Improvements attract, support volunteerism

by Cindy A. Abole, Public Relations

As students hone to the details of their fall class schedules, some are reserving time for community volunteer work.

Activities like the MUSC Gives Back Student Community Volunteer Program provide an accessible resource for students to apply talents and skills with their Lowcountry neighbors. Since August 1993, the program has effectively matched students, groups and service organizations to influence the value of volunteerism.

Students can visit the MUSC Gives Back Office and browse through the Student Volunteer Opportunities Catalog for information on more than 120 local volunteer-based agencies and organizations that have indicated a specific need for MUSC students. The office also distributes a monthly newsletter, “MUSC Gives Back Classifieds,” a one-page newsletter which communicates volunteer events, promotions and advertisements for volunteers from community agencies to all students.

New to the program this fall 1998 will be the addition of a MUSC Gives Back website according to Liz Sheridan, director of MUSC Gives Back. Authored as a valuable communication link between students and organizers, the website will provide access to program activities, services, opportunities and reporting. Access to the website can be initiated through MUSC’s Webpage under the “Student Resources” link.

Also new is the Student Leaders Handbook, a collection of useful information and methods designed to guide groups and individuals towards volunteerism. According to Sheridan, the handbooks will be delivered to leaders recognized by campus organizations and groups invited to the Fourth Annual Student Leader’s Luncheon on September 2, Harper Student Center.

To date, MUSC Gives Back volunteers have donated more than 21,000 volunteer hours; serving approximately 182 community agencies and assisted more than 1,700 student volunteers since 1993.

Each year, more students are making the choice to accept and embrace the role of volunteerism as a part of life, especially as it relates to their choice of health profession as a career.

As a kick-off to the new academic year, MUSC Gives Back will sponsor a Volunteer Rally and Student Activities Fair on Sept. 9 at the Horseshoe. More than 40 Tri-County area service agencies will be represented. Students are invited to visit and talk with agency representatives about potential volunteer partnerships.