Springtime volunteer events combine, seek volunteers

Some area residents, mostly elderly, could use some support preparing yards, gardens and garages for the warmer months, and Purdue people can provide that support by volunteering a few hours in April 9's combined Springification and Boiler Blast.

Those two annual events are combining this year in the same spirit of service each has carried before. Co-organizers are the Baptist Student Foundation and Purdue's Civic Engagement and Leadership Development Office within Student Activities and Organizations. The two also have a graduate student gathering planned for spring break.

Springification and Boiler Blast

Activities in Springification and Boiler Blast will assist residents who have asked for assistance. Organizers say the event is meaningful to people who love their homes but cannot quite do everything to tend and keep up things, and it also serves as a valuable source of goodwill. For those reasons, faculty and staff are encouraged not only to remind students of the opportunity but to sign up themselves.

Volunteers will report in three waves for a smoother flow of people -- 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. After receiving breakfast, instructions, and tools and supplies, they will go out. The first wave should be able to return during the noon hour. The check-in and return point will be at the northeast end of Memorial Mall, nearest Wetherill Laboratory. Lunch will be provided for returning volunteers.

To sign up as an individual or group, go to www.boilerblast.org. Members of groups will need to sign up individually and list their group. To be sure of staying together, groups need to have enough drivers for their needs.

For questions, contact Jon, the volunteer liaison, at springification@gmail.com or 765-494-1926.

Apps and Zerts

The two organizers are teaming also for a spring break social event, "Apps & Zerts," for graduate students and their families. The name refers to its menu of appetizers and desserts -- it will have gifts and prizes too -- and the party will be at 5-8 p.m. March 17 at the Baptist Student Foundation, 200 N. Russell St. Besides fun, a raffle and a supervised kids' table with macaroni art and coloring, the event will celebrate the ACE Food Pantry, which operates at that location.

The food pantry opened Aug. 29 with support from BSF and CELD. It is staffed by Sigma Pi fraternity and ACE stands for Altruistic Campus Experience. Its goal is to help Purdue students, staff and faculty have enough food. More about the pantry is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ACECampusFoodPantry/.