Students Plan Service Activities to Coincide with State Patty’s

A variety of Penn State student organizations, including the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council, are planning an inaugural ‘State Service Day,’ to coincide with State Patty’s Day on Feb. 26.

Penn State announced the planned service day on Wednesday. It’ll include service activities on the University Park campus, in State College borough and throughout Centre County, according to the university announcement.

In addition to the IFC and the Panhellenic Council, the announcement lists the Council of LionHearts as a key group helping to lead the effort. It’s been formally dubbed ‘State Service Day: May No Act of Ours Bring Shame.’

‘State Service Day is a way for students to show their appreciation for the community and enjoy completing service with other Penn State students,’ Sara Kizer, president of the university’s Student United Way, said in a news release. ‘Our members are very excited to host an event as part of the day.’

Volunteer events for which students can sign up are listed at https://volunteer.psu.edu. Students also can sign up at tables on the HUB-Robeson Center’s ground floor on the days before ‘State Service Day.’

Among the service activities planned are work on a maple harvest festival and an event at a home for the elderly.

Organizations in the Council of LionHearts include Alpha Phi Omega, BE House, Campus Girl Scouts, Circle K, Habitat for Humanity, Helping Across the Community, the Student Red Cross Club, Student United United Way, Students Engaging Students, STATERs and We Are Campaign.

The service activities will present a clear alternative to State Patty’s Day, created in 2007 as a student-led drinking holiday in State College. The unofficial event is associated largely with increased police and medical calls in the borough — trends that local leaders have tried to undermine.

Related coverage

• For State Patty’s Day, State College Wants a Community Presence (Feb. 9, 2011)

• Police: For State College Bars, State Patty’s Day Marked ‘Turning Point’ (Feb. 17, 2011)