Students across Wesleyan are making an impact far beyond campus through a wide variety of service projects. Whether it is a food drive, tutoring young kids, or helping supply local communities, these efforts show how powerful student involvement can be.
Throughout the year, high school girls from Wesleyan participated in the National Charity League (NCL). It is a nonprofit organization that brings mothers and daughters together to volunteer in their local communities while building leadership skills, compassion, and strong bonds. Members participate in a variety of service projects like filling backpacks full of school supplies for children, making sandwiches for the homeless, and pack meals for impoverished families. Senior Ava Singh said, “Making sandwiches for the people in my community lets me see firsthand the impact I’m having on the community and shows that what I’m doing matters.” Through hands-on experiences, NCL helps young women develop responsibility, confidence, and a lifelong commitment to giving back.
Many teachers and faculty are also involved in service projects. English teacher Jana Wrenn is apart of Operation Christmas Child, an international charity run by the Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse. Each year volunteers pack shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and personal care items, which are then delivered to children in need around the world. The project’s goal is to provide joy, meet basic needs, and share messages of hope with children living in poverty, crisis, or difficult situations. When asked about getting involved in Operation Christmas Child, Wrenn said, “I recommend students get involved because it is easy for us to pack these boxes. It is little strain on us, but such a huge blessing to someone else. It is important to get involved and to give where we can because if we have been blessed with this much, then I think our responsibility as Christians is to go and bless others.” Operation Christmas Child is a perfect way for students to get involved around the holidays and spread the word of God. It is not just about giving presents, but educating kids about the Lord.
Lastly, Omicron is a service team that is run through Wesleyan. Omicron is made up of a dedicated group of students and teachers who work together to make a positive difference in the community through outreach and volunteering projects. The organizations that Omicron is involved in is Spring of Peace, Addison Assisted Living, Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, and Wesleyan Facilities. Math Teacher and Omicron leader Kathleen Shade said, “Being able to help the facilities team and being able to see what goes on behind the scenes has been very eye opening.” Shade Said, “I enjoy leading Omicron being able to see students outside the classroom and serving others. Bringing joy to those in our community and seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces.” Junior Garrison Dallam said, “My favorite outreach that I do at Omicron is tutoring and working with the kids because it is amazing to see how much the kids look up to us.” These outreach projects are done to provide donations, organize food drives, and support families in need. By giving their time and effort, members not only help improve the lives of others, but also learn the importance of leadership, teamwork, and service.
Service projects do not just help the community, but they also help students grow. By participating, students build leadership skills, responsibility, teamwork, and empathy. Junior Kellan Terwilliger said, “I would love to see more of my peers getting involved in service work, like Omicron, that is only for a couple hours a week and benefits the community.” Many students say that working together for a cause helps them feel more connected to their communities and more aware of the struggles others face. When asked about what she wants to see changed about service participation junior Brooke Ward said, “I would like to see other students get involved by participating in canned food drives or prepping meals for the less fortunate.” There are so many opportunities to get involved through Wesleyan, as well as outside of it.
As Wesleyan continues to encourage service and involvement, students are proving that compassion and action can go hand in hand. Through their dedication and hard work, they are helping to create a stronger, more connected community, one project at a time.
