GETTYSBURG, Pa., August 16, 2005 - On Aug. 25, one day after moving into residence halls and meeting new roommates, hundreds of first-year students at Gettysburg College will take their place in the community as the newest volunteers.
 
More than 350 members of the class of 2009 will participate in the college's annual GIV (Gettysburg Is Volunteering) Day, donating their service at 38 local sites such as St. James Lutheran Child Care, Eisenhower Farm, Head Start, Gettysburg Recreation Park and the Gettysburg Hospital. An additional 80 returning students, faculty and staff will be participating as project leaders. Students will be at the sites beginning about 8:30 a.m. The event is the kick-off program for Gettysburg College’s Center for Public Service.
 
One student has been particularly busy during the summer preparing for GIV Day, senior Crystal Ebert, GIV Day 2005 coordinator and a dual English and philosophy major from Slatington, Pa. 
 
“GIV Day encourages students to think critically and act compassionately, which is central to the college’s mission of experiential education. It also introduces first-year students to engage in the Gettysburg community in a unique way,” Ebert said. “GIV Day has been cited by many students, including myself, as a significant influence on their choice to continue work with the community throughout their collegiate experience.”
 
First-year students this year total approximately 704, coming from 32 states and five foreign countries. The class of 2009 was drawn from the strongest and largest applicant pool in the college’s history. Some 42 percent of applicants were admitted. Total enrollment this year is forecast at approximately 2,600. The first day of classes is Aug. 29.
 
Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences. It is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to Gettysburg National Military Park. The college was founded in 1832.
 
Gettysburg College's GIV Day 2005 Participating Agencies:
 
A.C.C.E.S.S., Inc: Adams County Head Start
Contact: Kathy Jacoby or Judi Hull, 337-1337
Project: Mulch playgrounds
 
Adams County Conservation District
Contact: Vy Trinh or Darren Delenick, 334-0636 ext.344
Project: Forested stream buffer maintenance
 
Adams County Library System
Contact: Jillian Dittrich, 334-5716
Project: Shelving and mending books; create display
 
Adams County Literacy Council
Contact: Megan Weikel, 334-3065
Project: Decorate gift bags for new parents at Gettysburg Hospital
 
Adams County Office for the Aging
Contact: Linda Thompson, 334-9296
Project: Cleaning of Meals-on-Wheels equipment at Gettysburg Senior Center
 
Adams County SPCA
Contact: SPCA Board, 334-8876
Project: Painting, gardening, mailings
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Adams County
Contact: Leah Woodward, 337-3958
Project: Organize materials for after-school program
 
Biglerville Senior Center
Contact: Jennifer Heflin, 677-6370
Project: Visiting with Center participants
 
Collaborating for Youth (Communities That Care)
Contact: Sharron Michels, 338-0300
Project: Build and paint wooden benches for Sports Park
 
Cornerstone Counseling & Education Services
Contact: Kerry McCleaf, 334-8154
Project: Plant rose garden at new site
 
Eisenhower National Historic Site
Contact: Carol Hegeman, 338-9114
Project: Stain fence
 
El Centro
Contact: Axa Jones, 337-9059
Project: Summer Olympics Celebration
 
Emerge Program
Contact: Lisa Connolly, 337-1933
Project: Planting and gardening
 
Generacion Diez / Hempfield Behavioral Health
Contact: Amelia Contreras, 339-0570 ext.106
Project: Clean out basements
 
Gettysburg Area Recreation Department
Contact: Beth Corson, 334-2028
Project: Mulching and gardening
 
Gettysburg Community Soup Kitchen
Contact: Janice Guillory, 334-6463
Project: Prepare and serve a meal
 
Gettysburg Fire Department
Contact: Al Knerr, 334-8300
Project: Wash trucks
 
Gettysburg Hospital
Contact: Debi Sheets, 337-4264
Project: Organize supplies and evaluate working order of equipment
 
Gettysburg Hospital Tobacco Prevention Program
Contact: Jennifer Hobbs, 338-3259
Project: Create tobacco counter-marketing materials
 
Gettysburg National Military Park
Contact: Jerry Godfrey, 334-5533
Project: Work on horse trail
 
Habitat for Humanity
Contact: Eric Payne, 337-8807
Project: Construction work on Habitat for Humanity home
 
Healthy Adams County
Contact: Bill Taft or Jen Williams, 337-4137
Project: Painting and gardening
 
Interfaith Center for Peace and Justice (Adams County Heritage Festival)
Contact: Jan Powers, 334-0752
Project: Distribute door hangers advertising festival throughout borough
 
Learning Tree Child Care
Contact: Karen Walter, 334-6204 ext.126
Project: Outdoor work in playground area
 
LIU Migrant Education Program
Contact: Suzanne Benchoff, 624-6453
Project: Organize library for migrant parents
 
Main Street Gettysburg
Contact: Pat Rucker, 337-3491
Project: Paint and clean historic signs along Baltimore Street
 
Planned Parenthood
Contact: Sue Bowman, 334-9275
Project: Assemble patient packets
 
Penn Laurel Girl Scout Council - Camp Happy Valley
Contact: Cheryl Walburn or Lisa Donahoe, 334-0590
Project: Painting exterior of cabins
 
Project Gettysburg/Leon
Contact: Rebecca Bergren, 337-6866
Project: Adopt-a-Highway
 
Rural Opportunities, Inc.
Contact: Sherry McLatchy, 677-6150
Project: Organize office materials
 
SCCAP Food Pantry
Contact: Lisa Beaver, 334-7634
Project: Bag food
 
Shepherd’s Choice Nursing Home
Contact: Pam Marx, 337-3238
Project: Paint barn
 
St. James Lutheran Child Care
Contact: Suzan Seibel-Willard, 334-7171
Project: Childcare activity
 
Strawberry Hill Nature Center
Contact: Eddy Rubin, 642-5840
Project: Outdoor grounds work
 
Survivors, Inc.
Contact: Kathy Gaskin, 334-0589
Project: Painting and yard work
 
Tender Care Pregnancy Center
Contact: Michelle Arrison, 633-9685
Project: Help with mailings
 
United Way of Adams County
Contact: Vickie Corbett, 334-5809
Project: Help with mailing campaign
 
YWCA of Gettysburg and Adams County
Contact: Lea Czar, 334-9171
Project: Post-summer camp clean-up with camp participants