#UMassGives 2018

Hi there! Thanks for clicking on our page! A little bit about us: The BOLTWOOD Project™ is a community service learning course and student run RSO offered by the University of Massachusetts Amherst since 1969. The course is offered by the Civic Engagement & Service Learning Department CESL.

  Our purpose is to provide opportunities for recreation/social-oriented activities and general skill development for people with varying abilities and disabilities. We aim to support, educate and advocate. Our group is comprised of 150 Umass student volunteers who visit 22 different sites in the surrounding community weekly. Our community partner sites range from after school groups to group homes to assisted living facilities. At these sites, we reach over 200 community participants. In total, our program reaches over 350 individuals. Students and participants create meaningful relationships and learn from each other. The BOLTWOOD Project™ provides supplies for these weekly site meetings for the 350 plus individuals detailed above.

    Aside from the weekly enriching site meetings, we also partake in advocacy on a larger scale. An example of this is the Spread the Word to End the Word Campaign in which we advocate to stop the derogatory use of the R-Word- “retarded”. Student volunteers attend three educational seminars a semester to learn about subjects such as the stigmatism of disability or the political history related to it.

  Our funds will be used to further educate over 150 students during our three weekend seminars throughout the semester. It will also greatly supplement the supplies and food we bring to our sites/community partners. Many of our participants do not have access to many social activities and The BOLTWOOD Project™strives to reach as many participants as possible. These funds will help us do that.  Increased support will provide us to access for more resources to better ourselves and the Pioneer Valley community, and we deeply appreciate anything you can give!