This May the Oregon State University Alumni Association is inviting students, alumni and community members to volunteer for a day of service.

According to the website, there are 15 projects around the western United States, including seven in Oregon.

On May 18, volunteers can work on invasive plant removal and landscaping at Bruce Starker Arts Park. The OSU-Cascades campus is also hosting an event on May 20 in Bend.

Registration information and details on all the currently available projects can be found here.

In addition to volunteering, anyone can propose a project by submitting an application for a digital or in-person project.

Kate Sanders, director II, Academic Enrichment and Alumni Group Travel for OSUAA wrote that new projects should be proposed two to three weeks before the project date, adding that “we would love to have a campus project.”  Sanders also noted that there is no registration fee and that amenities including childcare and transportation will not be included.

Individuals who volunteer independently during the month of May can submit their volunteer hours here. For those who cannot volunteer but would like to make a financial contribution, they can donate to OSUAA and Scholarships or to support Dam Proud Day.

According to Sanders, the Days of Service was started by OSUAA in 2009, with an article from the Oregon Stater noting that the first Day of Service took place on May 16 2009 in Seattle, Portland, Bend, the San Francisco Bay Area and Corvallis.

Since then, the annual event has grown to encompass an entire month’s worth of projects with the website for 2024 listing events across Oregon, Arizona, California and Washington.

Last year, roughly 350 volunteers participated in events. “Whether volunteering in your hometown, Corvallis or elsewhere it is a chance to meet other Beavers, network and make a difference together,” Sanders said.