an automated email confirmation, which will instruct you to "Meet your driver on Administration Drive." You should, of course, just ignore this email and simply report directly to Gearity Professional Development School on your first day of service. 

IMPORTANT: Participants should remember to sign in and out on the Participant Service Hour Tracking form at Gearity EVERY time they participate in service. Failure to do so may result in not getting credit for service time or in removal from the activity. 

The Detention Services division of the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court System manages the care of all juveniles in the secure detention continuum, including the Detention Center, Shelter Care and Home Detention. Ohio Law permits juvenile courts to commit juveniles to a detention facility for up to 90 days. The goal of the Juvenile Detention Center is to help these residents become more productive citizens when released to the community. Trained staff, volunteers and student interns facilitate a variety of programming available to residents, which addresses such issues as youth violence, chemical dependency, job readiness and life skills. In addition, educational instruction is provided to the residents through the Cleveland Public School System via on-site classrooms and teachers.

Service participants will assist in mentoring residents ages 12-17 and in tutoring them in basic literacy skill development. Participants will be trained and follow the reading plan as organized by the Jewish Community Federation Public Education Initiative, the 100 Book Challenge. After the reading activity, service participants will socialize with the JDC residents, playing board games, cards, or engaging in other organized activities.

NOTE: Service participants for this activity must complete and email the following to tpatterson@jcu.edu  by Monday, September 28th in order to participate in this activity:

1. An application and agreement to submit to background checks and fingerprinting (there will be NO CHARGE for this to participants).
2. Two (2) reference forms. 

Failure to complete these requirements will result in removal from the activity. In addition, participants are encouraged to read these Volunteer Guidelines prior to their start of service. 

Participants who are uncomfortable with these requirements for service are encouraged to select a different service activity.

CHAMPS is a grant-funded program offered to at-risk youth in elementary and middle school students in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. The focus is on academics, social skills, and recreation.

Service participants will divide between Roxboro Elementary and Roxboro Middle schools, and may express a preference as to the age group with whom they would like to work. NOTE: Service participants who need to work with a specific age group (such as "children in K-5") to fulfill a service requirement for a course will have priority in selecting their site. 

All participants will provide academic assistance, participate in recreational and social skill-building activities, and serve as role models for the students. Activities are planned and organized by on-site CHAMPS teachers, and participants have the opportunity to build relationships with students.

This is a restricted activity and is NOT open for registration.

Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) is a Jesuit Program that partners with families to provide students from challenged backgrounds with a quality education and opportunities that will allow them to reach their full potential. Students live on the campus during the school year, where they are cared for by Resident Counselors who attend to their social and academic needs as well as Americorps members who closely monitor their success in school. Since 1991, every Boys Hope Girls Hope scholar throughout the United States has graduated high school and continued on to some form of higher education.

Service participants in this activity will be matched with middle school and high school students who are in need of tutoring in math, science, and English. Tutors will typically work with only one or two students during the session and will usually focus on one subject area.

NOTE: All participants in this service activity MUST:

1. Have strong English, math, or science skills (high school level) 
2. Complete this application and email it to tpatterson@jcu.edu by 9/14/2009
3. Attend service on the first day, as a mandatory orientation/training session will be held on that day. 

Participants who do not follow through on these requirements will be removed from this service activity. 

NOTE: This is a restricted service activity and is not open for registration. If you are interested in participating in this service, please contact the Center for Service and Social Action office at 216.397.4698.

Managed by Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM), 2100 Lakeside is the largest men's shelter in Ohio, housing over 350 men per night and serving 1,000 meals per day. The mission of LMM is to serve people who are oppressed, forgotten, and hurting. The staff of 2100 seek to provide support services to men experiencing homelessness in the Cleveland area and to empower them towards independence and self-sufficiency. (Photo by Steve Cagan; used by permission.)

The volunteer will be on hand for shelter residents in the computer lab to assist them with basic computer skills, resume writing, on-line job or educational search; the volunteer will work closely with residents enrolled in Jobs Club, and as such it is hoped the volunteer will be somewhat of a mentor to residents who ask for help in their job search. Additionally, the volunteer will make sure that shelter residents are not going to sites that are prohibited in the Computer Lab.

NOTE: This activity is restricted and is NOT open for registration. If you are interested in this activity, please contact the Center for Service and Social Action at 216.397.4698.

The mission of Cleveland Central Catholic High School is: "Rooted in Gospel values and Catholic tradition, Cleveland Central Catholic High School educates culturally diverse young men and women of our city and challenges them to deepen their faith to responsibly serve God, church, and community."

Participants in this activity assist various theology teachers with special education students, student service projects, tutoring, and other needs as they arise.

CHAMPS is a grant-funded enriched program designed to serve the needs of at-risk youth in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. The program meets daily after school and provides instruction in reading and math, homework assistance, social skills training, and recreation. CHAMPS serves to work with the whole child and to provide support in a variety of ways.

This service activity involves assisting CHAMPS students in 6-8th grade. Service participants provide academic assistance and serve as role models to the students, and will have an opportunity to work with the children in both individual and group settings. Service participants may also be engaged in various recreational and social-skills building activities. All CHAMPS activities are planned and organized by on-site teachers.

NOTE: This service opportunity is within walking distance of JCU; most students are able to walk to this site in about 15 minutes (view a map here).  Should you choose to register for this service activity, you will still receive an automated email confirmation which will instruct you to "Meet your driver on Administration Drive." Please ignore that instruction and report directly to Wiley Middle School. 

IMPORTANT: Participants MUST sign in and out on the Participant Service Hour Tracking form at Wiley EVERY time they participate in service. Failure to do so may result in not getting credit for service time or in removal from the activity. 

CHAMPS is a grant-funded enriched program designed to serve the needs of at-risk youth in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. The program meets daily after school and provides instruction in reading and math, homework assistance, social skills training, and recreation. CHAMPS serves to work with the whole child and to provide support in a variety of ways.

This service activity involves assisting CHAMPS students in 6th grade. Service participants provide academic assistance and serve as role models to the students, and will have an opportunity to work with the children in both individual and group settings. Service participants may also be engaged in various recreational and social-skills building activities. All CHAMPS activities are planned and organized by on-site teachers.

Gearity Professional Development School focuses on providing a comprehensive and integrated education to children in grades K-6. As a foundation for life-long learning, Gearity strives to foster thinking skills and problem-solving activities, promote a positive attitude towards education, and create positive self-perceptions for students. The three R’s of Gearity include: Respect for oneself, respect for others, and respect for the environment.

Service participants at Gearity assist in the Sensory Room, where children diagnosed with ADHD spectrum disorders are able to engage in activities on sensory equipment to help them refocus and stay on task.

NOTE: This service opportunity is within walking distance of JCU; most students are able to walk to this site in about 15 minutes (view a map here).  Should you choose to register for this service activity, you will still receive an automated email confirmation which will instruct you to "Meet your driver on Administration Drive." Please ignore that instruction and report directly to Gearity School. 

IMPORTANT: Participants MUST attend the first day of service, as they will receive training on the sensory equipment with the school counselor on that day.  In addition, participants should remember to sign in and out on the Participant Service Hour Tracking form at Gearity EVERY time they participate in service. Failure to do so may result in not getting credit for service time or in removal from the activity.  

Chambers Elementary School serves children in grades K-6 in the East Cleveland City School system, whose mission is to "provide the children of East Cleveland with the academic and life skills needed for each and every one to be a success in the 21st Century." Once a thriving community (and still home to 18 of Cleveland's "Millionaires' Row" estates), East Cleveland has struggled with economic and political challenges for many years, and census data indicates that over 45% of the city's children live below the poverty line.

Service participants at Chambers Elementary are assigned individually to classrooms, where they work directly with students under the guidance of the classroom teacher. Service participants may request to be placed with students in a specific grade. Typically, service activities at Chambers Elementary involve working one-on-one with students or in small groups, providing assistance with math skills, reading literacy, or other needs as identified by the teacher.

The Jewish Community Federation is the central address of the Jewish community in Cleveland. Its Public Education Initiative (PEI), as part of the Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Network, recruits volunteers from all faiths to work as tutors at six partner school sites within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The activities of the Public Education Initiative further the Federation’s mission, of “tikkun olam”, or healing the world, and are created to provide a tangible way for members of the community to become directly involved in the life of the city of Cleveland and to positively impact public school climate.

Service participants in this activity will be trained in a structured reading plan as organized by the JCF "Public Education Initiative," the 100 Book Challenge. Participants will work one-on-one or in small groups with children in grades K-6.

NOTE: Participation in this service activity requires completion of a background check through JCU's Campus Safety (216.397.4600) office. There is NO CHARGE for this check.  Participants MUST contact the Campus Safety office to set up an appointment by Friday, September 18th. Failure to complete this requirement will result in removal from the activity. 

L’Arche Communities are homes where "people with and without developmental disabilities share life in community.... Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of our journey together; we celebrate the unique value of every person and recognize our need for one another." L'Arche's mission is to make known the gifts of people with developmental disabilities; to foster an environment that responds to the changing needs of members; and to engage in diverse cultures while working together toward a more humane society. All L'Arche residents share their gifts of welcome, wonderment, spirituality, and friendship to those with whom they come in contact.

Service participants build relationships with the residents of L'Arche Community by sharing in their everyday lives and activities, such as helping to clean rooms, cooking supper, setting the table, doing laundry, playing basketball or frisbee, listening to music, and many other activities. Participants are encouraged to view this as a time of "being with" the L'Arche residents, not "doing for" them.

NOTE: This activity is held 3 times a month. Please click on the "Exact Dates" tab for details. 

The Many Villages Program takes a systematic approach to recruiting, training, managing, and engaging volunteers to advance the academic success of students in the Cleveland Heights/University Heights school district. Many Villages helps the school form a teacher/parent team to shape and implement a volunteer tutoring program that meets the unique needs of their school. Program components include volunteer recruiting, teacher orientation, tutor orientation, scheduling, communication and problem solving, and evaluation and renewal. While each program design is unique, all increase the level of volunteer assistance available to teachers and students, and share a commitment to these three program expectations: 

·          To assist the school in achieving academic progress for its students. 

·          To help teachers and not be a burden to them. 

·          To be motivating and satisfying to tutors. 

Many Villages school programs are supported with a set of standards-based tutoring materials selected by Many Villages guiding team members and funded by the school district. The materials are easy-to-use tutoring activities that address specific standards-based skills. Service participants are trained in and use these materials in working one-on-one or with small groups of students in grades K-6.