Into the Streets, a student program of the Public Service Center at Cornell University, is sponsoring its annual community public service day on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nearly 400 Cornell students, faculty and staff will participate in public service projects throughout Tompkins County.

Into the Streets is a national organization designed to introduce more students to thoughtful community service and to provide a learning experience that will encourage them to volunteer on a regular basis. The Cornell branch of Into the Streets is located in the Public Service Center, 200 Barnes Hall, and is run entirely by student volunteers.

More than 30 individual projects are scheduled for Saturday at 25 local human service agencies.

Some of the scheduled projects include:

• A children's activity fair in honor of World Mental Health Day at the Mental Health Association of Tompkins County;
• A picnic and games for mentally and physically challenged individuals at Broome Developmental Services;
• Helping build an outdoor play structure for infants at Ithaca Community Childcare Center;
• Painting a new barn at Patchwork Therapeutic Riding Center; and
• Painting collection kettles at the Salvation Army.

The day will begin at 10:30 a.m. on campus when participants meet with their teams to learn more about their assignments. At 11 a.m., the entire group will convene for a kick-off speech in Uris Hall Auditorium by Ithaca Mayor Alan Cohen, who also will be participating in one of the projects. Susan Murphy, Cornell vice president for student and academic services, and John Ford, Cornell dean of students, also are expected to participate. Volunteers will work at their project sites from noon to 4 p.m. and then return to campus to reflect on their experience and the meaning of their work in the community.

For further information, contact the Cornell Public Service Center at (607) 255-1148.