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Gift-wrappers raise money for
sub-for-Santa
By Trisha Fletcher
December 11, 2008 | The USU Community Partnerships
service group and Cache Valley CAPSA are sponsoring
a gift wrapping fundraiser for sub-for-Santa.
USU students are invited to get involved and come
help gift wrap. All proceeds will go to help with the
sub-for-Santa fundraiser. The event lasts through the
Christmas season, and those wanting to volunteer are
instructed to contact Susan Preevish in order to set
up an appointment. Preevish's information can be found
through the USU Val R. Christensen Service Center.
The Val R. Christensen Service Center has been an
active participant at USU since 1970, when the first
service group called Volunteer Organization for Involvement
in the Community and Environment (VOICE) was started.
From then on the service center expanded into its' current
state. According to the service center, the purpose
of the center is to "organize students into committees
and projects that would serve to improve the environment
in Cache Valley as well as address some of the social
issues associated with the University and community."
Community Partnerships is one of the 19 groups under
the umbrella of the service center. The purpose of community
partnerships is to put USU students in communication
with agencies and organizations within the community,
says group director Ashlee Blohm. "The main idea is
to get students off campus and involved on an individual
basis, not as a big group," said Blohm.
Blohm also pointed out that the "greatest" thing about
Community Partnerships is the opportunity it provides
to get involved in many of the other service groups'
projects, and participate more. Through Community Partnerships
students will work with other organizations such as
the Boys and Girls Club, the Best Buddies program, and
many of the retirement homes in the Logan area. All
of the involved programs reflect the service center's
goal of making a positive impact on the Cache Valley
community.
Blohm said that USU students have a responsibility
to the Cache Valley community, as the university is
so involved in their lives. "The more people you work
with and help, the more accepting they will be," said
Blohm.
Community Partnerships is only one organization sponsored
by the university or community that places college students
in positions where they can assist and be a role model.
A USU Elementary Education student, Nicole Huntsman,
said that organizations such as community partnerships
help the younger students she works with. "Sometimes
all those kids need is someone good to look up to, and
an example to follow," said Huntsman. If college students
could help those younger than them realize that it is
OK to be yourself, then all aspects of their lives would
improve, said Huntsman.
USU students have many opportunities to serve fellow
pupils, and have begun to expand their reach to children
and parents in the community. Currently 14 of the 19
service groups at the Val R. Christensen Service Center
focus on individuals or situations outside of the university.
Some even reach across continents to places in Africa.
To search for more opportunities to serve, one may
contact the Val R. Christensen Service Center, or any
of the organizations in Cache Valley.
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