Volunteering is a cornerstone of Elizabethtown College, as it encapsulates the motto of “Educate for Service” and puts the students into a community that they might otherwise not be able to engage with. The College provides unique opportunities to serve throughout the year to encourage students to spread their resources to those who are more disadvantaged than them.
“Into the Streets,” a volunteer opportunity in the fall provided by the Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE), gives a chance for students, faculty, alumni or anyone around the area who wants to volunteer. The opportunities happen either during a morning shift from 9-12, during an afternoon shift from 12-4 or through both. For those who do not have transportation, they can volunteer at the school or be provided transportation to the different sites.
This year it is happening on Saturday, Oct. 21 with the theme of ‘Falling Into the Streets.’ It is partnered with Elizabethtown Community Housing and Outreach Services (ECHOS), Community Cupboard, Girls on the Run, Latino Hispanic American Community Center and more. The three main opportunities are doing projects in the Koons Activity Venue (KAV), volunteering at a local agency or being a fall fest operator. Each of these different opportunities encapsulates different group sizes and the different wants of the people serving, as those who sign up can rank the choices they are offered.
It is also the 30th anniversary of the engagement efforts of “Into the Streets” which marks an important dedication to service that spans across the decades of the College’s history. Even in an ever-changing world, this remains a constant not only through the dedicated efforts of CCCE staff and student workers but through those who choose to be involved.
Plenty of students are participating this year at a variety of sites and are excited about doing so for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the opportunities are closely aligned to their future career choices.
“I’m planning on doing ‘Into the Streets’ this year because there’s a lot of great organizations that’s a part of it and it’s a great way to get involved and help out within the community,” junior social work major Antonia Raimondo said.
Participating through a group can make the experience more tailored and enjoyable as one can work with like-minded individuals with similar goals and groups they want to serve. So, students who prefer to do work in a group should try to do so with the clubs they are involved in, like honors societies or with their group of friends.
Junior early childhood education major Julia Yudichak felt a similar way participating with “Into the Streets” for this year: “I am participating in ‘Into the Streets’ this year! This will be my third year participating. I love participating in ‘Into the Streets’ through EdOrg and Kappa Delta Pi because we facilitate and create crafts for the GEARS Fall Fest! I love interacting with the kids and enjoy giving back to the community!”
Students can still sign up until Oct. 13 at 11:59 p.m. through the CCCE’s website and through the newsletter that they sent out. For those who have already signed up and want to be even more involved, then there is merchandise available that shows support for the initiative, that allows for even more volunteer placements in the future. Tables are outside the Brossman Student Commons (BSC) or there is a form online.
For those still questioning if they want to be involved at all, keep this in mind: getting out into the community is always a good way to not only to better oneself but to better the community they interact with. Getting in touch with the community can help people feel more at home on campus, make friends and have greater empathy for those in need.
