SLU Serving The Community

Much of what I choose to write about in my blog is spurred by questions which consistently come up during the tours I give for admissions. Fortunately, many of the inquiries prospective students have cover topics which I am passionate about myself. The topic of this posting is again something I feel strongly about and I am proud of the commitment St. Lawrence has to it. So, here is my response to the availability of community service opportunities through St. Lawrence. 

I have found that students are coming to college with increasingly more community service experience, and it seems as though these experiences have almost become routine for many of the students St. Lawrence attracts. These students find much enjoyment and fulfillment in serving others, and hope to continue with similar experiences during their time in college. Often, the familiarity of a certain type of service can help with a student’s transition into the new environment of college and offers an avenue for connecting with students across different years. 

Merritt Hall '14 reading to children during the annual Peter Rabbit in the Park 

St. Lawrence has several firmly established programs, but also offers new opportunities which arise on a regular basis. The volunteer program is arranged by Amy Brady who is the Coordinator of Volunteer Services. St. Lawrence also holds a Center for Civic engagement which is comprised of several staff members and community mentors, who are students that work with local agencies and organizations to develop partnerships with between the University and the local community. 

The Campus Kitchens Project is a popular organization on campus. Students who participate in Campus Kitchens are safe serve certified and provide meals for the local community every Monday at the local Unitarian Church. The students plan meals using extra food not used by the St. Lawrence Dinning Services. In doing so they reduce the amount of waste we produce in the form of food, and instead use it for those in need.

The well know organization Habitat for Humanity is well established here as well. St. Lawrence has a strong presence and commitment to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Students join with faculty and staff to work on the local projects.

Every spring break students from St. Lawrence travel South to help with build projects in other states. In the past few years they have gone to Georgia, Louisiana, and North Carolina. We even have a St. Lawrence Habitat theme house, where eight students committed to the St. Lawrence Habitat for Humanity chapter live. These students work to further the local cause and are able to do so by integrating their service with a living component. 

The Habitat for Humanity Theme House 

Another popular service opportunity is an organization called SLU Buddies. Through this program St. Lawrence students are paired with students in the local elementary and middle schools. St. Lawrence provides transportation for SLU students to travel these local schools throughout each week, and the St. Lawrence students are able to tutor their buddies in afterschool programs. Students who commit to SLU buddies take their jobs extremely seriously as they understand the potential influence they can have on their assigned buddies.

Community service is available for students as soon as they arrive. Several of the First Year Programs have community service requirements. As a member of Reiff first year college I was required to contribute 20 hours of community service in Canton NY. I was placed with St. Lawrence County NYSARC, which serves individuals with mental handicaps. I worked once a week at the arts center and helped in the theater department. We worked primarily on improvisation, and shared many laughs. For me it was an invaluable experience, and provided a nice break from the days of classes. 

Greek life at St. Lawrence also plays a significant role in serving the local community. All of these organizations require their members to contribute a certain number of service hours each semester.  

Students working at Bittersweet Farm 

Bittersweet farm, a local organic farm, is a popular location for student service, and the school and farm have developed close ties though the years. Bittersweet recently received a grant to erect a long  tunnel to extend the growing season. The covered structure serves as a type of greenhouse which protects the crops from harsh weather, and provides adequate temperature for growing certain crops earlier in the season. The men of Beta Theta Pi helped to complete a project assembled by several St. Lawrence students as they covered the structure with a roof.

The Gentlemen of Beta Theta Pi after completing their service project at Bittersweet Farm

I only have the space to mention a few of the opportunities St. Lawrence students are involved in during their time, and there are many more which deserve great recognition. In addition, I constantly see new initiatives arise, each with its own SLU spin, and there is great freedom and encouragements for students to start up their own service projects. I take great pride in being a member of the St. Lawrence community, and the commitment the institution and specifically the students have to serving others is reaffirming of my love for this place.