Alternative Break
The Alternative Break Program is a student-run organization dedicated to providing Grinnell students the opportunity to travel as members of an intentional community of service such that they may experience new perspectives, develop leadership skills, and practice cooperation through educational and hands-on community service during college breaks. We organize student-led service trips for both fall and spring break that go to cities all over the country and to neighboring countries. While our primary focus is on poverty issues, we also work with environmental, health, elderly, and kids programs. Workplaces often include soup kitchens, homeless shelters, after-school programs, painting, construction, trail clearing, clinics and HIV/AIDS programs. Trip information sessions are in early September and early February for Fall and Spring Breaks. If you would like to know more, or would like to lead a trip, email [altbreak]!

Alternative Happy Hour
Each Friday, from 4:45-9 pm throughout the school year we travel to Des Moines with a group of 15-20 Grinnell student volunteers to work with children in a low-income neighborhood. Our kids range from 5-13 years old, and we expect between 20-40 kids per week. We plan activities around a different theme for each session--for example, science projects, art, drama, multicultural night, etc. Our volunteers are encouraged, but not expected to come every week. We also offer an optional volunteer training session each fall and we bring the kids to campus as a field trip each spring. Contact: [ahh]

College Buddies
College Buddies, a program within Big Brothers, Big Sisters, matches Grinnell college students with Kindegergarten through 4th graders from Davis, Bailey Park, and Fairview Elementary Schools who are in need of a caring, positive role model. College students spend at least one hour a week individually with their buddies and have the opportunity to attend larger group gatherings throughout the year. Contact [buddies]

EAG (Environmental Action Group)
The Environmental Action Group, in the interest of self-education, commitment to the local community, and native habitat preservation, sponsors environmentally-based field trips each weekend. In the past students have visited organic farms in the area and we also work with groups in native tall grass prairie habitat collecting seeds for reconstruction, and maintaining native vegetation. Email [eag] to find out more.

Feminist Action Coalition (FAC)
The Grinnell Feminist Action Coalition is an organization motivated around the goal of promoting and activating feminist issues in Grinnell, Iowa's college and town communities. Our membership is open to students, faculty/staff and town residents of all genders concerned with the similar goal of promoting knowledge and action on issues of gender and women's rights. Interested? E-mail us at [fac].

Free the Planet
Free the Planet, or FTP, is one of the oldest groups on Grinnell's campus. With a rich history of involvement in diverse campaigns to protect various aspects of the earth, we now place all of our energies into combating global warming. A healthy earth is in the best interest of our global community, and we seek to make an impact through various facets of the environmental movement. Currently we are working with the administration to invest in wind turbines to provide energy for the college campus. Many national organizations also rely heavily on Grinnell's chapter of FTP to participate in campaigns that hold corporations accountable for their environmental impact. Recent campaigns we have been involved with include Victoria's Dirty Secret, KleerCut and the Think Outside the Bottle campaign. We continue work on a more local, community-based level reaching out to schools and youth-based programs. The notebook project (notebooks constructed from old cereal boxes or beer cartons and half used notebook pape r) continues and has served as a model for colleges and universities throughout the nation. For mor information e-mail [ftp].

Grandparents Service Group
Grandparents@grinnell.edu
2008-2009 Coordinator: Zasha Russell '11
Grandparents Service group is a student group that helps to meet the various needs of senior citizens living in Grinnell. We work with the nursing homes in town to plan several group projects a month. Some previous events we participated in include a wine and cheese party, planting flowers, bingo, movie night and many more.

Grinnell Women in Science (GWIS)
Grinnell Women In Science (GWIS) is a group of science-oriented women who come together to promote female involvement in the sciences. Not all the members of GWIS are science majors! The group started in 1994 to produce the Science Saturdays program, through which GWIS invites girls from the 5th and 6th grades at Grinnell Middle School to join us four Saturdays each semester to explore science together. Fundamental to the group is the belief that women are capable of being wonderful scientists, and have as much inherent interest in science as men. E-mail [gwis] for more information.

Habitat For Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that works to build or remodel homes for low-income families. The college chapter works specifically in Iowa (Poweshiek county), in conjunction with the town chapter of Grinnell. We have participated in building projects in Des Moines, Pella, and Knoxville. This year, the focus will be the completion of a house in Brooklyn. Trips are taken every Saturday morning, leaving around 8:30am and returning around 2:00pm. Habitat is a great way to meet Grinnellians, improve town and gown relations, and learn new skills (dry walling, roofing, etc.)- all for a good cause. Those interested or with questions may contact [habitat].

Kid's Art
Kid's Art is a program run by a group of students who love kids and doing art, who go to the Middle School to teach a wide-variety of art projects to kids involved in the after-school program there. For more information, contact [kidsart].

Poverty Action Now
Poverty Action Now (PAN) travels every Saturday morning to the Catholic Worker House in Des Moines. The Catholic Worker community is committed to simplicity, nonviolence, and social justice. While the program is based on religious priciples, students need not be affiliated with any faith to particiapte (most are not). The Catholic Worker House is open during the day to the larger community, the poor and homeless. Meals are served, a shower is available, and guests have a safe environment where they can feel welcome.

We do whatever we can to help around the house, which could involve painting, yard work, sorting food and clothes, cooking lunch, or helping with the produce giveaway in a nearby church. Please e-mail [pan] to be on the mailing list.

Social Justice in Action Group (SJAG)
SJAG is a student group that works to bring about positive social change, especially within the Grinnell Community. They work on a variety of projects, including a yearly Coat Drive, Kids Against Hunger, and their biggest project, the Community Meal. The Community Meal began in the fall of 2000. The purpose of the meal is to build community and provide a hot meal to those who may need it as well as to the community at large. It is served from 5:30-6:15 pm on Tuesday evenings at the Davis Elementary School cafeteria. The meal is open to anyone who wishes to come. SJAG meets every other Monday at noon in the Center for Religion, Spirituality and Social Justice (1233 Park Street). Volunteers are always needed to help with the meal, whether it is shopping, preparing and serving food, or cleaning up. Contact [sjag].

Stonewall Coalition
The Stonewall Coalition, named in memory of the 1969 Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village, is a student group of LGBTQ+ and Allied students. Our mission is to serve the campus community by facilitating discussions and organizing educational and activist events that address LGBTQ+ issues. We also aim to provide a safe space to all those who need and want a supportive network. Please e-mail [stoneco] for more information.

Student Service Committee (part of Student Government Association, SGA)
The Student Service committee plans, publicizes, organizes and executes service for the student body. These events often take the form of community service events such as Fog Fast, working with the town on the All Treats No Tricks event and the Blood drive. The committee also works on events such as the used book sale, the poster sale, and Student initiatives. This is a fairly new committee and is beginning to direct itself more towards community service activities. For details, e-mail the student services coordinator, a member of SGA Cabinet at [service].

Unified Sports
The Unified Sports program is based on team sports where half the participants are athletes with disabilities and half are not. In addition to developing sports skills and becoming more physically fit, participants are also given the opportunity to develop friendships that otherwise might not exist. The Grinnell chapter bowls about eight weeks out of the semester and occasionally does outdoor activities. Contact [unified].