Upper Iowa University seeking books and school supplies to help students in Belize
FAYETTE, Iowa (February 9, 2012) -- Upper Iowa is conducting a book and school supplies drive to help children in Belize. UIU students will be once again traveling to Belize as part of an Alternative Spring Break to help the a village in Belize.
Not only will UIU students take along books and school supplies, the Fayette campus students will work to repair the school building and fencing as well.
UIU invites area residents to contribute donations of new and used school supplies and textbooks as well as general reading books to be taken to Belize. Donations will be accepted throughout February either in the Office of Student Development, on the second floor of Upper Iowa's new Student Center, or at Pavo Blue, 128 S. Main Street, Fayette.
"The students who are in high school in Belize need books and supplies the most," said Daryl Grove, UIU assistant dean of student development and director of student leadership and adventure. "This school is a start-up school and needs anything from textbooks to general reading. They basically need all the supplies that students in America would need."
This is the second time Upper Iowa students travelled to Belize through UIU's Alternative Spring Break program. In 2010, 15 UIU students and staff spent the majority of their break in the Rancho Dolores village helping repair a local school. They worked alongside representatives of St. John's College in Belize City, a partner college of Upper Iowa University, to paint, install room partitions, repair plumbing, and build outside volleyball and basketball courts at the school.
Upper Iowa University's Alternative Spring Break is committed to encouraging volunteerism by students. The program places teams of college students in communities to engage in positive social action and education. The goals can range from increasing cultural awareness, to bringing academic learning to life, or to creating a life-long service ethic.
For further information. contact Daryl Grove at groved@uiu.edu or Kristin Day at dayk517@peacocks.uiu.edu.
About Upper Iowa University
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to over 6,800 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study.
Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu