The PEACE center, located on the second flood of Vaughn, is the volunteer hub that connects UT students and faculty with service organizations in the Tampa Bay area. PEACE, People Exploring Active Community Experiences, encourages service-learning through a variety of projects that benefit Tampa Bay and surrounding areas.
PEACE collaborates with over 300 community agencies including the Ronald McDonald house, Lowery Park Zoo, Boys and Girls Club, and America's Second Harvest Food Bank. Each year over 20,000 volunteer hours can be accredited to the PEACE volunteer center.
The organization's largest event is the annual "Into the Streets" held in late August. Freshmen and staff are strongly encouraged to attend the event and with 460 participants this year boasted their biggest turnout. Mike Seitzler, coordinator of PEACE said "This was a great year for Into the Streets, we not only doubled our volunteers, we also got a lot of new agencies to work with."
Although the PEACE center exposes many freshman to volunteering through "Into the Streets" it is an organization that can be easily overlooked with the plethora of clubs and student activities UT offers. Junior Lucy Monette is a student coordinator for the PEACE center and wants students to know "we are willing to work with students- around schedules and even special placement if they are interested in something specific."
Monette has been involved with PEACE since her freshman year when she needed an on campus job. When asked about her most memorable PEACE experience she said "we were the first volunteer group at Suncoast Primate Sanctuary and got to play with a baby lemar, he was absolutely adorable"
Every week PEACE plans multiple service projects for groups and individuals. The average trip lasts four hours and is accomplished in groups of ten or less. Annual service projects, requiring more volunteers include Metropolitan Ministries clothing drives, Salvation Army's Adopt-An-Angel program and the OXFAM Huger Banquet. So wether it is a class requirement or for personal fulfillment, give PEACE a chance.
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Thought this was very informative. I didn't know what PEACE stood for or what is was about and now I do and I am interested. Maybe possibly just put the room number that it is in since you mentioned the floor and building location.
ReplyDeleteS.A.
I really liked your news story! It gave a great explination of what PEACE is all about and makes me want to participate in some of their community service events.
ReplyDeleteKB
PEACE definitely seems like it would get overlooked by many, seeing as its based around volunteer members. However, having worked with them several times last year, I have learned first hand how important this organization is to the Tampa Bay Area.
ReplyDeleteHPF
Your "Give Peace a Chance" ending is catchy, but it's also your opinion, so keep it out of news/feature reporting. Instead, try to interview somebody about the center and say, xxxx encourages other students to give PEACE a chance.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you provide a way for students to cotnact the Peace center.
I think giving students an outlet to help and get involved with the community is great. You could use some refrences.
ReplyDelete