December 1999
edited by Jill Testerman
S.O.S would like to thank all the volunteers who have done long and short term
projects this semester. Whether you spent one afternoon building a house with
Habitat for Humanity or several hours each week tutoring elementary school
students, your community appreciates you! We hope you will make time next
semester to volunteer as well.
CSIP encourages
“Real Life” learning
The Community Service Internship
Program began in the 1998-99 academic
year with a group of nine Smith undergraduates placed in various intensive
internships throughout the Pioneer Valley.
Professor Jerry Sachs, SSW, and S.O.S.
director Tiertza-leah Schwartz created the
program to provide students an
opportunity to participate in an intensive
community placement coupled with a
reflective seminar.
Each week, the interns work four to
six hours at their host agencies, write a
progress report, and participate in a
reflective seminar. During the hour-and-ahalf meeting, interns discuss their
placements, review their weekly progress
notes, learn about techniques used by
social workers, and strengthen their
community advocacy skills. Interns
commit to their positions for the Smith
school year and in return receive a $2000
stipend from the college.
Anisa Langley ’01now has an
internship serving as a YWCA mentor
(continued on page 2)
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Winter Gifts
Do you remember what it was like to be a kid on
Christmas, Channukah, or Kwanza, when family
gathered to celebrate and exchange gifts? Some
children in Western Massachusetts are not
fortunate enough to give and receive gifts. This is
why S.O.S. assists the Hilltown Churches’ Food
Pantry with their “Winter Gifts” project, which
provides clothing and toys for over 130 needy area
children. This year, Smith houses and individuals
have collected funds to sponsor many children
whose families use the Hilltown Pantry, which is a
volunteer-run organization that provides
supplemental food for 350 people biweekly in
Western Franklin County. The children and their
families will have a brighter holiday season
because of Smith’s generosity! For more
information about how you can help, contact your
S.O.S. House Rep or call Maria at x6792 or Tina at
x7196.
The Fall Blood Drive was a great success! We
collected 278 units of blood over two days (Nov.
2nd and 3rd) and had 77 first-time donors, making
it the second-largest drive ever at Smith. Thanks to
all donors and volunteers, especially drive
coordinator Mariel Turner ’01, for their help. The
spring drive will take place on March 1-2, 2000.
Your registration is in for next semester’s classes…now register to volunteer!
These are only a few of the agencies that could use your long-term or short-term help. Now is a good
time to begin planning for community service positions next semester.
♦Wistariahurst Museum
This historical house promotes an appreciation of the history and material culture of the Holyoke
area. Volunteers can donate their time as trained docents who lead tours of the house, curatorial
interns who document and analyze historic objects, or program assistants who help organize museum
workshops, concerts, lectures, and exhibits. Volunteer positions are flexible and open to your own
interests and specialties. Please contact Susan Lofthouse at 534-2216 for information.
♦Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Many children in Western Massachusetts need role models and friends to look up to. Big sister
volunteers spend quality time with the child they are matched with, doing activities that are fun for
both of them. Big sisters should make a weekly 3-5 hour commitment for at least one year. Please
contact the S.O.S. office to obtain an inquiry form or call Ruth Harms at 253-2591 if you are
interested.
♦Food Bank
The Food Bank serves over 100,000 needy people in western MA. Volunteers are welcomed in any
of the following areas:
-Salvage sorting and food packaging in the warehouse
-Distributing food to low-income elderly citizens through the Brown Bag program
-Working with the nutritionist on staff to offer cooking and nutrition education workshops
-Organizing fundraising events, newsletters, and surveys
Call Jesse Ferland at 247-9738 if you are interested.
(“Real Life” cont. from page 1)
for an “at risk” teenage girl. The two spend five to six
hours together each week talking and spending special
time together. During the Wednesday night seminar,
Anisa discusses the relationship she and the other interns
have developed. Aside from the bond Anisa has created
with her new teenage mentee, she and the other interns,
who work at agencies such as Jessie’s House, Decisional
Training, American Friends Service Committee, and
Children’s Aid and Family Services, have connected as
well.
Students interested in participating in the
internship program next year can get background and an
application packet from S.O.S. in the basement of Hills
Chapel, or at the SSW in Lilly Hall.
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Next semester’s S.O.S. 2000 Fund
Drive’s theme is teenage
homelessness. This issue is a
serious one because teens are the
fastest growing segment of the
national homeless population. The
money collected by the drive,
solicited from students by S.O.S.
house reps, will help support a local
agency that serves homeless youth.
Look for more information at the
beginning of next semester as the
Fund Drive draws closer. If you
would like to get involved in the
planning of the Fund Drive, please
contact either Emma MulvaneyStanak at x6505 or Holly Burke at
x7379.
("Scouts" continued from page 4)
Whether you are a former Girl Scout or have never heard of the organization, if you enjoy
working with children you are well-qualified to be a Girl Scout volunteer. The Western Massachusetts
Girl Scout Council, which serves 5000 girls in 400 troops in this area, welcomes volunteer troop leaders
from Smith. Students from Smith have been helping young girls earn badges and sell cookies for over
30 years, and currently there are 11 proud troop leaders at Smith. They spend several hours each week
planning activities and spending time with the girls in their troops.
Jamie Goodrich ’01, who co-leads a Brownie group (grades 1-2) with Valerie Love ’02, has
been a leader for 2 years. She was a Girl Scout herself for 12 years, and wanted to continue her
involvement in college. So far this year, she and her young scouts have taken a trip to Salem, worked
on a scrapbook of their Brownie year, and participated in arts and crafts projects. “The girls get a lot
out of the program and really enjoy it,” Jamie affirmed. “One of my favorite things as a troop leader is
opening them up to new experiences.” Jamie gets as much out of spending time with her group as they
receive from her guidance. “The hour and a half I spend with them is the highlight of my week!” she
exclaimed. She would recommend volunteering with Girl Scouts to anyone.
In addition to their general need for volunteers, the Western Massachusetts Girl Scout Council
has a special need for Spanish-speaking troop leaders in low-income, multi-racial areas like the
Hampshire Heights and Florence Heights housing projects. The girls living in these areas would
receive so many social and educational benefits from involvement with Girl Scouts. If you are
interested in becoming a part of Girl Scouts, please call Diane Houston at 584-2602.
Cash for Cots Campaign
by Brooke Harrison
On November 1, the Cot Shelter in Northampton opened its doors to 16 homeless individuals
who were in need of a place to escape the cold night. The Cot Shelter will continue to sleep 16 people
every night and to provide them with employment and housing services until closing in April.
This year the campaign that Elizabeth Gray ’01 and I are running, entitled Cash for Cots, will not
only heighten awareness of local homelessness, but will also raise nearly 10% of the Shelter’s funds. In
order to meet this goal, we currently have 16 houses represented in our campaign. These diligent house
representatives are educating their housemates about homelessness, selling year 2000 calendars, and
collecting donations to benefit the Cot Shelter.
It is not too late to get involved! Here are some ways you can help:
• Attend “Jupiter’s Wife” Film Event to Wrap up Cash for Cots. See the documentary, featured
in the 1995 Sundance Film Festival, about a homeless woman who lives in Central Park. Hear the
award-winning director, Michel Negroponte, speak! Wednesday, December 1. 7-9pm. Wright Hall
auditorium. Admission: $5 general, $3 students and seniors.
• Volunteer to work at the Shelter! You and some friends may get together on a Saturday and work
on various clean-up projects around the Shelter. Contact Brooke at x6807 or Briana at x2756 if
interested.
• Donate! Donate! Donate! Cash and check donations are welcome at any point. Those who
donate $10 or more will receive a beautiful Year 2000 calendar featuring local artists (please include
your name, extension, and box number with your donation in order to receive calendar). Your calendar
will be sent to you through the mail. See below for more details.
• For Faculty and Staff Only! Your donations would be greatly appreciated. There will also be a
table at the Faculty Club during lunch on November 18 and December 9 where organic coffee to benefit
the Shelter will be on sale.
IN ORDER
TO DONATE: Please send cash and checks (payable to Interfaith Cot Shelter) to Cash for
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Cots c/o Brooke Harrison Box 6272. Thank you!
News From Girl Scouts
Successful Chinese
Culture Workshop
S.O.S. director Tiertza-leah Schwartz organized a
Chinese Culture Workshop for Families with Children
from China (FCC) on Saturday, November 13th. FCC is
a group of 60 families in Western Massachusetts who
have adopted Chinese children and meet to provide
support for each other. The Chinese Culture Workshop,
held in Northampton, gave 25 adopted children a chance
to explore Chinese culture. The kids learned how to
write Chinese characters using basic calligraphy, created
zodiac displays for their birth year, and participated in
traditional games and songs. Many thanks to Smith
students Ling, Lillian, Meredith, Angela, Diana, and
Jessica, and Ling Zhao, from Smith’s Chinese
department, who helped recruit volunteers for the event.
All the Smith volunteers helped to make the workshop a
wonderful cultural experience for everyone involved.
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by Jill Testerman
Do the words “Daisies,” “Brownies,”
and “Cadettes” cause you to remember
your childhood happily? They have
special meaning for the many young
girls in Western Massachusetts who
participate in Girl Scouts. Whether
they belong to Daisies (grades K-1) or
Seniors (grades 9-12), they look
forward to their weekly meeting with
their troop leaders, when they do arts,
service, or career activities, take field
trips, or sharpen their cookie-selling
skills.
(continued on page 3)
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