Getting Started So you want to do service, but you have no idea where to start. You may have lots of questions, like... - What is service at Loyola like?
- Who should I talk to?
- How can I get started?
The friendly student and full-time staff at the Center for Community Service and Justice is eager and available to answer any questions you might have about community service at Loyola. It's as easy as dropping by our office in Cohn Hall (right underneath the chapel), giving us a call at ext. 2380 or sending an e-mail for more information. Back to the top CCSJ offers many different types of service programs, including one-time service, ongoing service and service immersion trips. When deciding what type of service you want to get involved in, you may ask yourself the following questions: - What am I looking for in a community service experience?
- Do I want to commit to service every week? How will this work with my weekly schedule?
- What population(s) do I wish to serve (e.g. children, senior citizens, people with physical or intellectual disabilities, people who are experiencing homelessness, adults working toward their GED)?
- In what kind of setting do I wish to serve (e.g. shelter, classroom, community center, office, outdoors)?
- What are my career goals? How would service experiences support my goals and prepare me?
Of course, all of us here at CCSJ are more than happy to walk you through your decision process to ensure you find the type of service that best suits you. Back to the top Once you’ve decided what kind of service you’d like to get involved with, it’s time to call or e-mail the contact person in order to sign up. In addition to our full-time staff, we have a team of student service coordinators dedicated to making your service experience manageable, meaningful, and fulfilling. You can also connect directly to service groups and agencies in Baltimore. Back to the top I’ve picked my type of service; I know what program I’m getting involved with; I’ve talked to my contact people—when can I start?! Once you’ve completed the necessary steps, you’re ready to begin serving right away! Again, CCSJ’s team of full-time and student staff are on hand to make your service experience enjoyable and meaningful. As a volunteer, you’ll be granted certain rights and responsibilities, and you’ll need to fill out some forms before getting started, one of the forms is the risk and liability form (pdf), but once this is done, you’re ready to go! CCSJ can even assist you in securing transportation so that you can arrive at your service site on time. Also, check out the Tips for a Successful Volunteer Experience page for some helpful hints. Back to the top That's alright! We expect there to be many questions along the way. If you have a specific question about a program or agency, please visit our contact us page, and e-mail us your question. | 
