More than 600 volunteers from The University of Texas at El Paso joined together on April 4 to participate in the university’s annual Project MOVE (Miner Opportunities for Volunteer Experiences) service day, according to a statement released April 7.
Project MOVE is an event where students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community partners contribute thousands of hours to support local organizations and neighborhoods. Organizers estimate that participants provided between 5,000 and 6,000 hours of service in a single day by completing tasks such as sorting donations, painting, cleaning, landscaping, and refurbishing spaces across El Paso. Volunteers completed a total of 30 projects at 24 different job sites throughout the city.
Jennifer Lujan, director of the UTEP Center for Community Engagement said, “Project MOVE gives them an opportunity to give back to their community, realize that there are meaningful ways to learn outside of the classroom, and become engaged citizens.”
Since its launch in 2010, Project MOVE has involved volunteers in activities including landscaping gardens; painting skate parks; repairing homes and playground equipment; organizing food pantries; cleaning arroyos and offices; building bed frames and websites; making blankets for children; improving accessibility for people with disabilities; restoring nature trails; supporting hospital patients; translating for medical students; and collecting food donations.
For some participants like Alejandro Perea—a junior computer engineering major—this year marked their first experience with Project MOVE. “El Paso is my home, so of course I love the culture; I love the people,” Perea said. “But doing things like this helps me feel more connected to the community.” Returning volunteer Kierah Montes also reflected on her experience planting flowers and cleaning up Chamizal Park: “I think it’s important to show people that other people do care and that community does matter. Even the little things matter. Even just picking up trash or adding a few colorful plants in the park can brighten someone’s day.”
The event highlights ongoing efforts by UTEP students and affiliates to foster civic engagement through hands-on projects benefiting neighborhoods across El Paso.
