One way a student can improve his or her college life is by volunteering on and off campus.
Luckily, Kean University has an office that focuses on getting students involved in the Kean community and the community that surrounds it. Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) hosts several service events throughout the academic year that students can take advantage of. Below are the many community service opportunities students can participate in.
Habitat for Humanity: This non-profit organization helps families who are financially unstable by building homes that are affordable. Volunteers help with the construction of the houses in anyway possible. A volunteer may do any of the following projects: siding, painting, installing insulation or dry wall and a variety of other projects.
Community Food Bank of New Jersey: The mission of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey is to help stop hunger. Many people go throughout the day without food, and by volunteering at the Food Bank, thousands of people each week can expect food in their pantry. Volunteers can expect to help in many different areas like sorting food and creating lunch bags for children who are 18 and younger.
Atria Senior Living: Students have the chance to volunteer to help keep company of senior citizens through a variety of activities. For example, volunteers can help with manicures, recreational activities and arts and crafts.
Adopt A Park: For any student who loves the environment, this service project is perfect. Students have a chance to help clean up the parks of Union County, New Jersey. Volunteers can expect to remove litter, debris and invasive plants to help keep the parks clean.
Cougar's That Care: On Saturday, October 15, 2016, CLS will be hosting Cougar's That Care. All of the mentioned service opportunities will be hosted on that day and students have the opportunity to participate in any of them. The point is to get as many people together serving the community on the same day.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk: Is a yearly service opportunity. This service opportunity will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2016, in Edison, New jersey and volunteers will walk 3.1 miles that day to help raise awareness about breast cancer.
Blood Drive: This service opportunity is held several times every semester. Blood drives help people in need of blood transfusions or hospitals who will need it for operations.
To register for any of the above service opportunities, students must visit Cougar Link, go to the CLS organization page and click on the "Events" tab. It is recommended to register early to get a spot as the service opportunities have limited seating. The blood drive does not require registration and there is no limited seating.
Volunteering does not just benefit the party on the receiving end, it also benefits the volunteer. Volunteering benefits in many ways, for example it helps boost self-esteem and lowers depression because of the results one sees almost instantly.
Volunteering also educates people. If anyone volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, people can learn many household necessities like where insulation should go or what stucco is. Volunteering at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey can teach others that poverty and hunger affects anyone no matter of race, ethnicity or social status. People can also learn just how far a small donation of $10 can go.
So instead of sitting at home binge-watching a series on Netflix, register for one of the many events listed above. One small action can lead to a rewarding ending.
For any questions or for more information on the volunteer opportunities, please contact CLS by phone at 908-737-5170, email at serve@kean.edu or visit the office in Miron Student Center (MSC) room 219.
