Towson University issued the following announcement on Nov. 26.
With the holiday season in full swing, the focus on giving can be quickly lost. But for many Towson University students, the last year was definitely about giving back to the local community.
During the 2017-18 academic year, students performed 1,023,873 hours of service. That total combines community service hours with internship hours that were considered service.
Many students perform community service through their student organizations. This includes volunteer activities that range from sorting donations with the TU Foodshare, serving meals at food banks, tutoring youth and volunteering at nursing homes.
For Lisa Hill, coordinator of community service in the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, it’s important for students to step outside that campus bubble.
“When TU students engage in community service, they help the community but they also enhance their own education,” Hill said. “Community service experiences provide students with opportunities to learn about their assumptions, expectations, and values and to do the work in cultural competency.”
When looking for community service opportunities, most students and student organizations work with Hill and her office.
Nonprofits and community agencies contact Hill with volunteer opportunities. She also works with organizations to establish partnerships.
“Volunteering with our students is one of the highlights of my job,” Hill said. “Not only do I get the opportunity to connect with the greater Baltimore community—I get to watch our students have new experiences and develop as citizens.”
Along with partnering with local organizations and nonprofits, TU puts on large-scale community service events such as Town and Gown and The Big Event. And whether it’s a small group or TU’s largest day of service, the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility is excited to see students give their time.
“Whether it’s one student or a thousand students, it is great to see them giving back and taking care of the community,” said Corey Holland, coordinator of Community Outreach in the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility. “Our residents and neighbors must continue to feel that TU is committed to seeing Towson flourish.”
In addition to the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, other campus departments are helping students with service.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Towson University
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