Cal State San Bernardino students will become a volunteer force in the community for the eighth annual Coyote Cares Day on Saturday, April 23 – in honor of National Volunteer Week – starting at 7:45 a.m.

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown each year, with thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week. It is an opportunity to honor the impact of all those who do good in our communities and inspire others to make a difference and improve the world.

Coyote Cares Day is a day of volunteer service in local communities that provides CSUSB students with an understanding of the work of nonprofit organizations and engages the students through volunteer service, said Diane Podolske, director of the Office of Community Engagement.

CSUSB students, faculty, staff and alumni volunteers will come together to complete projects that benefit local nonprofit organizations and community agencies as a way of thanking the community for their support of the university and its mission, Podolske said.

“Coyote Cares Day is an important tradition at CSUSB, so it is great to be able to offer in-person service again for our local communities,” she said. “We are looking forward to re-engaging our students and celebrating the impact of Coyote volunteer service.”

More than 150 CSUSB students are registered to participate in tree planting, community clean-up, and food pantry projects, Podolske said. Five vans full of volunteers will head off campus, and the rest of the students, staff and faculty will do service projects on campus. 

The volunteers are expected to complete more than 600 hours of service work, followed by a picnic lunch on campus with entertainment by a 2020 kinesiology alumnus, DJ Entay, Podolske said.

As part of Coyote Cares Day, CSUSB’s Alumni Relations is hosting a “packing party” for alumni to return to campus to help pack Superhero Boxes for local foster youth. These boxes will provide encouragement and support for young people who are navigating the foster care system.

Participating community organizations include: San Bernardino City Mission, City of Colton Luque Community Center, Inland Empire Resource Conservation District, Together We Rise, and the Provisional Accelerated Learning Center (PAL Center).