OCCE to host service opportunities during inauguration festivities
As part of the inauguration festivities for Dr. Susan R. Wente, the Office of Civic & Community Engagement (OCCE) will be hosting various service opportunities for the campus community on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
Throughout the day, the OCCE will conduct three different kit-packing parties that will help benefit the Forsyth Backpack Program, The Period Project of the Triad, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WSFCS).
Those interested in participating can register here using GivePulse – Wake Forest’s volunteer management platform.
Please see below for more information about each service opportunity.
Forsyth Backpack Program Packing Kit
During this service opportunity, volunteers will create meal packs for children in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in partnership with The Forsyth Backpack Program. Volunteers can join two different shifts at 9 and 10 a.m. ET, respectively:
The Forsyth Backpack Program provides nutritious food in backpacks on weekends and holidays to local school children who have been identified by school personnel as being in need of food. Without the backpack food, these children may have little to no access to food (healthy or otherwise) over the weekend or long holidays. With the food, the children are able to return to school after the weekend or holiday break better ready to pay attention, learn and play.
The Period Project Packing Kit
Throughout this service opportunity, in collaboration with The Period Project of the Triad, participants will help assemble period packs that will be distributed to local schools and shelters throughout Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.
A period pack is a small package that contains a supply of products for one person including tampons, pads, and wipes. In addition to volunteering their time, participants are welcome to donate additional supplies to The Period Project, including:
- Ultra-thin pads (regular, heavy, and overnight absorbency)
- Tampons (regular and super)
- Liners
- Individually sealed personal hygiene wipes
- Gallon and quart zip-top bags
Volunteers can register for one shift from 5-6:30 p.m. ET:
The Period Project educates communities, schools, churches, and civic organizations about the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products for underserved communities; delivers vital menstrual hygiene products to individuals in need; and advocates on behalf of persons everywhere for access to menstrual hygiene products and the elimination of taxation of these basic necessities.
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools STEM & Art Packing Kit
Join the OCCE and Wake Downtown to help create STEM and art kits for local elementary schools.
Volunteers will pack various materials so students at Cook Literacy Model School can make their own lava lamps to take home. The kits will include:
- Bottled water (16.9 fl. oz.)
- Vegetable oil (individual bottles)
- Packs of food coloring
- Alka Seltzer tablets
Volunteers can register for two different shifts. A packing shift from 1-3 p.m. ET, and a delivery shift from 3-3:45 p.m. ET
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School system serves more than 53,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 with the goal of providing a quality education for each child. The school system has 81 schools system-wide, including 41 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, 18 high schools, and seven specialty schools.
In 2020, WFU students spearheaded a similar initiative, providing 500 STEM and art kits to two Winston-Salem elementary schools. Read more about the kits here.