Over the years, Eastern has tallied hours upon hours of community service, and the increase continues each year.

Rachel Fisher, the director of student community service, said Eastern students have already gotten a great start on tallying hours for this year, totaling about 32,000 hours.

“Last year, EIU students completed just over 108,000 hours of volunteering,” she said. “This year, we are completely on track to do that again or more.”

Fisher said the service program provides students with a service resume whenever they wish.

“It is a great way to highlight and remember all the fantastic volunteering you complete during your time at EIU,” she said.

Some of the big service events that have already taken place this year include JumpStart 2 G.I.V.E. and the annual service day on Sept. 11.

Fisher said during JumpStart 2 G.I.V.E., volunteers traveled to 18 non-profit agencies to provide on-site assistance.

Volunteers also produced 3,500 items while on campus that were distributed to 21 non-profit agencies.

“Jumpstart 2 G.I.V.E. activities aided non-profit agencies in five counties including Coles, Moultrie, Cumberland, Douglas and Champaign,” Fisher said.

She said these agencies aid more than just the five counties, however, and benefit people across central Illinois.

“In regards to Sept. 11 Service Day, this year we expanded the service day to actually provide service opportunities throughout the week,” Fisher said. “We had super volunteers helping at a number of events, and it was great to see all the positive energy and enthusiasm for our community.”

The number of volunteers and service hours logged at Eastern continues to increase each year, Fisher said.

“We are seeing and working with more and more students who are looking to make a long-term sustainable change in our community,” she said. “We are seeing more and more tangible, strategic partnerships coming together between students and local agencies.”

Fisher said her department has many plans to continue the increase of volunteering across campus.

“This year, we are expanding our weekly events, such as providing transportation Tuesday through Friday afternoons to a local agency for a great chance to do volunteering,” she said.

These projects include the Douglas Hart Nature Center, Crosswinds Equine Rescue, Soup Stop and Teen Reach.

Fisher said students can also join the student service newsletter, which goes out every Tuesday.

Fisher said she is looking forward to all the possibilities the rest of the year will bring.

“I am excited about these longer-term projects and partnerships that will offer so much to both our students and the community,” she said.

The next big service day is National Make A Difference Day on Oct. 20.

More information about National Make A Difference Day and future volunteer activities can be found at www.eiu.edu/volunteer.

Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or redexter@eiu.edu.