In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, the campus community recently participated in volunteer opportunities at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino (CAPSB). The events were part of a nationwide effort to encourage individuals to dedicate their time to service in honor of King’s commitment to justice, equality and community upliftment.

In celebration of King’s legacy, students and staff from the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus volunteered at Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. This year, 10 volunteers worked to revitalize the mission grounds by shoveling rocks into bins, shaking out the excess dirt, and laying the clean rock to beautify the sidewalks. 

Due to their hard work and dedication, volunteers completed an entire sidewalk in nearly an hour. After the project was completed, the volunteers took a tour of the mission, where they learned about the various services that are offered to residents, such as housing, free meals, counseling, job training, and Bible study. 

Coachella Valley Rescue Mission accepts volunteers year around. Visit the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission website to learn more about ways to get involved. 

Additionally, 30 faculty, students and staff from the San Bernardino campus volunteered at Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino. Over the course of nearly two hours, they worked to pack 725 food boxes for families facing food insecurity in San Bernardino. After completing the project, the volunteers gathered to enjoy lunch together.

The Office of Community Engaged Learning is thankful for the event collaboration with Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino, a long-standing community partner. CAPSB accepts volunteers throughout the year. Visit the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino website to get involved and learn about volunteer opportunities.

The Office of Community Engagement received a $3,000 grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) and LEAD California, a coalition of California colleges and universities committed to promoting civic engagement and service learning. This funding allowed CSUSB to organize the impactful events that made a difference in the community, providing support to local families in need.