Notre Dame students gathered to learn about service opportunities and to kick back as they kick started the new semester with the Notre Dame Circle K's Service Extravaganza in the LaFortune Student Center ballroom Sunday.
The group started with full force as students wrote letters to soldiers, tied the remaining blankets from the Aidan Project in December, crafted dog toys for the Humane Society and made hats for the Center for the Homeless and local hospitals.
Senior Jessica Choi, publicity officer for Notre Dame Circle K, said the Service Extravaganza is a way to spread the word about Circle K.
"We hope to expand our membership and show everyone the joys of doing service," Choi said.
The president of Notre Dame Circle K, Alyssa Casill, said approximately 100 students serve in the club each year. The group is part of Circle K International and organizes 12 weekly projects as well as others throughout the semester.
"We do pretty much any kind of service you can think of," Casill said. "[The projects] range from going to Saint Mary's Convent to the Humane Society."
This semester, Notre Dame Circle K will begin cooking and serving dinner at the South Bend Catholic Worker, a homeless shelter and drop-in center.
"The other new project that we're doing is with Corvilla, which is a home in South Bend for people with disabilities," Casill said. "That's going to be more of a monthly project. They have different events for people living in the homes there. In two weeks, they're doing a snowball softball tournament, so we're going to go there and help out with that."
Since one of Circle K International's main tenants is fellowship, Casill said Notre Dame Circle K will host more events that allow members to get to know each other this semester.
"We just want to get as many people involved in as much service as possible," she said.
Sophomore Andy McAsey said he participates in the Logan Center Bowling project through Notre Dame Circle K.
"We have fun bowling with people with different disabilities," McAsey said.
Sophomore Caitlin O'Connell said she attended the Service Extravaganza to learn how to become involved in Notre Dame Circle K's service projects.
"I've been to the Center for the Homeless one time, and I really liked it," she said. "And I had a little extra time this semester."
Students interested in becoming involved with Notre Dame Circle K can attend meetings Sundays at 7 p.m. in the Notre Dame Room in LaFortune.
