MADISON -- You won't find the first lesson the University of Wisconsin Law School teaches its students in any law books. That's because it is a lesson taught out in the Madison community.
The Law School first sponsored a community service day during its orientation week in 1999, when new students gathered to do volunteer work in the greater Madison area.
Since then, it has become an annual tradition.
"We want to make sure students realize that the legal profession is a service profession," says organizer Ruth Robarts, assistant dean for student and academic affairs at the Law School.
About 250 students will break up into groups, Thursday, Aug. 30, to collect food for local food pantries and help various community service organizations with improvement projects.
Robarts says this year the Law School is responding to what seems to be an increasing amount of hunger and homelessness in the Madison area.
"The Law School is not an island. It is part of this community. And we want students to be part of the community," she says.
Students will meet at 9:15 a.m. behind the Law School, 975 Bascom Mall, and travel by bus to 11 different locations where they will work until 1:30 p.m.
Students will collect canned goods and other items for local food pantries at:
Whole Foods, 3313 University Ave.
Willy St. Co-Op, 1221 Williamson St.
Sentry at Hilldale, 729 Midvale Blvd.
Other locations and activities:
Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, 2001 Taft. They will help clean.
Bridge-Lake Point Neighborhood Center, 1917 Lake Point Dr. They will help clean the center.
Centro Pastoral Guadalupano, 2326 S. Park. They will set up a computer lab.
Community Wheels, 4516 Pflaum Rd. They will paint, landscape and wash cars.
Early Childhood Learning, 833 Hughes Place. They will help build a playground.
Madison Hostel, 141 S. Butler. They will clean and paint the third floor.
Northeast Side Senior Center, 1625 Northport Dr. They will clean, install shelves and reload the warehouse.
Transitional Housing Inc., 1490 Martin St. They will move and dispose of furniture.
Submitted by on August 28, 2001
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