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Spring into Service

April is National Volunteer Month! Find a way to give time to an organization in your community.
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April 17–23 is National Volunteer Week. Join your classmates and sign up to give time to an organization in your community and/or learn about issues. 

Those who participate in a service project will be invited to a not-to-be-missed Spring into Service donut-and-empanada fest on Saturday morning, and entered into a raffle for Cotopaxi gear. Kindly RSVP as early as possible to allow partners to plan ahead.

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Flexible | Related events

Upcoming Service Projects

Saturday, April 23

Spring into Service sticker

Spring into Service Celebration Brunch

The Haas Center will host a brunch for everyone who participated in Spring into Service this year. Register for your activity(ies) by Friday, April 22 at noon so you'll be sure to get the information about the celebration. Haas Ford Patio. 9:30-11:00am. Register.

Youth Community Service logo

YCS Service Pop Up 

Book Drive and Bookmark Making! Drop Ins Welcome! Help sort books, create fun bookmarks, bring books to donate if you have them. 1:00-3:00pm, drop in anytime. In front of Ada's Cafe at Mitchell Park, 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto.

Canopy logo

Canopy at Earth Day Fair

Table at the Palo Alto Earth Day Fair hosted by the Palo Alto Youth Council in Mitchell Park, Palo Alto. 10:00am–1:00pm. Register.

Sequoia HS

Extreme School Closet Makeover!

Sequoia High School Family Center has secured a large storage space that we want to convert into a Student Clothing Boutique for students-in-need. Help reconfigure this space to serve students in need. Activities could include painting, sorting, labeling, cleaning or design-problem solving. Redwood City. 10:00am-4:00pm (or any portion in that timeframe). Register.

Magic

Stanford Seniors

Volunteer on campus with your Senior classmates at the Dish with Magic. Limited spots available. 9:30–11:30am. Register.

Worldreader logo

Worldreader

Promote Worldreader's mission and fundraising efforts for World Book Day by spreading the word to personal and professional networks through digital channels, using a volunteer toolkit provided by Worldreader. 8:00am–5:00pm (1 hour during this period). Register.

Friends for Youth logo

Friends for Youth

Digitize mentor-mentee case files. Prepare and scan files. 9:00am–2:00pm (whenever you can work in this timeframe). Register.

Sunday, April 24

Hidden Villa

Hidden Villa Ranch Sheep Sheering Event

Help Hidden Villa's annual sheep shearing event. Wear-closed toed shoes, dress in layers, and wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. We are invited to join the festivities after our volunteer shift if we wish! 9:00am–12:00pm (leaving Stanford at 8:15). Project is FULL.

Flexible! Anytime!

Canopy logo

Canopy

Test Canopy's new interactive tree walk guides and share feedback. Each walk takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. Work alone or with friends. Test one or more of six location walks. This project can be completed in your own time. You will receive detailed instructions. Register.

Youth Community Service logo

Youth Community Service (YCS)

Help spread the word about YCS's book drive to support a local nonprofit through our Service Pop Up program! Share fliers in virtual and physical locations as well as call groups/companies that may be interested in sharing the event. Register.

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Other Spring into Service Week Events

  • Realizing Climate Justice: Indigenous Action in the Amazon Rainforest: Dr. Tracey Osborne will share the conceptual framework for an innovative climate change mitigation project developed in collaboration with Indigenous peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The project takes a climate justice approach which treats climate change as a social justice issue, incorporating Western and Indigenous knowledge to address the main drivers of deforestation and climate change. In Y2E2; Monday, 12:00pm. RSVP
  • Economic implications of climate change and neo-colonialism: Join Professor Keston Perry for a talk about the role the Global North has played in causing the climate crisis and economic inequality, and the implications for global economic policy ideas such as the Green New Deal. Monday, 7:00–8:30pm. Toyon. RSVP
  • The Political Economy of Democracy Aid in the Middle East: Join Erin Snider in a discussion of her recently released book, Marketing Democracy: The Political Economy of Democracy Aid in the Middle East. Snider focuses on the voices and practices of those engaged in democracy work over the last three decades to offer a new framework for understanding the political economy of democracy aid. Tuesday, 10:00–11:00am.
  • Finding and Choosing a PIT/Tech Employer Aligned with Your Values: If you looking for ways to align your values with your career, don't miss this Ethics+Public Interest Tech Careers Workshop, featuring a team from Principia, a leading global advisory firm on organizational ethics. Tuesday12:15-1:15. Register for the link
  • Panel: Applying Environmental Justice Frameworks to Sustainability Science Research: A group of scholars will describe how environmental justice frameworks can impact scientific research promoting social justice and environmental sustainability. Explore and discuss EJ principles for achieving environmental justice across practices and disciplinary perspectives. Hohbach Hall (Green Library). 3:30–4:30 pm. Stay for our social event. Appetizers and drinks! Tuesday, 4:30–5:30 pm. RSVP 
  • Conversation with Kelly Lytle Hernández (for grad students): Professor Kelly Lytle Hernández will hold a conversation about her commitment to Million Dollar Hoods, a community-driven, university-based research project that documents the costs of mass incarceration in Los Angeles and beyond. This event is addressed to graduate students who seek to develop an investment in the work of social justice alongside their scholarly research. Thursday, 10:00–11:00am. RSVP
  • Social Entrepreneurs in Residence at Stanford (SEERS): Join the 2022 Social Entrepreneurs in Residence at Stanford (SEERS Fellows) as they share their journeys, hopes, and visions for advancing racial and economic justice. 12:00–1:00pm, lunch available at Thursday, 11:30am. RSVP
  • Bicycle Repair: Stanford Bicycle Project will help you and/or teach you to repair your bike. Everything is free and no experience required! White Plaza Thursday, 11:30am - 12:30pm.
  • Explore Energy Community Social (with VIPs): Meet, network, and build connections with folks interested in the energy space.  Meet special guests, Bits & Watts corporate members, Stefan Padberg, Managing Director, E.ON Innovation Co-Investments and Cameron Briggs, General Manager, Future Energy at Origin Energy. Free food and drink provided. Co-sponsored by Bits & Watts. Thursday, 5:00–7:00pm RSVP
  • Recycle Your Lithium Batteries: bring your old lithium-ion batteries and rechargeable devices to have them safely and sustainably recycled. Either at Engineering Quad lawn or between EVGR B and C (outside of the EVGR Pub). Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm.
  • Celebrate the Earth by fighting for it! It is critical than that we draw attention to the climate crisis and motivate action.The 350SV Palo Alto “Switch to Electric” team is planning a community-wide student-led march and rally in front of Palo Alto City Hall. The event is a celebration of our progress and a call to action. Friday, 4-6:00pm King Plaza, 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto. Eventbrite,
  • Cardinal Service Seed Grant: Want to organize your own service project? Apply for a Cardinal Service Seed Grant this quarter and make it happen! Review the guidelines before applying for a grant.

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Completed Projects

Monday, April 18

Grassroots Ecology logo

Grassroots Ecology

Restore habitat to manage the essential wildlife corridor in this local ecosystem. Activities include: invasive plant removal, native plot maintenance. 9:30am–12:30pm (join for as long as possible). Arastradero Preserve. 

Upward Scholars logo

Upward Scholars

Pack backpacks with supplies for adult immigrant community college students. Redwood City. 10:00am–12:00pm. 

City of Palo Auto

Safe Routes To School, Office of Transportation City of Palo Alto

Help transform blacktop into riding stations by marking with painter’s tape and chalk. Great opportunity for those who are passionate about public health and safety, sustainability, city planning, cycling or elementary education. 2:30–5:30pm. Palo Alto. 

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Gleaning with Stanford Food Recovery 

We'll be picking oranges around campus and donating the fruit to the hungry in the Bay Area (and also tasting them for ourselves!). Join us at 4:30pm at the back of the Haas Center. 

Tuesday, April 19

City of Palo Auto

Safe Routes To School, Office of Transportation City of Palo Alto

Help transform blacktop into riding stations by marking with painter’s tape and chalk. This is a great opportunity for students who are passionate about public health and safety, sustainability, city planning, cycling or elementary education. 2:30–5:30pm. Palo Alto. 

Wednesday, April 20

Friends for Youth logo

Friends for Youth

Digitize mentor-mentee case files. Prepare and scan files.  9:00am–2:00pm (whenever you can work in this timeframe). Palo Alto. Register.

City of Palo Auto

Safe Routes To School, Office of Transportation City of Palo Alto

Help transform blacktop into riding stations by marking with painter’s tape and chalk. This is a great opportunity for students who are passionate about public health and safety, sustainability, city planning, cycling or elementary education. 1:30–4:30pm. Palo Alto. Register.

Worldreader logo

Worldreader

Promote Worldreader's mission and fundraising efforts for World Book Day by spreading the word to personal and professional networks through digital channels, using a volunteer toolkit provided by Worldreader.  Remote.12:00–1:00pm or 5:00–6:00pm. Register.

 

 Friday, April 22

There With Care logo

There With Care

Make Care Cards for families and children facing critical illness, which will be included in the care packages delivered by volunteers to families with a child receiving hospital treatment. 2:15–3:45pm. FLI community project, though all are welcome. Redwood City. Register.

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Stanford Conservation Program Work Day

Join us for a day of weeding invasive mustard to help clear habitat for native wildlife. Meet at Lagunita fire pit any time 10:00am–2:00pm. Register.

Friends for Youth logo

Friends for Youth

Digitize mentor-mentee case files. Prepare and scan files. 9:00am–2:00pm (whenever you can work in this timeframe). Palo Alto. Register.

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The art above was designed by Maya Makinde, a first-year MS student, winner of the Spring Into Service art contest.