Student Volunteering on the Rise

By: Ashley Giandomenico
Posted In: News

Most college students do not have a great deal of free time. Many are in demanding majors which require long hours dedicated to completing school assignments. While others are experiencing the “poor college student syndrome” and need to spend their free time making extra cash, working at a part time job. There are also many collegiate athletes and their days are filled with team practices, games or training. Though many students’ time is scarce, more and more are becoming involved in helping people in need and the country as a whole is experiencing the effects of these good deeds.

According to the article: “Freshman Survey: More Students Plan to Lend a Hand” from The Chronicle of Higher Education, two out of three college freshmen say it is important to help others who are in difficulty, the highest percentage in a quarter-century.”

John H. Pryor, director of the survey predicts that because of the devastation that has occurred in this country such as Hurricane Katrina, students have felt a great need to serve their own communities.

Although Newport residents have not experienced severe destruction like the residents of New Orleans, according to Salve’s community service coordinator, Sarah Kelley, there is an enormous amount of insufficiency in Newport. “A lot of people only see the mansions and wealth in Newport,” Kelley said. “When students arrive here, they realize there is a great need to help others and many are excited to volunteer.”

Kelley said that the statistics from the Chronicle’s survey reflect the involvement of students at Salve. “I’ve definitely seen an increase in student volunteers,” Kelley said. The University requires freshmen to complete ten hours of service and Kelley said that in prior years only about 70-80 percent of freshmen would complete their required 10 hours. Currently, approximately 90 percent of freshmen complete their hours before advancing to sophomore status.

Additionally, Kelley said that students begin volunteering as a freshman and many of them return as sophomores and upper-classmen to continue serving the community.

Kelley is referring to students like Jessica Cote. Cote began her volunteer work when she arrived on campus. Currently, she continues volunteering even though she has well exceeded her required ten hours. “I enjoy volunteering and I am always willing to give a helping hand,” Cote said.

Cote’s extensive volunteer activities include helping out at the Salvation Army’s after school program, the YMCA, CommUniversity Day, the Policeman’s Parade, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk and the BOLD program.

“Volunteering has done many things for me,” Cote said. “I have learned to give to others and to help others who have less than me. I have discovered that there are

so many ways to volunteer and there is something for everyone to do. Volunteering has given me the opportunity to see the world through someone else’s eyes.” Cote also said that Community service is enjoyable once you find something that interests you.

Cassandra Tracy found something to interest her through community service. Like Cote, Tracy is another student at Salve who causes the country’s percentage of student volunteers to continue to grow. Tracy said that she feels fortunate to be given the opportunity to help others in need. “When I volunteer I know that I am doing something good for someone else,” Tracy said. “It allows me to connect with the community in such a personal way.”

According to Tracy, this year many students are getting involved in volunteering, not solely the ones that need to complete their ten hours of service. “There have definitely been some new faces,” Tracy said. “I think it is great that people are volunteering, not just because they have to, but because they really care.”

Tracy said that her fondest memory of volunteering was last year at the event Rebuilding Together. “It was such a fantastic experience that I would do it every year for the rest of my life,” Tracy said.

The event was designed for Salve students to unite with local volunteers to work together and complete a common goal: to fix up a Newport resident’s home. “As the day went on we all moved to different tasks, and one by one we completed the things that needed to be accomplished,” Tracy said. “The house looked great, and it was so satisfying and really heart-warming to know that by giving up a simple Saturday I could make such a difference in one woman’s life. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Volunteering may give students a new outlook on life. And it only costs some free time. For more information about getting involved to serve the Newport community, stop by the community service office located in Miley Hall.