Olivia Wilson
Staff Writer
Posted Nov. 11, 2019
Community service is a key role in many campus clubs, organizations and sports teams. Thanks to the Office of Civic Engagement & Personal Development, all students have the opportunity to serve the Williamsport community regularly throughout the year.
A need was recognized for service opportunities for students not involved in these organizations, and Service Saturdays were born.
Mallory Weymer, Director of Civic Engagement and Personal Development, wanted to establish Service Saturdays so students could meet new people, learn more about Williamsport and learn about the different types of service available to them.
Some of the projects the student volunteers have taken on so far this year include the River Valley Ride through the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership and raking leaves for senior citizens.
Most recently, a group traveled to Carpenter Pumpkin Farm for a gleaning event. They collected squash which had not been harvested and sold, and donated the produce to the Central PA Food Bank.
The last event for the fall semester will be the Salvation Army Season’s Greetings packing session on Dec. 7th.
Some events have already been planned for the spring semester, as well, including boxing meal kits for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in January, and serving at the Christ Church soup kitchen in February.
Weymer explained that the role of her office is to grow the culture of service on campus and that Service Saturdays provides a regular opportunity on the calendar.
She shared that, though it has been off to a slow start, Service Saturdays are gaining traction, with more student interest and participation for each event.
Many of the projects so far have taken place in the morning, so, in efforts to better accommodate students’ needs and increase participation, it is a goal to start future Service Saturday projects later in the day.