Serve Across America

Dear State and Chapter Leaders,



CDA is excited to present a new national program called Serve Across America aimed at improving our local communities and exemplifying the Democratic commitment to values. We are encouraging every chapter and state federation to commit to a community service program during the week of April 17 – 21. In this email you will find a list of suggested community service program ideas that can be altered and implemented in your respective communities. You can also craft a new program and make this your own! It doesn’t matter how ambitious the program, we just encourage you to put your face in the community as agents of positive change!!!



So what do you need to do? Rather quickly, meet with your officers and membership to determine a community service program that can be executed during the week of April 17 – 21. Then, make proper arrangements for that event. We suggest wearing your Democratic T-shirts and publicizing your event like crazy! Make sure that your campus and local media outlets are aware of your efforts so that we can receive maximum coverage. Then, email serveamerica@collegedems.com by April 12, 2006 with your proposed community service project, number of participants, and the total number of hours you will spend on your project. Nationally, CDA will publicize the combined efforts of our chapters across the country truly serving America!!!



Please don't hesitate to contact us with questions!



Anna Ruth Williams

National Programs Director, College Democrats of America



LaToia Jones

Executive Director, College Democrats of America









Community Service Program Ideas



Indiana Federation of College Democrats

The Indiana Federation has been organizing senior Medicare tutorials. They take a computer into senior centers to help senior
citizens navigate through the maze of Medicare questions they have.





Cal Poly Democrats

The Cal Poly Democrats recruited teams of 3-10 people (from residence halls, Greeks, other clubs, and of course Dems). The teams met on campus at 1:00 p.m. to receive a food list (items the food bank requested). They then had 3 hours to go door-to-door locally to ask people for the food items.



UNLV College Democrats

UNLV College Democrats participate in a "Spring Cleaning" program at the end of every semester. They organize with a local shelter that accepts clothing and then they plaster the campus with flyers asking students to please donate clothes that they are going to throw away to the shelter. This works well since people throw away so much when going home for the summer.

In the Fall, they collect toys for needy families. Their chapter teams up with a member of Congress or the Senate and raise money to provide the families a XMAS.

They also do walks for Breast Cancer and AIDS. Again, they have a member of Congress or Senate sponsor their chapter and they wear the member’s shirts while walking so they get the publicity.





Bard College Democrats

The Bard College Democrats assisted with Hurricane Katrina relief. A bunch of our chapter members headed down to New Orleans over winter break, with great success. ACORN and COMMON GROUND are very good groups for organizing such trips.





Auburn University College Democrats


For the last two years, Auburn has tied in with the local chapter of the East Alabama AIDS Coalition to sponsor a family in need. Members got together to knit and crochet scarves and hats. Members who didn't know how to knit or crochet were tutored by other members. These items were sold on days leading up to December 1st, National AIDS Awareness Day, and were distributed with small ribbons for students to wear. Proceeds from this sale went to purchase toys and clothing for the sponsored family to ensure that they were well provided for during the holiday season. When our members came together to wrap the purchased gifts, we had a speaker from the AIDS coalition speak to those present about preventing the spread of AIDS.