Need a hand with yard work, moving, or small home repairs? U-Crew is here to help!
A donation-based, community-serving program of Walla Walla University.
We are the neighbors who rally in moments of need.
U-Crew is not a lawn mowing business, but we'll keep your grass trimmed while you're in the hospital. U-Crew is not a moving company, but we'll carry out heavy furniture while you pack up the precious memories of a lost loved one. U-Crew is not a team of professional plumbers or electricians, landscapers or gardeners, painters or carpenters, but maybe we can gather our resources to offer a quality solution. Let's find out together.
We recognize the value of aging-in-place.
When it becomes unsafe or uncomfortable to continue living independently, our older neighbors face being uprooted from their homes and isolated from their communities. We prioritize needs that address issues of mobility and autonomy. Can U-Crew install new shower bars or build an accessibility ramp at your residence? Can U-Crew tighten that leaky pipe in a hard-to-reach place or climb a ladder when you feel unsteady? Let's find out together.
We turn your needs into opportunities.
Life skills, work ethic, professionalism and responsibility — student workers learn and grow thanks to the unique, real-world experiences they encounter while serving you. By asking for help, you help others gain something they can't learn in the classroom. Plus, U-Crew enables students to invest in their higher education through employment that is uniquely flexible with class schedules and coursework. What can U-Crew teach through you? Let's find out together.
How U-Crew Operates.
U-Crew is a team of Walla Walla University students who respond to residential tasks in our local community, mainly addressing needs in the homes and on the properties of our older neighbors. You can expect project requests to generally follow this process:
Contact the Center for Humanitarian Engagement (CHE) at Walla Walla University by phone, email, or online form to provide project details. CHE will pass those details to the U-Crew team.
509.527.2100 | che@wallawalla.edu
A U-Crew representative will reach out to schedule a visit to your project site. They will analyze the task to determine team size and what tools are needed. Occasionally, smaller tasks will be completed on-the-spot.
While we do not charge for labor, we may ask U-Crew clients to purchase the materials we use for certain projects.
The U-Crew team will return prepared to address the task at hand.
Each step in this process may occur same-day or be spread across multiple days, depending on the nature of your project and the availability of U-Crew team members. Breaks in our academic calendar may disrupt regular U-Crew scheduling. We do operate over the summer.
Is U-Crew my best option?
Not all projects are suited for a response by the U-Crew team. We may point you in a different direction:
Your need may be less daunting than you realize! The solution could be as simple as realizing that you just didn't have the right tool to do it yourself. Our Tool Library is not only a resource to discover those tools, but also offers educational workshops that teach you how to use unfamiliar equipment safely and effectively.
Rather than sending a small U-Crew team, perhaps your task is better suited for a large group of student volunteers. We may offer to schedule a weekend service project or list it as a community service opportunity on an annual service day. These are shared with students and posted on the Blue Mountain Volunteer Corps online platform.
We will only accept work that we are qualified to perform — we are here to make a positive difference, not create bigger problems for you to face later. We may offer to connect you with a certified professional if your needs are beyond the scope of what a U-Crew team can safely manage.
U-Crew was created to serve the neighbors of Walla Walla University. We limit the reach of our services to a reasonable proximity around our campus — for the security of our student workers, they may not be permitted to assist at residences beyond College Place or Walla Walla. If your need lies beyond our service area, please reach out to discuss if an exception is possible. There may be expenses related to U-Crew travel and safety.
Pass it Forward.
U-Crew does not charge for services. However, U-Crew is not a team of volunteers. We employ students thanks to donor generosity — and our donors give to support student development.
If you are blessed by a U-Crew service, we hope you will consider passing it forward with a donation that's both fair and affordable. Any extra you can contribute will help us be ready when our next neighbor calls for aid.