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Canisius for Buffalo Local Community Service
Serve the Buffalo community by volunteering your time and talents with one of our community partners. There are a variety of placements to match your individual needs and interests.
For more information about the community partners and what placement may be best for you, contact Joe Van Volkenburg in Campus Ministry in Old Main 207, vanvolkj@canisius.edu, 888-2875.
The Community Service Interns for Campus Ministry are listed at the sites they work. The interns are also a good contact when trying to start a new community service position.
Most of the Canisius for Buffalo service sites can be reached by NFTA Metro bus or rail. All Canisius students have free access to the NFTA with their Canisius College student transit pass*. Visit www.nfta.com
| Hospitals | AIDS Ministry | Educational Services | ||
| Mental Well-Being | Hungry/Homeless/Housing | |||
| Senior Citizens | Refugees/Immigration |
HOSPITALS
MILLARD FILLMORE GATES CIRCLE HOSPITAL**
Contact: Christine Stry
Email: cstry@kaleidahealth.org
3 Gates Circle
Phone: 887-4900
Web: www.gates.kaleidahealth.org
Student Coordinators: Jessica Reidy and Matilda Fatunmbi ’10
Email: reidy2@canisius.edu or fatunmbm@canisius.edu
WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO
Contact: Jennifer Flood
Email: jflood@kaleidahealth.org
219 Bryant Street
Phone: 878-7241
Web: www.wchob.org
BUFFALO GENERAL HOSPITAL
Contacts: Fr. Richard Augustyn
Email: raugustyn@kaleidahealth.org
100 High Street
Phone: 859-2603
Web: bgh.kaleidahealth.org
In the past, students who have done community service at these hospitals worked in the ER, transported patients to and from various appointments in the hospitals, or worked with the physical therapist or the nursing staff.
**You may download an application from the Kaleida website or pick one up from OM 207. Be sure to include a copy of your medical records (physical, proof of immunization) with your application. Medical records should be available through the Student Health Center or your own doctor’s office. When the hospital receives your completed application, they will contact you to schedule a brief interview during which they will match you to an area of your interest and work out a volunteer schedule. You will also need a TB test which can be done at the hospital. If you are over the age of 18, the hospital will perform a background check because of new government regulations. There is an orientation and a minimum expectation that you will spend 40 hours during the school year at your placement.
ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE
Contacts: Susan N. Siegel & Debbie Miga
Email: susan.siegel@roswellpark.org
Elm and Carlton Streets
Phone: 845-5708
Canisius students can work at the gift shop or with the annual fund drive, use their background in science to become part of a dynamic research team looking for better ways to detect, prevent and stop cancer or deliver mail, give tours or escort patients and their families throughout RPCI.
Students must submit an application, available online at http://www.roswellpark.org/Patient_Care/Volunteers. Once it has been received at RPCI they will set up an interview to determine if your interests match their needs. All student volunteers will be required to attend a 2 and ˝ hour orientation. RPCI offers a flexible schedule though they prefer if you work four hours per week or 40 hours throughout the school year.
MENTAL WELL-BEING
COMPASS HOUSE
Contact: Michelle Moore
370 Linwood Avenue
Phone: 886-1351
Email: michellemoore@roadrunner.com
Web: www.compasshouse.org
Opened in 1972, Compass House is a not-for-profit agency that provides safe shelter and services for runaway and homeless youth. Compass House strives to prevent chronic homelessness for every client while promoting a more stable and productive living situation. Students interested in community service are needed to help with daily programs at both the shelter and resource center. Training is provided for all, and most community service work can be organized around any major or interest.
SENIOR CITIZENS
LUTHERAN CHURCH HOME
Contact: Joan Griffin
217 E. Delavan Avenue (Delavan & Meed)
Phone: 882- 1231
Web: www.tlch.org
Student Coordinator: Melinda Cruz ’11
Email: cruz@canisius.edu
Our affiliation with Lutheran Church Home brings together Canisius students and local senior citizens. Canisius students visit with the residents and often form lasting relationships through participation in recreational activities including game night, arts and crafts, and field trips. Lutheran Church Home is only a five minute walk from Canisius.
AIDS MINISTRY
BENEDICT HOUSE
Contact: Bella Bolt
Email: bhmainst@adelphia.net
2211 Main Street
Phone: 834-4940
Web: www.benedicthouse.org
Student Coordinator: Hannah Valdes ’11
Email: valdesh@canisius.edu
The mission of Benedict House is to provide non-discriminatory residential housing opportunities and support services for persons living with AIDS in a home-like environment promoting the principles of dignity, respect, understanding, compassion and self-determination. Benedict House is just a 5-minute walk from campus. Canisius students help prepare meals, visit with the residents as well as participate in crafts, bingo, and movie nights, students also have taken the residents bowling or roller skating. This is an ideal site for busy students who need flexibility.
HUNGRY/HOMELESS/HOUSING
CENTRAL CITY CAFE SOUP KITCHEN
Contact: Rev. Richard Stewart, Pastor
Durham Memorial AME Zion Church
200 East Eagle
Phone: 856-4943
This meal program serves 150-180 noontime meals Monday through Friday. Service includes preparing and serving meals. Special arrangements can be made for food preparation on Saturday mornings. See Joe Van Volkenburg for details (OM 207).
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – CANISIUS COLLEGE CHAPTER
Student Coordinators: Matt Lindenberg and Mark Tortelli ’10
E-mails: lindenbm@canisius.edu or tortellm@canisius.edu
Canisius Contact: Joe Van Volkenburg
Phone: 888-2875
Email: vanvolkj@canisius.edu
The Canisius College Habitat Chapter meets most Saturdays of the year to work on houses in the Buffalo area. Even on Saturdays the Canisius chapter is not going, arrangements can be made for students to go. Sign up is in Campus Ministry, OM 207.
LITTLE PORTION FRIARY HOMELESS SHELTER
1305 Main Street
Phone: 882-5705
Student Coordinator: Stephanie Pineiro ’11
Email: pineiros@canisius.edu
Little Portion is a homeless shelter located only a few minutes from Canisius College at 1305 Main Street. Sign up is in Campus Ministry, OM 207. A group goes most Monday nights and Sunday mornings/afternoons.
LOAVES AND FISHES DINING ROOM (SOUP KITCHEN)
Contact: Anne Harrington, Program Coordinator
Lafayette Church
875 Elmwood Avenue
Phone: 716-882-1861
Service includes food preparation(9-11 am), serving food, and interacting on an individual level with guests (11:30-12:30). Open Monday through Friday 9-12:30 pm.
SOUTH BUFFALO COMMUNITY TABLE SOUP KITCHEN
Contact: Sister Celeste O'Bryan, RSM
185 Southside Pkwy
Phone: 882-3193
Student Coordinator: Allyson Matlock '10
Email: matlocka@canisius.edu
Arrangements for this site should be made through Campus Ministry or the Student Coordinator. This service experience is limited to Wednesday afternoons.
SBCT is a community meal program where Canisius students prepare and serve food to hungry people in South Buffalo on Wednesdays from 2:45 to 5:45 p.m. Sign up at the front desk in Campus Ministry; transportation is provided.
REFUGEES/IMMIGRATION
VIVE LACASA
Email: vivevolunteers@yahoo.com
50 Wyoming Avenue
Phone: 892-4354
Web: www.vivelacasa.org
Student Coordinator: Brian Fluharty ’09
Email: brian.fluharty@canisius.edu
VIVE is a temporary shelter for refugees from developing countries who are temporarily staying in Buffalo most of whom are enroute to Canada. Canisius students can socialize with the children in the playroom, help prepare meals, and visit with the residents. In the past, students have arranged for the refugees to attend Canisius sporting events and have brought them to Koessler Athletic Center to play sports.Opportunities also exist to assist in their legal department, helping with the intake process of new refugees.
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
ENERGY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM AT WESTMINSTER CHURCH
Contact: Kathy Vitagliano
Phone: 884-9437 ext. 122
Email: kvitagliano@westminster-bflo.org
724 Delaware Ave
Web: www.westminster-bflo.org
Student Coordinators: Molly Hartman and Liz Suchan ’11
Email: hartman9@canisius.edu or suchane@canisius.edu
The ENERGY program, standing for Education, Nurture, Encouragement for Readiness and Growth with Youth, meets two nights a week at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Children ranging ages 5-18 bring homework and school projects to work on, they are also provided a nutritious meal. Canisius students would be expected to interact with the children and help with homework questions.
ST. AUGUSTINE SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN
Contact: Fr. Edward Durkin, S.J.
21 Davidson Avenue (near Kensington & Bailey)
Phone: 836-5188
Student Coordinator: Mary Grace Furtney ’10
E-mail: furtneym@canisius.edu
The St. Augustine Scholars Program is for young men in grades 5 through 8. The Jesuits started this model almost 30 years ago as a way to reach out to children in the lower socioeconomic regions of New York City. The goal was to provide those children with a better education that would allow them to go onto high school and eventually college. It has been very successful. Students interested in community service are needed to help tutor the young men in the after school program as well as play games and do other activities with them. It is also a chance to be a role model for these boys.
T.J. DULSKI CENTER
Phone: 847-2680
129 Lewis St.
Web: www.urbanctr.org
Student Coordinator: Mikaela Tubolino ’11
Email: tubolinm@canisius.edu
The T.J. Dulski Center is a place for kids to go afterschool to receive a homecooked meal and attention they may not get at home. Canisius students can come interact with the kids by doing arts and crafts or helping with The First Hand Science Program. This program gets youth ages 9-14 interested in science.
TAPESTRY CHARTER SCHOOL (HS)
2253 Main St
Web: www.tapestryschool.org
Student Coordinator: Joel Francia ’10
Email: franciar@canisius.edu
Canisius students can do community service at the Tapestry Charter High School during the After School Program. Volunteers will help with homework or play sports with the students. Tapestry is a five minute walk from Canisius and the afterschool program is from 3:45 to 5:00 pm.