For the fourth consecutive year, a service-oriented student org called Council of Lionhearts is organizing an alternative holiday called State Day of Service on March 1, in an effort the lessen the effects of State Patty’s Day.

State Day of Service, which falls on the same Saturday as the infamous drinking holiday, was created to support the surrounding community “on a day that many other students and visitors engaged in high-risk drinking and community disruption,” according to the Council of Lionhearts website.

Similarly, Penn State has offered to pay downtown bars to close down for the second year in a row in order to curb the number of drinking-related crimes.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in more than 25 activities to help the community, such as picking up litter or helping at animal shelters. The first thousand students to sign up for the event will be given a free drawstring bag.

Students should meet March 1st at 9 a.m. in Heritage Hall or Freeman Auditorium to start the day off, though some service projects will start on Feb. 28.

The Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council will also help coordinate the event. The Panhellenic Council recently announced a no-guest policy for State Patty’s Day that prevents visitors on Sorority floors for the holiday weekend.