Schedule Details Contact Meet our Student Leaders What People are Saying
Welcome to Viterbo's Service Saturdays!
Are you looking to learn more? THIS VIDEO does an excellent job of capturing the story of our Service Saturdays experience. Kudos to Mark Seitz for his creative vision and hours of editing!
Our Mission:
Viterbo University's Service Saturdays program creates opportunities for lasting relationships and meaningful reflection by connecting Viterbo's core values with local agencies, our neighbors, our environment, and each other.
*Click here to register for April 15th Service Saturday by Wed 4/12!*
2022-2023 Save the Dates:
Spring 2023: Mar 25, Apr 15
First time logging into UGetConnected?
- Step 1- Create a user profile/simply log into THIS page with your Viterbo username/info (Viterbo emails only)
- Step 2 – Select preferences for causes/interests (can return to profile to edit),
- Step 3 – After your profile is updated/created, return to the Needs page to reserve a spot at your preferred project.
What do we do?
We are incredibly excited to provide opportunities for Viterbo students to serve alongside various community organizations, connect with each other, and enjoy a post-service reflection meal led by our Service Saturdays student leaders. Service Saturdays include a variety of service opportunities and sites with activities. We hope to take burdens away from local agencies so they can better serve the community. Each Saturday sees multiple project options, providing service across ability and interest areas. We may serve in a garden for the FSPA sisters, deep clean for our friends at the Place of Grace, or interact with residents at a local assisted living facility.
Each Saturday is a different opportunity for the Viterbo community to make meaningful relationships with local agencies, their staff, and the people they serve. We hope Service Saturdays allows participants to meet other Viterbo folks, learn about issues our community is facing, and build long-term service-oriented relationships.
Feel free to sign up with members of your club/organization or as an individual. Registration is available/active 3-4 weeks prior to serving, with a deadline typically the Tuesday before. All students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their families/guests are invited! For questions contact Colin Burns-Gilbert at 608-796-3846 or cgburnsgilbert@viterbo.edu.
If you are interested in being on the Service Saturdays email list, sign up here.
**All Service Saturdays participants need to have an updated Participant Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability Form on file before participating.** Only 1 completion of the form is required. VU students/employees should complete the Etrieve form. Guests can complete a paper version.
COVID19 Impact:
Participants will be required to follow the COVID19 procedures in place at their hosting agency or organization, as well as mitigations implemented by Viterbo. These specifics will be included in the email confirmation sent a few days before our service.
Because of the unpredictable nature of both service and COVID19, at this time we encourage everyone to bring a sling bag with a mask, hand sanitizer, a full water bottle, a snack, and/or any other personal needs relevant to their project (sunscreen, work gloves, backup mask, bug spray, etc). Unvaccinated people are still encouraged to wear a mask at all times, especially indoors.
Upcoming Service Saturdays and Registration
Service Saturdays generally start with check-in prior to kickoff at 8:30 a.m. We will then transition to the service projects we signed up for. The day will end with a post-service conversation and free lunch at Viterbo. Visit the Details section of this page for—you guessed it—more details.
2022-2023 Dates
Aug. 27: Orientation Service Saturday - We sent approximately 280+ people out into the community on the first Saturday of Orientation. Viterbo employees/upperclass students serve as Site Leaders on this day, but participation is limited to new Viterbo students. In one morning, our group provided 945 hours and a community impact valued at over $23,0000! Click here to review photos!
Sept. 24: Family Day Service Saturday - Prior to COVID19, this Saturday was open and intentional for all family, friends, or guests to join our Viterbo family in service. In fall 2022, we saw 95+ people join us (45+ guests, family, and friends). Thank you to everyone who made an impact as our Service Saturdays family!
Oct. 15: Inauguration Service Saturday - Typically our President's Day of Service is in April, but we are moving it this year to align with the inauguration of President Trietley. We saw 120 people serve for over 350 hours, creating a community impact valued at over $10,000 in one morning!
Nov. 5: Make a Difference Day Service Saturday - This is our day to collaborate and serve with students from UW-La Crosse and Western! Viterbo will host and we'll use this time to build bridges between our institutions as we serve the common good.
Dec. 3: Viterbo Rings Service Saturday- On the weekend before finals, Viterbo needed all hands on deck to take over Salvation Army Red Kettle locations for the day. In 2021, Viterbo folks raised nearly $5,600 in one day at 13 different locations! Take a 2-hour shift or serve all day. All are welcome and groups are encouraged to adopt an entire location for the day.
In December 2022, we took over 9 locations and were able to raise $3,164.25 in one day at those 9 locations! Click here to visit our Viterbo Rings page!
Jan. 16, 2023: MLK Day of Service, Learning, and Celebration - Live Dr. King's values with invaluable non-profits serving some of our most vulnerable neighbors. Help lighten their loads before learning about various identities and issues before celebrating the incredible good across La Crosse. MLK Day 2023 saw 230+ people serve, creating a community impact valued at over $20,000 in one morning!
Feb. 25: Traditional Service Saturday - This will be our traditional Service Saturday of the spring semester. Join us for a more intimate Viterbo service experience!
March 25: Traditional Service Saturday - This day is special because lunch and reflection will be hosted by our partners at the Place of Grace. Founded by Professor Tom Thibodeau, the Place of Grace helps provide food, resources, and spiritual support to our closest neighbors, just a few blocks from Viterbo. Join us to help make love visible through service!
April 15: Traditional Service Saturday - Since our PDOS has transitioned to fall for this year, we will end our Service Saturday year with a more traditional day to connect with each other and the community.
Anti-Racist Resources
Service Saturdays 6-Week Anti-Racism Project: Created to help the Service Saturdays family navigate their journey to better understand and dismantle racist ideas and policies.
Click here to access hundreds of resources to learn more, reflect on, and celebrate our neighbors of color!
Details
NO LAST MINUTE CANCELLATIONS, PLEASE. Unless ill, do not cancel within 24 hours of your volunteer shift. The community agencies count on us.
Service Saturdays Leader: Groups will have a trained Service Saturdays site leader at each site whenever possible. This person will be your on-site contact and will contact you by Wednesday before the project regarding specific details. Know that the site leaders are a resource for you.
What to wear/bring: Wear closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle. There may be other requirements for specific events, be sure to check your Viterbo email the day before and the morning of the event. It's usually safe to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty.
Weather: Some projects are outdoors. In the case of bad weather, we will contact you ASAP (email if on Friday, cell phone if on Saturday) to let you know of any changes. Most Service Saturdays will be rain or shine.
If problems or questions arise: You may contact Colin Burns-Gilbert at 608-796-3846 or cgburnsgilbert@viterbo.edu until 2:30 p.m. on Fridays. After that time, contact your Service Saturday site leader directly.
Contact
Interested in learning more? Want your club or organization to sponsor a service site? Have questions? Contact our student leaders Ellie Hoesley, Emma Blackdeer, Trevor Rowray, or Jenna Jacobsen. You may also contact Colin Burns-Gilbert at 608-796-3846 or cgburnsgilbert@viterbo.edu. We are more than happy to answer your questions about Service Saturdays!
Meet our Service Saturdays Student Leaders
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Jenna Jacobsen |
Trevor Rowray |
Ellie Hoesley |
Emma Blackdeer |
| Major: Nursing | Major: Biology |
Major: Nursing |
Major: Neuroscience |
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Minor: Psychology | Minor: Women's Basketball | |
| Class Year: Class of 2025 | Class Year: Class of 2023 | Class Year: Class of 2024 | Class Year: Class of 2026 |
| Hometown: Hayfield, MN | Hometown: West Union, IA | Hometown: Arcadia, WI | Hometown: Sparta, WI |
What People are Saying about Service Saturdays
Orientation Service Saturday saw over 330 people serve at 21 different projects. CLICK HERE to see the coverage from WKBT.
Check out what WKBT had to say about our President's Day of Service in April 2018.
CLICK HERE to check out what the La Crosse Tribune had to say about Service Saturdays.
"I really liked meeting a group of people that I'm not normally exposed to. Everyone seemed to be really invested in serving, which was inspiring to see. I think Service Saturdays are well set up in that it's not too overwhelming for students."
~ Viterbo Student
"I'm so glad that Viterbo is offering this! There aren't many opportunities for faculty to serve alongside students, and this is a great way for them to get to know us and us to get to know them in a non-classroom setting".
~ Faculty Member
"This is so helpful! I need to do service hours for my organization, and this makes it super easy to connect with opportunities at different nonprofits."
~ Viterbo Student
"We're so glad you reached out to us to offer assistance with our upcoming event. It's always a treat working with Viterbo students!"
~ Community Nonprofit Organization