The Alabama Cooperative Extension System's Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs (UANNP) unit trains student volunteers to aid city and county agencies through its SPACE (Students Promoting Action: Community Education) program. This program functions as a volunteer community service and has a successful history of making a difference in the lives of children, youth and families.
Student volunteers are recruited from all educational disciplines in various academic schools and departments, four-year colleges and universities, and two-year technical community colleges. The first SPACE student volunteer program was established in 1991 on the campus of Alabama A&M University (AAMU) through UANNP. At AAMU, the program has formed collaborative partnerships and established networking bases with more than 40 community agencies. Since its inception, SPACE has maintained over 800 student volunteers, generated at least 10,150 community service hours, and reached more than 34,500 customers.
Various SPACE activities have included providing assistance to teen parents, tutoring in local schools, mentoring in after-school programs, serving in office management positions, assisting with domestic violence educational programs, and providing service to the American Red Cross and other health care facilities. Over the years, students sponsor several special community service projects to aid needy families during the Thanksgiving holiday. Each year food baskets are distributed to at least three families identified within the agencies served by the SPACE program. Additionally, educational toys, books and clothing items are collected from campus students, faculty and staff and local churches for distribution to SPACE families during the holiday season.
For 2001, the SPACE students will continue to enliven the spirit and lives of local needy families and children as they gear up to collect food items for the 2001 Thanksgiving holiday. These activities will allow the students to feel the gratitude of giving to the community, which makes a positive impact on the families served by this program.