Students defeat domestic violence one teddy bear at a time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Saloma Ayoub

Staff Writer

On Monday, Nov. 12, HonorScholar students took the initiative to pack “happiness” for children who had their lives impacted due to domestic violence.

Since September, students in the HonorScholar Program have been collecting donations for children caught in domestic violence situations who can no longer live at home. Many victims had been forced to leave their home and belongings. The contributions help make their new environment more comfortable and enjoyable.

On Nov. 12, the donations were compiled together and packed into “Goodnight Bags.”

According to the Liberal Arts and HonorScholar chairperson, Heather J. Chase, the students packed 85 bags for Equinox Inc. in Albany, New York.

The participants explained the process by which they filled each bag, employing an assembly line design.

“We collected donated supplies, put them into categories: clothing, [hygiene], school supplies and made an assembly line [to] fill each bag,” said Kacey Keifer, a psychology major.

Colin Bauer, a liberal arts major, led the beginning of the assembly line by packing books into the bags along with a friend. To Bauer, the community service permits him to engage in his education and leave an impact within his community and the friends he made through the Honors program.

“Being able to give back to people who are not as fortunate as me is a big part of my life,” Keifer said while describing the event. “It is such a rewarding experience.”

“There [are] a lot of [ways] to help and there [are] always people that need help,” liberal arts student and participant Nicole Scipione said. “It is good to get involved and help the community.”

“We knew that we were making a difference with their life by something simple like getting a bag with goodies,” Scipione said. “It makes their day.”

“Having a bag of toys and items that are comforting like a snack, bedding, [necessities] that they might not have, you know?” Chase said about the victims. “It gives them that sense that somebody cares,” she said. “[Having] just uprooted themselves [it’s a boost] and that’s great for students to see [and] understand.”

In the past, the HonorScholar’s have kept busy on and off campus.

“Last year we were at St. Joseph’s house,” Victoria Hayes, humanities and social sciences student said. “We helped with cooking and cleaning the shelters,” she said. “It gave me a better appreciation for life but also [it taught me] to take charge via organizing our process [to] get as much done as [efficiently] as possible.”

Hayes was in charge of the spreading and coordination of the donation boxes throughout Hudson Valley Community College’s campus for Monday’s Equinox Goodnight Bags.

Hayes, though a busy college student, was grateful for the opportunity.

“It’s a perk [to donate my time],” she said. “It’s hard to find the time to help others.” According to Hayes, making time for community engagement allows personal opportunities to make a change as well as making connections.

Through events like this, students grow as they learn to see the world in a larger sense and help those in need. Volunteering even increases the chances of producing leaders to revolutionize our community, a part of the HonorScholars’ program objective.

You don’t have to be an HonorScholar to get involved. With the holidays approaching, you can find a way to spread cheer by visiting http://www.equinoxinc.org/.