Student clubs at Elizabethtown College provide opportunities for students to connect with one another as well as the community. There is an abundance of different clubs for those with different interests to choose from!

One club in particular that takes the initiative to follow Etown’s motto of “Educate for Service” is the Animal Services Club, lovingly referred to by members as the ASC. Created by junior Madison Carey in the fall of 2021, the mission of this club is to assist local shelters and farms through volunteer work and raising donations.

Once a month during the 2021-2022 academic year, ASC members had the opportunity to volunteer at the Second Chance for Life rescue shelter. Those who volunteered helped socialize the animals to prepare them for adoption and keep their shelters clean.

Another notable activity run by the club was a fundraiser they held in the Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being demonstration kitchen. They provided ingredients and step-by-step instructions to educate participants on how to make dog treats. Members then sold these dog treats to raise donation money for local charities and shelters.

Regarding future plans for this academic year, Carey hopes to hold several different events to both spread the word about the club and continue to raise money for organizations that support the well-being of animals.

“One of our main goals this year is to show that the ASC is for students of all majors, not just pre-vet,” Carey said.

Carey continued to share a few specific ideas that she hopes can be accomplished in the upcoming months. Perhaps the most exciting of these is a trip to the Lancaster Farm Sanctuary. Participating volunteers would be working directly with various farm animals and have the chance to build relationships with them should they choose to become recurring helpers. Another excursion that is in the works is a tour of the Wolf Sanctuary of PA.

Possible future on-campus events include visits from local farms and the Susquehanna Service Dogs.

While it may be fairly new, it is clear that the ASC is taking strides toward becoming one of the most popular clubs on campus. If you are interested in joining the ASC, follow their Instagram page @etownasc to stay updated on meetings and events.