There are so many clubs and organizations on campus, but one in particular stands out amongst the others. The Community Action Project, CAP for short, is a community service based organization. It aims to unite Quinnipiac with the outside communities in Connecticut, mainly Hamden and New Haven. It’s a great club for anyone who wishes to make a difference in his or her environment and offers participants a casual, easygoing way to get more involved on campus. There are five different branches which include: Best Buddies, Hunger and Homelessness, Youth, Elderly, and Special Events. Each branch is responsible for at least six events a semester which range from interesting seminars to various hands on activities.
Upcoming events include:
The Elderly Branch schedules an assortment of events involving local senior citizens in nursing homes or the community. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the group will be volunteering to help decorate cookies with the elderly at Maplewoods. The group takes pride in building strong relationships with the community’s senior citizens.
The Youth Branch’s main focus is on children ranging in age from four to 13. The division works with local groups such as the Hamden Girl Scouts, the Hamden Public Library, the YMCA, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Keefe Center to coordinate enjoyable learning activities for kids. On Sunday, Oct. 19, the group will be hiking Sleeping Giant Mountain with the Girl Scouts. Also, one of the biggest events on campus, the annual Halloween Party, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25. The event includes trick-or-treating, a haunted house, as well as crafts and games at a small party located in the Larson mall.
The Hunger and Homelessness Branch aims to bring awareness to the suffering of the less fortunate. With an entire week devoted to donating canned food and inviting once homeless individuals to speak, the branch does a great job of showing the hardships these people face every day. In the spirit of October, the group will be going to a Make Your Own Scarecrow event on Sunday the 19. On Oct. 26, the group will be attending Animal Haven to volunteer to walk dogs and play with kittens.
The Best Buddies Branch specializes in helping those who are mentally disadvantaged. For the past couple of weeks, the branch has been selling duck race tickets for five dollars in the Student Center. The race will take place on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Milford.
The Special Events Branch is the one division of CAP which does not have any specific guidelines to adhere to. Events thus far have consisted of Helping Hands Day and a beach clean-up. The branch is looking to possibly bring awareness to Global Warming, work with firefighters, and send care packages to soldiers in Iraq. On Saturday, Oct. 25, the group will be volunteering at Lighthouse Point Park for Light the Night. The walk benefits those with Leukemia and Lymphoma. Currently, students can make donations at the CAP table in the Student Center.
