In the days leading up to the inauguration of President Maurie McInnis, more than a dozen events, held on campus and across New Haven, celebrated through service the important connection between Yale and its host city.
Known as New Haven Community Days, these events — led by the Yale Alumni Association, as part of its annual Day of Service program, and United Way of Greater New Haven, and in collaboration with several local nonprofit organizations — offered Yale and New Haven community members the opportunity to take part in the university’s commitment to service and neighborhood partnerships.
During the first of these community days — Saturday, March 29 — McInnis visited CitySeed’s Farmers Market at Conte West Hills Magnet School to support local vendors. While there, she joined story time with New Haven Reads, sharing a rendition of “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates,” by Ryan T. Higgins. In addition to McInnis’ meeting with young readers, a Yale-supported and United Way-led community book distribution continued to promote literacy with a donation of books to 27 New Haven School Readiness Centers, Conte-West Hill Magnet School, and New Haven Reads.
Other events on Saturday included Gather New Haven’s Pond Lily Nature Preserve clean-up, where volunteers helped revitalize one of the city’s natural spaces; food distribution at the New Haven food pantry Loaves and Fishes; courtyard clean-up and activities with residents at the Mary Wade nursing home and assisted living facility; and food preparation and meal service with Yale Community Kitchen.
On Wednesday, April 2, members of the community were invited to help prepare garden beds for spring at the Ward Street Farm Community Garden, and to participate in separate read-aloud events for preschoolers at the YMCA, St. Aedan’s Preschool, and Farnam Nursery School in New Haven.
Events for members of the Yale community included writing letters to senior citizens experiencing loneliness or isolation at The Good Life Center in Yale Schwarzman Center, organized in partnership with the Yale College Community Care team and the nonprofit Love for Our Elders. At the Yale School of Public Health, volunteers created toiletry kits to be distributed at the Haven Free Clinic and made cards for residents at Mary Wade. And participants at Dwight Hall helped sort clothing donations to be distributed to community partner sites.
In addition, Yale Alumni Affairs and Development hosted a healthy snack drive to benefit Loaves and Fishes and help support their efforts in fighting food insecurity. The Yale Alumni Association also welcomed President McInnis “home” to New Haven and to Yale by contributing to “Welcome Home Kits” for United Way, which are shared with families moving from temporary shelter to a new home.
Together, the New Haven Community Days brought out close to 200 volunteers across campus and city.
The Yale Alumni Association’s website lists dozens of service projects happening across the globe leading up to the official Day of Service on Saturday, May 10. Community members are invited to keep the community collaborations going by finding a project near them.
