My first commitment to service at Stockton was the 8^th Annual Day of Service. I have volunteered in the past, but never to a type of organization similar to Career Opportunities Development Inc. This organization gives people who have had a rough past a chance to start over; these people could be ex-sex offenders, or ex-convicts. This non-profit organization strikes a fire of success in these individuals. Their workplace is where we spent our time making a difference. Dark. Dank. Depressing. Boring. The gray walls, gray floors, and jungle green work tables created a workplace that was lacking the most important quality of mundane work—motivation. After paint was shaken in its can, poured into trays, and dipped into rollers the transformation of the warehouse was complete. In less than three short hours a brand new spirit now lives within the building. All the building needed was ten Stockton students who were willing to sacrifice their time in order to better other peoples’ everyday lives. The walls were brightened to a mild yellow of a daisy, and all of the mixed matched tables were painted a chic metallic-esque gray. The trim and doors surrounding the walls are a light beige color allowing that cheery yellow to pop and bring a smile to anyone’s face that walks through the door. The creativity of this project was perfect and even though the volunteers originally signed up to do yard work painting was still very productive. These workers, who are currently checking pharmaceutical bottles for imperfections in order to prevent them from breaking when they are vacuum sealed, are going to be surprised and will embrace their new surroundings. They will be reminded that even though they might have lived through a rough past that they should appreciate being able to be classified as employed in such harsh economic times.

From Momina Ayub, Service Director:

Hope you guys had a great summer!!! To start off the semester we’re going to be having a Blood Drive On Tuesday September 20th and Wednesday September 21th in Big Blue from 9-3. I need people who want to volunteer to help out during the actual Blood Drive and to table for the event. We are tabling Sept. 14th- 19th from 9-5 in the Campus Center cafeteria. I’m attaching the sign up sheets so you guys can look at what times you’re available. You can email me your times at ayubm@go.stockton.edu if you want or you can sign up in the honors center on the “wall of paper” aka the door 😛

On April 26, students from Stockton College and people of the Atlantic City community got together in front of the Rain Forest Café on the Atlantic City boardwalk at 9:00am to participate in the Atlantic City Beach Sweep.  We all stood there listening to brief speeches on why Clean Ocean Action hosts beach sweeps and what you can do to stay involved.  As you may have guessed, they host beach sweeps to keep the beaches clean and help keep the environment healthy.

After the brief speeches were given, everyone grabbed gloves and trash bags and set off to the beach to pick up what could be found.  After last time I didn’t think there would be much trash but I was wrong.  There was just about as much trash this time as there was last time.  I guess that’s why Clean Ocean Action hosts a beach sweep twice a year.  So, we walked around all morning picking up trash ranging from cigarette butts to cans to rusted chunks of metal.  Like last time we got a checklist to keep track of the different things we picked up during the day and of course, cigarette butts were the number one pick of the day.

It was a beautiful day to be out and about cleaning up.  It wasn’t too chilly and it wasn’t too hot.  Even though picking up trash isn’t my favorite thing to do, being able to be outside on such a beautiful day and the indirect impact it will have on the environment made it totally worth it.  In the end, picking up one cigarette butt could easily save one animal’s life.  Picking up a trash bag full of trash could save several animals and reduces pollution.  So, I enjoy participating in beach sweeps because when push comes to shove, I’m doing something good for the environment and the people, animals, and plants that live in it.

On April 17, Stockton held the Celebration of Service in F-wing.  The purpose of this was to have clubs and organizations on campus and even off campus show off the service projects they have done and the highlights of the projects.

I walked through F-wing around 12:30pm and I have to say I was pretty disappointed.  I thought there would be tons of tables set up with posters and fliers similar to that of the Get Involved Fair.  There were several tables set up but most of them were empty.  I only saw a few organizations and only one had a visual presentation.  On their poster they had an explanation of the service they did, pictures, and how much money they raised.  I definitely was surprised at how small the turnout was.

I think the idea of the Celebration of Service is fabulous.  The issue I see is getting people involved and excited about giving back to the community and then sharing what they have done.  I thought that it still could have been advertised a little bit better because it was like the Day of Scholarship was advertised.  I didn’t really know it was going on until I walked by.  This time I got an email about it so I was a little more prepared but I would have liked to see more projects presented.

I honestly think that it would be cool if the Honors Program had a table to display the service projects we do collectively, like volunteering at the animal shelter.  We always find some way to give back to the community that touches all of our hearts in some way and sparks passion in each of us.  Even though we don’t do one service project all year long, I think it would be a good start.  We’d be able to introduce service that we are passionate about and hopefully that would spark a desire for others to help out as well because it’s a good cause that most people feel the same way about.

Overall I think this is a great idea but I think it needs even more advertising to raise participation.  The idea of presenting what you have accomplished especially in terms of giving back is really spectacular but the participation isn’t there and I really wish it was.  It would be a great way to get involved in other service projects to continue to give back in not just one way but many.

On April 7, Dr. Michele Barrett-Ross came to the Honors: The Global Community class to give a presentation on volunteering in Tanzania.  Inspired by the move “Jane Goodall: My Life with Chimpanzees,” a National Geographic film, she spoke about her experience and the impact it made not only on the community but on her as well.

She explained that she has wanted to go to Tanzania since she saw the Jane Goodall film and it was not a dream she was going to give up on.  So, while she was in graduate school, she decided that she would take the time to go while she was in grade school, she decided that she would take the time to go while she still had it.  After doing some serious research, she came across an organization entitled Global Volunteers who “engage in respectful, direct community service.”  She decided then and there that she would go, this organization was exactly what she was looking for.

Once there, each volunteer was assigned a project to work on with the local people.  Hers was construction.  She said that while construction is not exactly her strong suit, she learned quickly and the experience was something she wouldn’t have had any other way.

When she finished presenting, question like “what is our biggest misconception about their culture and way of life” and “if you could go back, would you” were asked.  She answered each one honestly and completely.  We have many misconceptions about them, they aren’t waiting for a hand out like you see in all those commercials on television.  However, they’re waiting for a hand up.  They recognize that their country is less developed than our own but struggle to answer why that is.  Thinking about it, there isn’t an answer as to why.  Many things could be contributors but who knows the real reason?  Even though they don’t have the kind of technology and things we have, she said she’d love to go back.

To conclude, she explained that there is controversy over whether or not her actions are beneficial to the community she volunteered in.  While we think she has done good, the idea that the people of the culture could do it better, faster, and more efficiently is present.  There is also the concern of U.S. Citizens pushing themselves on other cultures without their desire or need for our help.  We think we can and are helping them but the question becomes what if they don’t want our help?

Overall this was a remarkable experience.  Being able to hear about another culture and see pictures of the country as it is naturally rather than the complete worst case scenario was fascinating.  While they don’t have technology like us, they aren’t exactly doing horribly.  Their homes are brick and small but sturdy.  They are healthy and functioning just like us.  They seem to be content even though there are changes they may wish to be made just like in any other country among other citizens.  This presentation also gave me insight into the effects, both positive and negative, of globalization.  Globalization truly affects us all in every aspect of our lives.

On Saturday, September 12, the Office of Service Learning hosted the twelfth annual Fall Day of Service. However, in this year’s event, the Day of Service committee decided to go in a different direction. All the attendees were divided into four teams: red, blue, green, and purple. Each team attended the same sessions but at different times. Since I was on the red team, I will tell the story according to the order I went in.

At the very beginning of the event, at 8 am, free breakfast, including donuts, muffins, and bagels, was served. Then, all the teams attended the opening session in the Campus Center event room. President Kesselman makes a welcome statement and thanks the students for coming. He also congratulates the faculty and students involved in the organization of the event. Then, keynote speaker Todd Bernstein came up to the stage and spoke about the importance of service and volunteering and how these can solve many of the country’s economic challenges.

After the opening session, the teams officially starting attending their assigned sessions. The red team first attended the “Hunger and Homelessness” session in the Campus Center Theater. A staff member from the Atlantic City “Covenant House,” Jennifer, spoke about the mission and goals of  “Covenant  House” which are to serve and care for homeless youths between the ages 18-21. Then, Stockton student Melissa spoke about the “Campus Kitchen,” and how they prepare or collect food from food banks and donate it to the needy people. Then Kaitlin, a staff member of “New Day Family Success Center” (a family service program) explained to us that the program’s mission is to help families in need and provide them with events and activities. Finally, a “Books Without Borders” member told us about this Stockton club and how they  collect books and have fundraisers to donate the books to many countries in need around the globe. After that, we started sorting lots of books and packing them in boxes.

In the next session “Civics,” the red team went to the C/D Atrium and was split into smaller teams, and each team was given a different colored pipe cleaner: orange, purple, yellow, and green. I was given an orange one. My team first went to the computer lab to fill out a survey about the Supreme Court to help a Political Science professor with her research. After that, we gathered and discussed whether or not the death sentence should be in the law. Last but not least, Tara Ronda, a volunteer coordinator in “The Petey Greene Program,” described that this program is designed to tutor prisoners in prison classrooms, and that any of us is welcome to volunteer.

For the third session “Circle K & BWB,” the team went back to the event room. We watched a presentation on the “green dot” and “red dot” and what they mean. Then we answered a survey via text messages. The main message of this event was to address that if anyone sees someone else in danger, that person should take any kind of action to help.

 The last session “Environment” was held in a classroom. First, Rick Dovey, the president of “ACUA” showed us a presentation about the company and how they help keep the community clean. Then, the Stockton club “Water Watch” showed us a presentation about the dangers of drinking from plastic water bottles because of the chemicals in them and how they affect us and spoke a little about Stockton’s sustainable farm.  

 At the end of the event, all the teams gathered in the event room to give their feedback about the event and of course, to get free T-shirts!

 In my opinion, this event could have been much better if there were more volunteering projects rather than just lectures and presentations. However, my favorite session of the day was the “Hunger and Homelessness” session because it was the only session we actually did a volunteer project in. I strongly hope that the next Day of Service would be a better event.