The Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteerism will host Panther Service Day on Saturday.

The event has been celebrated since 2003 and gives students the opportunity to volunteer on campus with other students. According to the CEVO website, the day was created by the Student Government as “an effort to improve the relationship between EIU students and the citizens of Charleston through encouragement of acts of volunteerism and service in the community.”

This year the event will be held in the Library Quad and students are required to sign up in advance for a spot at https://www.eiu.edu/apps/registration/user_event_view.php?id=119890.

There are 150 spots for the event and as of Thursday night only 132 of those spots have been claimed.

Those who attend will take part in creating fleece tie blankets for One Stop Community Christmas.

Students should wear masks and be aware of social distancing while making blankets.

One Stop Community Christmas provides items to over 1,200 families across 7 counties. Those counties are Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, Shelby.

The organization is described as “a collaborative effort of many different area organizations (civic groups, schools, businesses, aid organizations, churches, sororities, healthcare providers, etc.) to come together at Christmas time and provide help and hope to families from 7 counties during the holiday season.”

The purpose of the organization is “to band together and help even more families who need it, while making sure to provide a really positive experience for everyone involved. One Stop is about the power of partnership to make a difference in the community,” according to One Stop Community Christmas’ website.

Panther Service Day is one of many volunteer opportunities for students over the remainder of the semester. Many pop-up service projects will be available.

Days and times include:

-Friday, noon

-April 19, noon

-April 19, 2 p.m.

-April 20, 11 a.m.

-April 20, 1 p.m.

-April 21, noon

-April 23, noon

-April 23, 1:30 p.m.

Additionally, other service opportunities can be found on the CEVO website.

CEVO is also currently accepting donations for Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Services that can be dropped off in the CEVO office.

They are seeking donations of:

Toiletries (Body wash, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc.)

Feminine products

Sheets and blankets (bed-in-a-bag)

Flip flops

Bill organizers

Kid toys (coloring books, puzzles, markers, etc.)

Items will be collected until April 23.

SACIS “provides crisis and long-term counseling to survivors of sexual assault and those close to them, advocacy with medical and legal staff available 24 hours a day, and programs for schools and the community,” according to the CEVO website.

Corryn Brock can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].