U. Bennion Center seeking volunteers

As the holidays near and thoughts turn to giving, the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center at the University of Utah is preparing to celebrate with a 20-week campaign of giving to celebrate the center's 20-year legacy of service.

Since its dedication in 1987, the Bennion Center has encouraged U. of U. students to become civically engaged through service to their communities. The Bennion Center celebrates its 20th anniversary by inviting individuals along the Wasatch Front and beyond to share in the experience of service.

The 20 Years, 20 Weeks of Service campaign welcomes citizens to participate in 20 weeks of service acts, as outlined in "The Service Handbook: A Pocket Guide to Civic Engagement." The pocket-size booklet is intended to take the reader, step-by-step, through the process of researching, planning, implementing and reflecting upon a service project.

"We hope this handbook will encourage more people to learn about the root social issues behind a service project and take the additional steps of talking about why the issue is important and discussing further steps to solving the issue," says Alicia Geesman, the Bennion Center's director of alumni and donor relations.

Geesman said that for 20 years the Bennion Center has given students the tools to become civically engaged in their communities. "With this handbook we hope to extend these tools to the greater community, continuing the legacy of Lowell L. Bennion — humanitarian, teacher, friend and inspiration to so many."

Beginning Monday, individuals are encouraged to perform one (or more) service act each week through April 11. After each service act, participants are invited to share their experiences online at www.bennioncenter.org/reflections.

The Service Handbook is being distributed to dozens of community locations along the Wasatch Front and can be obtained by calling 581-4811 or e-mail Gina Lee at glee@sa.utah.edu.