FARMINGTON – A one-day volunteer service program at the University of Maine at Farmington has been expanded into a Month of Service.

Students, faculty and staff will unite for three Saturdays in September for UMF’s seventh annual celebration of community service.

Developed to help campus members get to know each other and the community by engaging in volunteer activities for the public good, this year’s program will take place at local schools, churches, public service providers and nonprofit agencies from 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 13, 20 and 27.

From helping to care for abandoned horses that have been rescued to disinfecting and painting the walls of the Wilton Food Closet, to helping kids learn their country by painting a map of the U.S. in the playground of an elementary school, more than 150 students are expected to participate in projects and provide more than 450 hours of volunteer service.

“The UMF experience takes our students outside the classroom and beyond themselves,” UMF President Theodora J. Kalikow said. “By devoting time to help others, our students gain confidence, enrich their own lives and become contributing members of the community.”

Building on the success of the university’s Day of Service from previous years, this year’s projects will take place at several of last year’s work sites including local schools, Farmington Baptist Church, Farmington Fairgrounds, Franklin County Animal Shelter and the Healthy Community Coalition’s Hope Community Garden.

New volunteer projects to be undertaken include stocking shelves at both the Wilton and Care and Share food closets, caring for abandoned horses at Double B Equine Rescue Corp. in Industry, completing maintenance work at the Farmington Public Library and Recreation Department, SAVES and the Ski Museum of Maine; trail maintenance at Titcomb Mountain and the Clifford Trails in cooperation with the Farmington Rotary, working with community members at Old South Church, Pierce House, the United Way and others.