University of Virginia students are well known for their zeal in community service. Whether they serve through Madison House, peer mentoring or simply individually, many students share a common desire to help others in their community.
In the particular realm of peer mentoring, three organizations distinguish themselves: The Transfer Student Peer Advisors, the Peer Advisor Program of the Office of African American Affairs and the Asian Pacific American Peer Advisor Family Network.
While working extensively to better the community individually, these three groups have not yet had an opportunity to collaborate their efforts -- until today.
The Clothes from Cupid Clothing Drive, located in front of the Bookstore from noon to seven this evening, is the first joint project from these three prominent service groups.
Assistant Director of Orientation Laurie Casteen, who is the director of TPSA and the main faculty advisor for this event, said she is very excited about the drive.
The clothing drive -- which first gave root as an idea among three student chairs of TPSA -- found immediate support among chairs of the other organizations.
Casteen and other group members said they are optimistic about the drive's potential. "The drive is a great opportunity for the students to get to know one another on a social level," Casteen said.
The student groups are "hardworking and tenacious," Casteen said. She also is very impressed by the collaborative work the groups have put into organizing a successful clothing drive.
The students decided to host a clothing drive because they saw it as one of the most effective ways for them to serve the entire community. The drive's name, meant to generate interest, pays tribute to next week's popular holiday, Valentine's Day.
Casteen hopes this first drive will be the start of future collaborative group efforts to serve the community, she said.
Even though all three groups unite under a common doctrine of public service, each one is unique, she added.
"Each group has so much to offer -- there are different skills each group might bring to the table," Casteen said. "They are a really giving group of people. It seems natural that they might want to come together to serve their community."
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