Celebrating the Fifth Anniversary of Anteaters in Service Day

Celebrating the Fifth Anniversary of Anteaters in Service Day

Calling all Anteaters! Save the date for September 7, 2024 for Anteaters in Service Day, your chance to join forces with fellow UC Irvine alumni and make a real difference in our communities. This isn’t just any day—it’s a celebration of our collective power to create a brilliant future together. No matter where you are or how connected you feel to UC Irvine, your contribution counts. Let’s show the world the incredible impact that comes from being part of such an innovative and vibrant Anteater community.

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2023 Anteaters in Service Day Highlights

  • Over 130 passionate Anteaters jumped in to help.
  • 200 laundry care packages were crafted with love.
  • 96 pounds of trash were cleared from Seal Beach, CA.
  • Dozens of hygiene kits brought smiles to those in need.
  • Food and clothing supply closets got a much-needed refresh.
  • A whopping 13,000 pounds of fresh veggies were harvested for the food bank.
  • 1,360 boxes of food packed for senior citizens.
  • Hundreds of bags of pet food and supplies were given out to our furry friends.

Why should you join?

Because together, we can achieve greatness. Whether you’re near or far, young or old, your efforts amplify our Anteater pride and help establish a strong network in your community. It’s fun, it’s impactful and it’s a fantastic way to connect with fellow alumni. All are invited to make a difference with us- bring your fellow alumni, friends, family and community members! Browse our projects below and register for the one that best fits your group.

So, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars, roll up your sleeves and let’s make the next Anteaters in Service Day the best one yet. Let’s unite, serve and shine with Anteater pride! 💛💙 #AnteatersInServiceDay #UCIPride #UCIAlumni

Check out our photo album from 2023 to see the impact Anteaters made!

Anteaters in Service Day is an opportunity for alumni to:

  • Bring the global UC Irvine community together to act on our mission of public service towards a brilliant future
  • Demonstrate that all alumni, regardless of proximity or affinity to UC Irvine, can make a difference in their communities
  • Represent UC Irvine and highlight the alumni that come from such an innovative university
  • Attract new volunteers, including service minded alumni of all ages
  • Establish an Anteater network in your community
collage of people during service day

Let's get social! #ANTEATERSINSERVICEDAY

Fun facts from the Fourth Annual Anteaters in Service Day on September 9, 2023:

  • Over 130 Anteaters registered to participate
  • 200 laundry care packages were created
  • 96 pounds of trash were removed from the Seal Beach, CA shoreline
  • Dozens of hygiene kits created
  • Food and clothing supply closets were cleaned and organized
  • 13,000 pounds of fresh vegetable were harvested for the food bank
  • 1,360 boxes of food were packed for senior citizens
  • Hundreds of bags of pet food and supplies were distributed 

Get involved!

Fun facts from the Fourth Annual Anteaters in Service Day on September 9, 2023:

  • Over 130 Anteaters registered to participate
  • 200 laundry care packages were created
  • 96 pounds of trash were removed from the Seal Beach, CA shoreline
  • Dozens of hygiene kits created
  • Food and clothing supply closets were cleaned and organized
  • 13,000 pounds of fresh vegetable were harvested for the food bank
  • 1,360 boxes of food were packed for senior citizens
  • Hundreds of bags of pet food and supplies were distributed 

ORANGE COUNTY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

PROJECT: Lawyers and law students will be trained so they can participate in pro-bono clinics and provide an overview of estate planning and limited conservatorships for low income families.

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 401 East Peltason Dr., EDU #1111, Irvine,  CA 92697
TIME: 9–11 a.m.

PROJECT: Volunteers will assist with beautifying Families Corazones Verdes Park in Santa Ana and help organize items for a clothing drive at the park.

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 602 E. 4th St., Santa Ana, CA 92701
TIME: 8–11 a.m.

PROJECT: Volunteers will stock and organize the pantry with donated goods. They will also organize and clean the community closet, which offers clothing for youth in need.

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 1575 E. 17th Street Santa Ana, CA 92750
TIME: 9–12 p.m.

PROJECT: The UC Irvine Alumni Association is partnering with Illumination Foundation to collect essential items that will be distributed to family shelters throughout Orange County. Take part by dropping off your donations on Service Day. 

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: Newkirk Alumni Center, 450 Alumni Ct., Irvine, CA 92697
TIME: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

PROJECT: The UC Irvine Alumni Association is partnering with Illumination Foundation to collect essential items that will be distributed to recuperation shelters throughout Orange County.  Take part by dropping off your donations on Service Day. 

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: Newkirk Alumni Center, 450 Alumni Ct., Irvine, CA 92697
TIME: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

PROJECT: Volunteers will be working on an 8-acre farm supporting the day-to-day operations such as planting, weeding and harvesting to help in providing approximately 200,000 pounds of produce annually to our community members most in need.

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 14325 Goldenwest Street, Westminster, CA
TIME: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

PROJECT: Volunteers will help assemble food packages for low-income senior communities in Orange County.

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 11870 Monarch Street, Garden Grove, CA 92841
TIME: 8–11 a.m.

PROJECT: Volunteers will walk the shoreline to participate in a beach cleanup. Park at ⁠Tower 22: 17859 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, CA 92649

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: Bolsa Chica State Beach 
TIME: 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

PROJECT: Volunteers will assemble STEAM kits that will be distributed to partnering schools in Orange County.

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 550 N Parkcenter Dr., Suite 102, Santa Ana, CA 92705
TIME: 9–11 a.m.

PROJECT: Volunteers will assemble Boxes of Hope, essential care packages with various supplies for children and youth experiencing homelessness.

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 1954 Placentia Ave., Suite 202, Costa Mesa CA, 92627
TIME: 9–11 a.m.

PROJECT: Support local students by donating and distributing school supplies. Volunteers can also participate in a free dance workshop focused on health and fitness designed for children and their guardians. 

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 622 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
TIME: 12–2 p.m.

PROJECT: Volunteers at the Second Harvest Food Bank will help with a variety of projects at the distribution center including processing nutritious fruits and vegetables that are then sent out to their community partner network. 

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 8014 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618
TIME: 9–11 a.m.

PROJECT: As part of the UC Irvine Alumni Association’s Anteaters in Service Day, we are hosting a blood drive with UCI Health. The bloodmobile will be in the parking lot next to the Newkirk Alumni Center.

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 450 Alumni Ct., Irvine, CA 92697
TIME: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

PROJECT: As part of the UC Irvine Alumni Association’s Anteaters in Service Day, we are hosting a blood drive with UCI Health. The bloodmobile will be in the parking lot next to the Newkirk Alumni Center.

REGION: Orange County
ADDRESS: 450 Alumni Ct., Irvine, CA 92697
TIME: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

REGIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

ATLANTA

PROJECT: Volunteers will care for young trees at Adair Park to help their urban forest thrive. Activities include weeding and refreshing mulch around the trees, staking, watering and picking up litter. 

REGION: Atlanta, GA
ADDRESS: 746 Lexington Ave. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
TIME: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

D.C. AREA

PROJECT: Volunteers will tend to the Project HUG Garden.

REGION: D.C. Area
ADDRESS: 1600 South Hayes St., Arlington, VA 22202
TIME: 8:30–11:30 a.m.

NEW YORK CITY

PROJECT: Volunteers will assist at the Housing Works Thrift Shops- Chelsea in sorting through and organizing donations for the thrift store.

REGION: New York City
ADDRESS: 143 West 17th Street New York, NY 10011
TIME: 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

BOSTON

PROJECT: Volunteers will help search, pick up and collect trash, debris and litter from the beach and shoreline.

REGION: Boston – Tenean Beach
ADDRESS: Conley St., Boston, MA 02122
TIME: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

SAN JOSE

PROJECT:  Volunteers will help the Historic Orchard Revitalization with maintenance of the new fruit trees on site. Tasks may include weed removal, minor infrastructure repairs, tree pruning, mulching and other tasks.

REGION: Silicon Valley, CA
ADDRESS: 425 Seymour St., San Jose, CA 95110
TIME: 9–11:30 a.m.

PORTLAND

PROJECT: Volunteers will work alongside Blanchet House staff to serve a nutritious lunch to residents. Each volunteer will help in various aspects of kitchen service such as plating the food and serving meals.

REGION: Portland, OR
ADDRESS: 310 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR 97210
TIME: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

CHICAGO

PROJECT: Volunteers will quality check, sort, package and prepare new and gently used donations for service partners that will distribute to kids in the community.

REGION: Chicago, IL
ADDRESS: 2500 West Bradley Place Chicago, IL 60618
TIME: 1:30–3:30 p.m.

PORTLAND

PROJECT: Volunteers will work alongside Blanchet House staff to serve a nutritious lunch to residents. Each volunteer will help in various aspects of kitchen service such as plating the food and serving meals.

REGION: Portland, OR
ADDRESS: 310 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR 97210
TIME: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

INTERNATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

LONDON

PROJECT: Volunteers will staff water stations on the 5k route of the Battersea Half Marathon and distribute water bottles to runners while cheering them on their journey.

REGION: London, UK
ADDRESS: Bandstand, Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ
TIME: 7:45 a.m.–1 p.m. BST

PROJECT: Volunteers will be tasked with sorting and packing donations.


REGION: Washington DC
ADDRESS: 4900 Puerto Rico Ave. NE Washington DC, 20017
TIME: Morning

  • UCI Health Blood Drive saw 48 donors and collected 35 units of blood
  • OC Rescue Mission saw 40 volunteers and produced 2100 food boxes
  • Rock Creek Conservancy volunteers collected almost 100 pounds of trash
  • Stone Soup PDX saw 9 volunteers who made 100 meals
  • Dreams for School saw 19 volunteers and created supply and material boxes for 80 kids
“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” This is a statement that I learned as an undergrad at UCI. Each of us is a link in the chain that makes up our community. Thus, it is each of our responsibility to help pull up the person next to us who needs help. Imagine the impact of 200,000+ UCI alumni linking arms to lift up our neighbors and neighborhood!”
-Jack Toan '95, MBA '02, UCI Alumni Association President
“Anteaters assembled at the OC Food Bank's massive warehouse in Garden Grove on Saturday morning, 08/29. Team UCI brought their Anteater energy and smashed the morning team’s record by completing 685 boxes in under 2 hours... nearly 14% more! Great job, team!”
-Steve Acterman '86, MBA '99
“The project this group worked on were sanding, washing and painting benches that our clients use when they are waiting for their session to begin. Many of our clients are in wheel chairs or have issues with walking or balance, so a safe place to sit is very important. Thank you so much. We look forward to 2021!”
-Shea Center
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FAQS

What do you mean by service?

There are so many ways to have an impact and serve your community, whether that be volunteering at your neighborhood food bank, cleaning up your local park, holding a beach clean-up or donation sorting.

Who can participate?

Anteaters in Service Day is for everyone – students, staff, faculty, community members, alumni and their families! There may be age restrictions for projects, which will be noted in the project description. Most projects are family friendly and our community partners welcome all to serve.

What details are needed to organize a new service project?

When submitting for approval, please include general information such as project name, community partner or non-profit name, location, start time, end time, sponsoring chapter or individual, project description, project capacity, organization website, staff contact and lead on project’s contact information, and what the volunteers should wear.

What should volunteers wear for service projects?

Wear clothes appropriate for your type of service project. We recommend comfortable, weather appropriate clothing. If you are unsure, don’t hesitate to contact us at alumni@uci.edu for more details. Also, be sure to sport some Anteater spirit gear to show your alumni pride!