New organization serves the Austin community
St. Edward’s, Reflect, Volunteer Engage, or S.E.R.V.E., is a service program on campus that promotes serving the community, understanding local social justice issues and building relationships.
S.E.R.V.E. members get involved with the organization for a variety of reasons.
“I needed to do community service for my degree in sociology,” said Jewel Hancock, a senior.
Another student, Kelly McCarthy, a sophomore, said she became interested after hearing an announcement at her church to join the service organization.
“Weekly and monthly service projects are the foundation of the S.E.R.V.E. program. It’s a great way for you to get involved with local service projects and work side by side with other St. Edward’s students. It’s the perfect opportunity to make friends while helping others,” said Lou Serna, assistant director of Campus Ministry and the director of S.E.R.V.E.
Non-profit organizations that S.E.R.V.E. directly works with include the Salvation Army, Mary House Catholic Worker, South Congress Senior and Rehab Center and the Wild Basin Preserve.
“You can volunteer with youth, the elderly, trash pickup and just about anything,” said Hancock.
Hancock volunteers with the South Congress Senior and Rehabilitation Center at Live Oak and Congress.
“Lou [Serna] is really great at running it all,” she said. “Last time I went [to the rehabilitation center], we did a cooking class with them and made quesadillas.”
Hancock volunteers three hours a week and will receive one hour of school credit toward her degree at the end of the semester.
McCarthy volunteers at Mary House Catholic Worker, which she described as a halfway house for impoverished people.
“Sometimes we cook, sometimes we garden—it’s a really good organization. It helps people bond and have a good sense of community,” said McCarthy.
She has been involved with Mary House since 2009.
In addition to volunteering, S.E.R.V.E. participants meet monthly for a Sunday social, have lunch and share experiences.
Students who would like to volunteer or learn more about local service opportunities should contact Lou Serna at (512) 448-8537, or e-mail him at [email protected].
The Manual is a biweekly “how to” column that features ways St. Edward’s students can learn quick projects, practical fixes and cheap ways to have fun.
College students are notorious for being poor souls, but that’s no reason not to have a good time in Austin. For the low price of free, students can learn how to enjoy everything from yoga to beer in this great city by simply knowing where to look.
The 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that live beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge take flight en masse each night at dusk, which makes for a cool Austin outing.
Ann Richards Congress Bridge
http://www.batcon.org/
Hit up Cannoli Joe’s on Thursday nights beginning at 6 p.m. for free beer tasting and live music performances during its Handcrafted Beer Tasting Tour, which lasts through the end of the year.
Cannoli Joe’s,
4715 U.S. 290 E. 78745
http://www.cannolijoes.com/
The print works of Jerry Bywaters will be featured at the Blanton Museum of Art through Nov. 8. The exposition showcases 39 prints that center on all things Texas. Admission to the event is—you got it—free.
The Blanton Museum of Art,
200 E. Martin Luther King Blvd. 78704
Anyone—from beginners to professionals—are welcome to play a few games of chess at the library every Wednesday at 5 p.m. for free.
Oak Springs Branch of the Austin Public Library,
3101 Oak Springs Dr. 78702
http://www.keepingaustinfree.com/
Boy Toy, Austin’s Harold troupe, is made up of instructors and graduates of Cold Towne Theater. Catch Boy Toy every Saturday at Cold Towne Theater starting at 7 p.m. The event is BYOB and free.
Cold Towne Theater,
4803 Airport Blvd. 78751
http://www.keepingaustinfree.com/
Every Wednesday at midnight, the Drafthouse hosts Weird Wednesdays, which features what it calls “exploitation classics.” These obscure films range from amazing to amazingly bad, but fun will be had by all.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at the Ritz
320 E. Sixth St. 78701
http://www.originalalamo.com/
Ruta Maya also offers free yoga classes Tuesday through Saturday with any purchase—like a cup of hot coffee or a sweet pastry. Yoga classes include Vinyasa yoga, Hatha yoga and even yoga geared towards families.
Ruta Maya,
3601 S. Congress Ave. 78704
http://www.rutamaya.net
Ruta Maya, the reigning Ruler of Free, also offers wellness classes with a purchase at the café. Classes include topics like “Medical Terminology, Latin Tutorial and English Word Power with Professor Doig” on Mondays, “Tai Chi with Guy Forsyth” on Tuesdays and more. Classes begin at 1 p.m.
Ruta Maya,
3601 S. Congress Ave. 78704
http://www.rutamaya.net/
Local coffee shop, Ruta Maya, invites locals to its weekly Open Mic. Night every Tuesday. Open poetry readings begin at 6 p.m. and open music performances begin at 9 p.m.
Ruta Maya,
3601 S. Congress Ave. 78704
http://www.rutamaya.net/
Art
Film
Comedy
Bats
Yoga
Mic. Night
Wellness
Chess
Beer
