More than 300 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students, faculty and staff gathered Saturday, April 8, to volunteer for the Center for Volunteerism & Student Leadership’s sixth annual Hunger Clean Up.

Volunteers braved the cold weather and started their morning at 8:30 a.m. in Spaights Plaza to hear Chancellor Carlos Santiago speak and send them off to 18 different volunteer sites.

As part of the opening ceremony, Antwan Jones, student manager of the CVSL, gave an energetic opening speech congratulating everyone on the work they were going to do and declaring the volunteers “heroes” in the Milwaukee community.

Santiago also thanked everyone for what they were doing and discussed the positive impact that this volunteer initiative would have on the Milwaukee community.

In addition, some students raised money prior to Hunger Clean Up. Students who raised $35 or more received a Hunger Clean Up T-shirt. By the end of the event, volunteers raised over $1,000.

Angela Andrew won a free PDA for raising the most money — $135. The money raised will be donated to a local agency that received assistance on Saturday.

Volunteers participated in a variety of different projects at agencies throughout the Milwaukee area. These projects included river and park restoration, painting projects for those in need, spring cleaning, replenishing shelves at local food pantries and planting a community food garden.

“My experience was great,” said Christina DeCheck, graphic designer for the CVSL. “I really felt like I made a difference in the lives of children.”

Christina’s group helped out at COA Youth & Family Centers, located on East North Avenue.

Another group went to a Growing Power community garden located on Milwaukee’s South Side to assist in the preparation and planting of a community food garden.

“I found out about some volunteer opportunities that I didn’t know were available in Milwaukee,” said Sara Merwin, a volunteer, in reference to Growing Power.

The Center for Volunteerism & Student Leadership carries out its mission to foster an ethic of service and leadership within the UWM campus community by promoting and supporting volunteerism that stresses human and societal needs.

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