U of M Homecoming 2011 highlights community service opportunities

University of Minnesota Student Unions & Activities and Homecoming 2011 welcome the university campus community and the Twin Cities area to get involved in community service opportunities during Homecoming week, Oct. 16-22. All community service events are open to the general public.

The week’s highlights include:

"Thank U" is an event taking place Sunday, Oct. 16, that encourages all to give back to the U community by completing service projects in the surrounding neighborhoods. Food and entertainment will also be provided to volunteers. Groups or individuals may register online at www.homecoming.umn.edu/thank-u/ .

In partnership with the American Red Cross, the nation’s largest supplier of blood and blood products, Homecoming 2011 will be hosting two blood drive events. The blood drives will be on the East Bank campus at Coffman Union on Monday, Oct. 17, and on the St. Paul campus at the St. Paul Student Center on Wednesday, Oct. 19.

Homecoming 2011 will be partnering with Emergency Foodshelf Network to collect canned good items from Friday, Oct. 14 to Saturday, Oct. 22. Drop-off locations include the information desks at Coffman Union and the St. Paul Student Center. Homecoming 2011 event attendees can also bring canned good items to all events. Incentives for donating canned goods will be given out at some events, including Gopherfest and the cheer competition.

Since 1914, the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, has celebrated Homecoming, a week dedicated to honoring the spirit of the maroon and gold. This celebration brings the campus community together with events such as a campus-wide scavenger hunt, cheer and lip sync competitions, sports competitions, community service events, pep rallies and of course the Homecoming parade and football game.