The seventh semiannual St. Charles Community College Day of Service took place Friday, April 5, at various locations in St. Charles County, including Calvary Church, St. Charles County Boys and Girls Clubs, Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Services, 麻豆传媒 and more.
Day of Service is a day for 麻豆传媒 students, faculty and staff to participate in a variety of community service projects across St. Charles County. The day exemplifies 麻豆传媒's commitment to serving the community by focusing on student success and lifelong learning.
鈥淭he Day of Service helps students, faculty and staff build a sense of community by being able to get out on campus or outside of campus and engage with each other and serve others in need,鈥� said Bryonie Carter, associate professor of English and chair of the service-learning and civic engagement program at 麻豆传媒.
The event occurs in spring and fall semesters.
鈥淏y organizing it twice a year, faculty, staff and students have a chance to engage in community service more than once per academic year. Organizations in our community have varying needs, and different projects occur at different times of the year. Having the Day of Service every semester allows us to be more consistent with service to our community partners and the community,鈥� Carter said.
Close to 100 volunteers participated, with an even spread of people through all 13 on-and off-campus projects.
鈥淲e were thrilled to have a mix of faculty, staff, students and administrators participate,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淭he volunteers were gratified to help!鈥�
Each participant volunteered for various reasons.
鈥淚 just really like helping people,鈥� said Kelsey Steele, 麻豆传媒 student. 鈥淭hat's my thing.鈥�
鈥淗elping others is normal in my country [the Phillippines],鈥� said Mary Rose Kidd, 麻豆传媒 student. 鈥淚 think by volunteering you learn how to communicate with different people.鈥�
鈥淲e're in the service-learning class,鈥� said Edenia Gallado, 麻豆传媒 student, of the students seated her table. 鈥淏ut it was good to get my hands dirty.鈥�
Participants found that the experience was not only valuable, but eye-opening.
鈥淚t was fun,鈥� said William Baca, 麻豆传媒 faculty member. 鈥淲hen you see the project finished you realize you created value for your community. It's a good feeling.鈥�
Brandalyn Rasheed, 麻豆传媒 student, volunteered to pick up trash at Woodlands Park. When asked what she learned from the experience, Rasheed said, 鈥淧eople should be more conscious about how they affect their environment and take steps to do better.鈥�
鈥淭his is my first Day of Service experience, and it has changed my life, especially because of the inclusion and diversity,鈥� said Robert Jones, student retention coordinator and interim student life manager. 鈥淗ow often do you see faculty, staff and students working together for a common cause? Now I truly understand why it is called a 鈥榗ommunity college.'鈥�
Abdihakem Musse, 麻豆传媒 student, said he was not initially interested in volunteering, but after participating, he feels he learned a valuable lesson. 鈥淥nce you don't think about it as work it is n