Spotlight
Stampede of Service
| USF News
Photo by Wayne Espinola
A record number of students turned out in January for USF’s largest annual community service project — Stampede of Service.
The 2,380 students, representing 204 university organizations, logged 9,520 service hours at 29 sites around Hillsborough County. Included among the volunteers were 40 student-athletes who swept floors and prepared meals at Metropolitan Ministries.
The student-conceived event, first held in 2006, was initiated as a tribute to the work and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Over the years it has become a university tradition and one of the most well-attended university events.
Among this year’s service partner sites was Feeding America Tampa Bay, where student volunteers helped sort 10,276 pounds of food donations — the equivalent of 8,480 meals. USF’s Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, which annually hosts SOS, partnered with United Way HandsOn Suncoast this year to ensure diverse community organizations and volunteer opportunities. In another first, SOS 2013 carried its own motto, “Make a Difference Today; Make a Difference Every Day,” to reinforce the value and impact of lifelong service.
After their day of giving, students returned to campus for an SOS after-party featuring a festival-like atmosphere with food, field games, an inflatable obstacle course, a rock-climbing wall and music by DJ Miles from USF Bulls Radio.