Community Teamworks (CTW), a SP2-wide volunteer initiative,
teamed up with the Sayre Health Center to provide an outdoor health fair about
nutrition, exercise, and health this past spring. The day began with Ashley
Mapp, CTW Project Coordinator, welcoming the excited volunteers to the site and
passing out red CTW T-shirts to honor the day of service. Held in the Cobbs
Creek area of West Philadelphia, CTW volunteers set up the site, handled
participant outreach, managed the vendors, and designed the obstacle courses
for children.
Of all the volunteer tasks, face painting was a major hit. Children lined up patiently awaiting to be transformed into pirates, princesses, and tigers. One little girl was insistent on a certain type of butterfly design on her face. Dean Gelles picked up a paint brush and began to create the butterfly as she requested. Impressed by the design, the little girl smiled so brightly in the mirror then proceeded to show all her friends the butterfly.
More than 40 students, faculty, staff, and alumni participated in the community event. As the second project in the Community Teamworks initiative, this fair further fostered SP2’s commitment to the Philadelphia community and provided an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and alumni to connect in team-based projects. A previous project was held at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald house, where CTW volunteers prepared food for families with seriously ill children.
SP2ers will be happy to know that CTW has many volunteer projects coming in the future. During Pre-Orientation, students, faculty, staff and alumni will have the opportunity to paint at Comegys elementary school, located at 51th and Greenway in the Southwest section of Philadelphia. More projects will be announced during the upcoming school year, so stay tuned for further information to follow about specific events and dates.
by Ashley Mapp, CTW Project Coordinator
