August 25, 2003
For 22 years Union College has
cancelled classes just a week after they have begun. The reason? To
send more than 600 students and staff into Lincoln to help approximately 50
social service agencies. On Thursday, Aug. 28, students and employees will give
up a chance to sleep in so they can participate in Project Impact, the
collegeÕs annual volunteer community service day. This year, in addition to the
regular tasks of painting, cleaning, and yard work, Union students will serve
several Lincoln public schools and help Habitat for Humanity build a home.
Project
Impact is completely student-run. Students coordinate the project, solicit
sponsors, and ultimately make this day a success by volunteering their time.
Justin Okimi, Project Impact student coordinator, says his favorite part of the
day is the 8:15 a.m. kick-off when more than 600 students and staff assemble
for a group picture. ÒItÕs really cool when everyone is gathered to take the
picture and I think, ÔNo one is forced to be here,ÕÓ Okimi said. ÒClasses are
cancelled and they could all sleep in, but theyÕre here to share with our
community.Ó
Last year an
estimated 650 students, staff and faculty worked at 52 different sites,
including various public schools and child care agencies. During the past 21
years, more than 11,300 students and staff have participated, putting in 40,000
hours of volunteer service at various Lincoln social service sites.
Paul Canny,
principal of Prescott Elementary School, has been impressed with the work of
Project Impact volunteers. ÒThis is an extraordinary program. [The volunteers]
come out and donÕt ask for anything. They just ask, ÔWhat can I do?Õ and they
always do a good job,Ó Canny said. This is the fifth year Union College
students and staff have volunteered at Prescott Elementary; this year they will
clean out a courtyard pond and assist teachers with various projects.
Project ImpactÕs
principal sponsor is the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). ADRA
is an independent humanitarian agency that provides individual and community
development and disaster relief and has a presence in more than 120 countries
around the world. As a needs-oriented organization, ADRA concentrates its
efforts in community-based development activities and disaster preparedness and
response, while also cooperating with other agencies and organizations in
fulfilling this goal. ADRA programs annually benefit more than 15 million
people worldwide. (See
www.adra.org for more information.)
Other
sponsors include Westlake Ace Hardware, AdventSource, Alltel, 7 UP, Papa JohnÕs
Pizza, Union College Student Services and the Union College chapter of Students
in Free Enterprise (SIFE).
UnionÕs Project
Impact is the second phase of an ongoing commitment by the college to
be involved in volunteer work for
the Lincoln community. Twenty-two years ago, in 1981, Union College initiated
and completed Project Brush, with the goal of painting 100 homes for elderly
and disabled Lincoln residents before the collegeÕs centennial celebration in
1991. The goal was realized and exceeded with 113 homes painted by the students
and staff of Union College.
with the goal of continued service to the Lincoln
community, but from a different angle. Community service agencies were
contacted and asked if they could use help for one day in the fall. The
response was overwhelmingly positive and Project Impact began. Now after 22
years of impacting the community, the campus participation rate is up to
approximately 80 percent.
Through
the volunteer placement service on campus, community service is more than just
a one-day event for Union students. From volunteering in hospitals and nursing
homes to running programs for children in downtown Lincoln, UnionÕs impact
continues throughout the year.