INCOMING LVC STUDENTS ORIENTED TO SERVE THROUGHOUT THE REGION

ANNVILLE, PA (08/22/2016)(readMedia)-- More than 400 incoming Lebanon Valley College students will board buses and vans at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28, to serve throughout the City of Lebanon and vicinity. The new freshman class will work with returning LVC Peer Mentors at 18 locations, including non-profit organizations, emergency distribution "hubs," and retirement communities.

The American Foundation for Children with AIDS will welcome 20 students to assist in the packing of medical supplies that have been sent to the Lebanon-based non-profit service organization from around the United States. Once prepared for shipment, the donations will be packed into a large container for shipment to select hospitals in Africa.

A particularly large group of approximately 80 students will serve at a "hub" of the United Methodist Church Committee on Relief (UMCOR) that has been established on the lower level of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Cleona. The students will work to verify that donated supplies meet basic specifications before packing them into kits to serve the needs of people facing severe flooding or desiring access to education in underserved areas throughout the world.

A group of 20 other students will provide similar service at a second UMCOR "hub" located at Covenant United Methodist Church in Lebanon.

Most students will serve in one of more than a dozen retirement communities located throughout the region. They will arrive equipped to facilitate a craft activity, to lead in a community sing-along, or to play an original version of interactive BINGO.

These service projects provide unique opportunities for incoming LVC students to work together as a class toward a common goal.

LVC's Orientation Service Project is the first of a series of programs designed in support of LVC's goal to prepare students for a life of service to others. Throughout the academic year, students will also engage representatives of local service organizations at a service fair, work monthly with the American Foundation for Children with Aids (AFCA) and Habitat for Humanity of Lebanon County, and participate in national service initiatives such as Make a Difference Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, and Lebanon County Day of Caring, among other projects.

To encourage service to the nation as well as the local community, LVC's Student Government has designated funds for a service trip to Florida during spring break. An international service trip to Peru is also in initial planning stages.

Several incentive programs reward students for their service. Bronze, Silver or Gold Community Service Awards based on the number of hours a student serves the local community are posted on LVC's Handshake Profile for prospective employers to view. Students who serve the local community are also recognized at an annual banquet and in the Commencement program.

Contact Alison Wenger at 717-867-6034 or LVC's Office of Community Service and Volunteerism at 717-867-6135 for a list of volunteer locations or for additional information regarding community service.

About Lebanon Valley College

Lebanon Valley College is a private, coeducational college founded in 1866 and dedicated to the liberal arts. The College offers 40 undergraduate majors plus self-designed majors and a range of minors, concentrations, and pre-professional options, as well as graduate degree programs in athletic training, business administration, music education, physical therapy, science education, and speech-language pathology.

The College has 1,608 full-time undergraduate students and 108 full-time faculty. Students can choose from more than 90 clubs and organizations, and 12 study abroad programs. LVC awards generous academic scholarships to those whose high school records demonstrate a commitment to challenge and achievement.