By Stefanie FairweatherSAN ANTONIO—Saturday, April 7 marked the 2018 Volunteer Impact Day for Our Lady of the Lake University. There were a number of students who volunteered their time to impact the westside San Antonio community. Volunteers ranged from students from Greek organizations, sports teams, and students who were looking to volunteer. OLLU students volunteered at the following places:
Book Buddies: Volunteers sorted and boxed up books for a book giveaway to children who are reading below their grade level.
American Sunrise: Volunteers painted the outside of their building, did some yardwork and helped with clerical work.
St. PJ’s Children’s Home: Volunteers helped clean up the campus.
Guadalupe Community Center: Volunteers sorted can goods and restocked the food pantry.
Jennifer Bendele, the director for the Center for Service & Volunteerism had this to say, “The vOLLUnteer Unity Council asks our westside community partners about their current needs. If those needs line up with our scheduled event date, then we will send volunteers there. If their needs are for a different date, then the Volunteer Unity Council will try to make it a smaller one-time volunteer project for the agency.”
Senior DeeAnn Greehey said, “Service is a big part of my life and I love taking part in these programs. At Book Buddies we helped sort through thousands of books that will be distributed to children in order to increase their reading level. It felt great to be able to help out the local community.”
Students volunteering to help the San Antonio community“One of the highlights was seeing close to 100 volunteers head out to service, then come back and reflect on their experiences as a group. And having the CDPs facilitate these conversations on religious reflection,” Bendele said. OLLU’s four core values are Community, Integrity, Trust, and Service and that was portrayed on Volunteer Impact Day.
