Veishea, a celebration rich in tradition, has added a new dimension to this year’s celebration with a community-outreach committee. The Community Involvement Committee was formed to centralize community-service activities and focus on volunteering, said Kendra Nelson, committee co-chair.The Community Involvement Committee’s focus on children parallels the theme of Veishea this year, Strengthening Iowa State Families, said Nelson, senior in agronomy. She said, considering the theme, the decision to work with Youth and Shelter Services in Ames seemed logical.”Youth and Shelter Services is an established place in the community, and Veishea is established in the community, but the two have never worked together before,” said Jen Peyser, Community Involvement Committee co-chair. “I think it’s a great opportunity to combine forces and make a positive impact.”Both Nelson and Peyser had the same goal in mind — focusing on children, said Peyser, senior in environmental science.”I have always been interested in community service,” Peyser said. “This was an opportunity to combine it with Veishea.”Although this is the first year for a partnership between Veishea and Youth and Shelter Services, Phyllis Craig, volunteer coordinator for Youth and Shelter Services, said she hopes it will continue in the future.”The Veishea committee has a lot of positive role models,” Craig said. “It is a good match between Iowa State students and the youth, and from what I have seen, the participants enjoy hooking up with ISU students.”The committee also has an after-school program once a week at both Slater and Gilbert Elementary Schools, Peyser said, where various Veishea committees volunteer.Veishea leaders are working with Youth and Shelter Services to compile a “wish list” of items — from diapers to basketballs — to help Youth and Shelter Services and the children they serve, Peyser said. She said Veishea will collect items or money donations on campus and in the community.Veishea Community Day, slated for April 7, is “when Veishea coordinates a community-service project for all interested organizations on campus,” Nelson said. Craig said there has been positive feedback from both sides on the involvement and the youth like having new people and faces come and visit them.”It’s important for anyone to give back to the community by volunteering,” she said. “It utilizes good skills and talents many of the volunteers have in a positive setting. The experience can help in many fields, such as education, psychology, sociology or criminal justice.”Peyser said the new committee will help increase Veishea involvement both on and off campus. “Veishea wanted to emphasize it is interested in being involved with the community and campus,” she said. “We also wanted to recognize individual efforts and show people at Veishea what students contribute through the year.”