The Office of Student Engagement and Inclusion invites you to participate in the 17th annual Helping Hawks Day of Service on Friday, April 10, a long-standing University of Hartford tradition that brings students together to support community organizations across the Greater Hartford area.
Participants will travel by University-sponsored bus to a local service site in Hartford, Bloomfield, or Rocky Hill, where they will spend the morning engaging in meaningful volunteer work that supports local schools, nonprofits, and neighborhood initiatives. University transportation is required for all participants traveling to service sites.
All volunteers will receive a free Helping Hawks t-shirt, continental breakfast, and lunch following the service projects.
Registration is required by Friday, April 3. Students can register here.
Service Site Opportunities
Participants may be placed at one of the following community partner locations:
- Oak Hill – Assist with gardening and campus beautification projects, including planting, potting planters, and helping improve outdoor spaces alongside individuals served in local group homes. Activities may take place indoors or outdoors depending on the weather.
- Wintonbury Early Childhood Magnet School – Support preschool classrooms by engaging with children during play and learning centers, encouraging language development, and assisting teachers with classroom activities.
- Limb Kind – Help assemble dolls with matching limb differences through the Copy Cub Project. Volunteers will assist with organizing materials and hands-on assembly so the dolls can be gifted to children.
- Upper Albany Neighborhood Initiative – Work alongside community members and local partners on neighborhood revitalization efforts, including beautification projects, planting, supporting local storefronts, and contributing to a walkability initiative.
- Laurel Literacy Academy – Assist teachers and staff by reading with students and supporting small group learning activities with children in Pre-K through 2nd grade.
- Metacomet Elementary School – Help facilitate recess activities by organizing games and interacting with students. Activities may include outdoor sports or indoor group games depending on weather conditions.
- Carmen Arace Intermediate School – Engage with middle school students during lunch through games, conversation, and informal mentorship while also assisting with a small campus planting project.
- Global Experience Magnet School – Support school staff with classroom activities and campus projects such as bulletin boards, motivational artwork, and classroom assistance.
- Bloomfield High School – Participate in conversations with high school seniors about college and future goals, assist with campus beautification, and contribute to student-led discussions such as podcast-style conversations.
Friday, April 10
Day-of Schedule:
Check-In: 8:45 a.m.–9 a.m. (Konover Campus Center)
Buses Depart: 9:30 a.m. (F Lot)
Service Projects: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Bus Pick-Up from Sites: 1 p.m.–1:20 p.m.
Lunch: 1:30 p.m. (Konover Campus Center)
If you have any questions, please contact mosleywil@hartford.edu. We look forward to serving alongside you!