On Saturday, Feb. 11, dozens of students from the University of Puget Sound will tackle a variety of community service projects during a day long event known as Metro Dive. This day of volunteerism is only one activity planned during the week- long event known as Conspiracy of Hope (COH). This year’s COH is planned for Feb. 10-18.

For the past four years, student volunteers have coordinated a week of activities designed to help their neighbors. They hold a variety of activities including a campus blood drive, concerts, selling fresh bread bowls filled with soup to fellow students, and hosting a carnival in their dining hall. And each year, Tacoma area charities benefit from the hard work and generosity of these young philanthropists. To date, they have donated $4,000 toward charitable causes including Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, the YWCA Women’s Center, and a Tsunami relief organization. This year, the students have decided the funds will support victims of Hurricane Katrina living in Washington state.

For Metro Dive 2006, Puget Sound students will paint the entryway to the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts; others will replant vegetation around Puget Creek with the Puget Creek Restoration Society; one team will complete office work and clean a Salvation Army facility; while another group will volunteer at My Sister’s Pantry food bank. Additional information about Conspiracy of Hope, can be found by visiting http://www.asups.ups.edu/hope or by sending an e-mail message to hope@ups.edu .