Boiler OUT! Volunteer Program

Fall 2017 Executive Summary

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  1. In the Fall Semester of 2017, the Purdue University Boiler Out Volunteer Program:
  • Accepted over 200 volunteers from 43 countries
  • Was led by 17 student leaders
  • Completed over 2,300 volunteers hours at 131 volunteer shifts
  • Hosted “Boiler In” guest speaker from
  • United Way
  • Lafayette Urban Ministries
  • Purdue University Office of Sustainability
  • The Salvation Army
  • Provided an activity table at Purdue University Dance Marathon’s Boiler Blast event
  • Published 3 student-written newsletters
  1. Boiler Out partnered with the following organizations and events:
  2. Ace Campus Food Pantry through Purdue Dining and Catering (Apple Picking)
  3. American Heart Association (Heart Walk)
  4. Aster Place (Haunted House)
  5. Black, Gold & Green Tailgate Recycling
  6. Central Presbyterian Church (Parents’ Night Off)
  7. Columbian Park Zoo (Boo at the Zoo)
  8. Congress St. Church (Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser)
  9. Feast of the Hunters’ Moon
  10. Food Finders (Pantry & Warehouse Sorting)
  11. Global Fest
  12. Hanna Center (Afterschool Program & Thanksgiving Meal)
  13. Happy Hollow Elementary School (Kids’ Night)
  14. International Center (Football Parking)
  15. Lafayette Symphony Orchestra (Ushering & Gala)
  16. Lafayette Transitional Housing (Serving dinner to the Homeless)
  17. Lafayette Urban Ministries (Hunger Hike, Port of Hope Fundraiser & Jubilee Christmas)
  18. Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation (Light the Night)
  19. Mental Health America (Compeer Circles)
  20. NAMI (Fall Classic Walk and Run)
  21. Natalie’s Second Chance (Dog Walking)
  22. NICHES Land Trust (Wildcat Creek Clean-Up)
  23. Purdue Half Marathon
  24. Purdue World Cup
  25. River City Church (Christmas for Kids)
  26. Salvation Army (Winter Warm Up, Bell Ringing)
  27. St. Boniface Church (German Fest)
  28. Starry Night Festival
  29. Tippecanoe Latino Festival
  30. University Place (Conversations with Senior Citizens)
  31. Wabash River Enhancement (Savanna Maintenance)
  32. West Lafayette Public Library (Book Sale)
  1. A sampling of community partners’ appreciation:
  • Lafayette Urban Ministry, Port of Hope
  • “ Thank you for your help with Port of Hope 2017. Your involvement in the event was HUGE and contributed immensely to our success. The contribution of your collective time, energy and talents from set up to clean up was invaluable. Thank you for your awesomeness!”
  • International Center of West Lafayette
  • “Thank you volunteers from Purdue University Boiler OUT Volunteer Program who helped with our Football Parking Fundraising on a cold day with smiles!”
  • Lafayette Symphony
  • “Thanks Purdue University Boiler OUT Volunteer Program for being such wonderful partners!” –Orchestra
  • NICHES Land Trust
  • “Thank you to all who came out to help with the Wildcat Creek Cleanup yesterday! It was a fun day to paddle and help to keep our creek clean and beautiful! NICHES had a great time getting to know everyone from the Purdue University Boiler Out Volunteer Program. Hope to see everyone at another NICHES event or out exploring a NICHES property.”
  • The Salvation Army
  • “On behalf of The Salvation Army, we want to thank your group for ringing bells for us once again this past Christmas season. The generosity of the Greater Lafayette community continues to shine through groups like yours as we work together to help those in need. We especially appreciate that you rang at Walmart on multiple occasions and the total amount you helped to raise was $307.89!!! P.S. It was also great to be able to meet and speak with you all in November and we appreciate all the ways that Boiler OUT helps us throughout the year!”
  • Purdue Half Marathon & 5K
  • “Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers for your part in making our event a huge success! We cannot put on events without all of our wonderful volunteers. It truly takes a village to make everything come together—and we are so grateful to have you a part of ours!”
  1. A sampling of students’ experiences:
  • “The Lafayette community is really diverse and it was a rewarding experience to get to know this variety!”
  • “The clean up of Wildcat Creek was probably the best day I had all semester. Our group worked so well together, we had incredible leaders from NICHES, and the area was beautiful. It was an amazing retreat to nature with some really interesting and caring people.”
  • “Honestly, I never imagine myself being a very calm and wise adult. Joining Boiler Out during my first semester here was the best decision I have ever made! I learnt that I actually like helping people (volunteering) and I also discovered how easy it is actually to make friends. Boiler Out also taught me how to see myself in a different, good perspective and it helps a lot in gaining my confidence to live and study here at Purdue as an international student.”
  • “I liked working at the haunted house at Asters Place because it was an opportunity to engage with the kids and elderly- two things I don’t get to do very often at Purdue.”
  • “In the Greater Lafayette Community there are people struggling to make ends meet, which is important to recognize. Actually leaving campus and getting in touch with those people really opens your eyes and broadens your view. Furthermore, it makes you appreciate the position you are in, puts life in perspective, and it makes me ever more willing to allocate my time to helping others.”
  • “I really liked Corn Cooking at Feast of the Hunters' Moon: coming from abroad and being able to actually participate in such an historical reenactment was really cool.”
  • “There are a lot of opportunities to give back to the community. I visited Food Finders twice this semester, and it can really help build a rapport with people when you visit multiple times, plus you feel like you are giving back through an organization and building a connection.”
  • “As an international student, interacting with people from other countries has really widened my perspective on a lot of issues.”
  • “Working in teams was really the highlight of this semester, and it's nice to have a group and give back together. Being in Boiler Out allows you to work together to give back, and I have made some great friends this semester.”
  • “The most positive Boiler Out experience is when I joined the WREC - Cary Home for Children -- Savanna Maintenance around November. I made quite a few long lasting friends and learnt a lot about the Lafayette community and the school system here. It was an eye opening experience that I sincerely enjoy.”
  • “Working with other volunteers of different age and background has helped me gain skills that would be useful for the future. Skills such as communication, conflict resolution skills, and or organization skills. Not only that, but through teamwork we were able to blend each others strengths and make up for what one is missing and also the more people we had, the more creative the ideas we had.”
  • “While I was volunteering for the Port of Hope event, I worked with people from all over the world to set up and run the event which helps raise money for people to gain permanent residency in the US.”
  • “I learned that through volunteerism not only do you get to meet new people who are also interested in helping others but that by volunteering you get to see a whole new side of a community. The side that needs support of others in order to grow stronger and improve their lives.”
  • “My most positive experience was driving to and from events with chatty groups. It was amazing to see everyone learning and interacting with people from other cultures.”
  • “Help and assistance is always needed in the Lafayette Community, and when young adults from different cultural backgrounds come together to help meet the community's needs, it makes it all the more fun.”
  • “Even if study has been overwhelming, I still managed to make time for volunteering at least once each month. This might not be much time compared to those who are really devoted. But I enjoyed helping others and I actually took attending Boiler Out events as my little breaks from study! It's amazing!”
  • “Volunteering is a beautiful thing and helps you give back to the community. Its also a great way to keep busy when in a new place.”
  • “In short, I learned about the culture here by talking to the elder and other events. I know how Purdue farm works now and volunteering principles.”
  • “When I volunteer, I get to know many people that care about the same thing as much as I do. I enjoy being in that atmosphere when you know that the people around you are among your kind. The great Lafayette community has been wonderful. There are many people and organizations that provide for the people in need or just helping to sustain a more friendly environment for general people. If we aren't doing good in this world and giving other people the warmth of knowing that they are being loved and cared about, the life would be so boring.”