Covered with colored ink pads, construction paper, scissors, a pack of markers and plenty of fall theme stamps, the two desks pushed together made the volunteer opportunity stop resemble an arts-and-crafts kindergarten table.
Beth Ward and Cristina Spence of VCU’s Volunteer Services organize the stops that center around different themes each month. For Thanksgiving, the group delivers construction-paper baskets filled with candy to the residents of Saint Francis Home, a residential home and assisted-living facility for the elderly on Wise Street.
“(There are) a couple purposes (to the volunteer stop), one to expose…anybody in the VCU community to volunteerism,” Ward said. “To show them it can be really, really quick and that you can make a difference in just a couple of minutes.”
Whether it was the stop sign with “volunteer” written on it, the arts and crafts materials on the table or something else entirely, those who stopped to make a basket helped promote the volunteer services purpose.
“I wanted to help out because being involved for people who are less fortunate is really important to me, and just helping out the community and whatever-that’s something everybody should do,” said Nikole Churchill, an undeclared first-year student.
Kristina Nilsen, a senior majoring in forensic science, said that making the baskets was something useful to do in her free time.
“More useful than taking a nap somewhere,” she said. “I’m hoping it’s going to make some people smile at least and let them know they’re cared for by complete random strangers. I don’t know-somehow that’s cool with me.”
Volunteer Services set aside 81 baskets to go to the Saint Francis Home.
“I know it’s going to brighten their day and it made mine better by making a difference,” said Erich Hutton, a junior criminal-justice major.
“I just thought that-you know-if people took two minutes out of their day to help out a difference can be made,” he said.
Students’ memories of kindergarten came up while they decorated the baskets.
“Just using the stampers and seeing the markers and everything you know reminded me of, you know, kindergarten,” said Beverly Patrick, a senior majoring in English.
Dawne Owens, a senior psychology major, said volunteering became a stress reliever for her.
“It brings back memories of just thinking about, you know, things that aren’t stressful and having a good time,” she said.
What is the volunteer opportunity stop’s next project?
“December we’re going to do ornaments, Christmas ornaments…I need to make contact, but I’m thinking a home for physically disabled adults,” Ward said. “I think it will be for them.”