Day of Service Transforms into Week of Service for 2020

Published: 11/01/2020

Each year, St. Charles Community College students, faculty and staff volunteer their time to help the community. Day of Service exemplifies SCC’s commitment to serving the local area by focusing on student success and lifelong learning.

This year, Day of Service was transformed into Week of Service to expand opportunities to volunteer.

“Due to the pandemic,” said Bryonie Carter, service-learning and civic engagement program chair, “a one-day event didn’t seem like a viable option this year. However, we didn’t want to lose sight of our commitments to our community and social justice.”

SCC’s Week of Service consisted of many remote and virtual project opportunities – like creating cheerful cards for kids in hospitals.

“I made 30 handmade cards each with a positive message,” said SCC student Rachel Kathman. “I chose this option as my service project because my sister, a licensed social worker, has told me stories about how much receiving mail and visitors means to patients.”

“I’m glad I was able to do something small to make an impact for the kids at the hospital,” said Molly Crawford. She also created several cards for the Cards for Hospitalized Kids organization. “Now that I know about this amazing organization, I plan to send them more cards in the future!”

Student Brittany Krafft learned how to sew in April. She used the Week of Service to continue donating masks to local organizations.

“We began donating to hospitals in the beginning,” she said, “But we’ve also started also donating to less thought of places like the Ronald McDonald House and a few homeless shelters.”

Additionally, a handful of low-contact, outside activities were available for volunteers. Though rainy weather added another challenge to the mix, several volunteers helped local organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, Calvary Church and the city of St. Peters.

“The work that the students, staff and instructors do is a blessing to our church by the amount of projects that can be accomplished in such a short period of time,” explained Jane Brelsford, Calvary Church facility staff. “We celebrate the ways SCC and Calvary Church partner together each year to help people thrive in our community.”