Taylor Bembery
Associate Editor
Genesis Light Center, the Salvation Army, and American Cancer Society were among the many agencies that participated in Community In Action Fair, hosted by the Alice Varnado Harden Center for Service and Community Engaged Learning on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. The three-hour event on the 3rd floor of the Student Center provided students with information for community-based organizations to take action on earning the required 120 service hours to graduate.
Community agencies filled the room with display tables to showcase their organization to faculty, staff and students.
Traci Wade, a community events specialist at the American Cancer Society Mid-South Division, said that organization has a lot of different aspects for students to participate in.
“A lot of it is event based but a good portion of it is helping out in our offices and also helping with patient services that we do have available in the area,” said Wade. “We have one program that is called ‘Road to Recovery’ and basically we have volunteers help families that have difficulties getting their loved one to their appointments for treatment. The volunteers pick them up, get them to their treatment, and get them returned home safely.”
Jackson State University students must have 120 service hours to graduate, and this event was designed to help acquaint them and faculty members who have service-learning classes with organizations and community based groups that need volunteers.
Service hours are crucial for all students, and JSU has expanded the guidelines of where students can obtain their hours.
Kimberly Harris, the National Student Exchange Coordinator and Resource Specialist for the Center for Service, said students have many options to obtain their service hours. They can combine community service, service learning, internship, practicum, etc., to reach the 120 hour requirement. However, anything that students get paid for cannot count as service hours.
Harris also shared advice for freshmen that may feel overwhelmed.
“If you are a freshman, we recommend that you do not wait to the last minute. Since you have to have 120 hours, pace yourself. You can do 30 hours per year and that’s not much. By the end of your senior year, you will have your 120 service hours,” said Harris.
Morris Williams, a freshman business administration major from Chicago, Ill., said he attended the fair because he is very interested in giving back to the community while also getting his hours to graduate.
“I really want to give back and get involved with certain programs that JSU has to offer. I want to help kids because our race and our people need to progress. As people we need to make sure that kids have the guidance that they probably don’t get at home,” said Williams.
For more information about service agencies, deadlines and events, contact the Center for Service and Community Engaged Learning at 601-979-1294 or visit the office located on the first floor of Jacob L. Reddix Hall.
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