Penn College News

Campus volunteers blanket community with hope, heart

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Sisters of Theta Phi Alpha sorority with signed cardsHandwritten holiday cards await delivery to servicemen and women.Bernice C. Weaver (left), of Newville, enrolled in residential construction technology and management: building construction technology concentration, and Skylar J. Merrick, a pre-radiography major from Mansfield, sort donated clothing for Dwell Orphan Care. Dwell's Hope Chest, "a closet for children who need things of their own"Jordan C. Palmer (left), a pre-radiography major from Honesdale, and Daija S. Mehaffie, of York, in pre-dental hygiene, work on the agency's year-end mailing.Students who enjoy giving back to their community participated in two (community) Service Saturday opportunities on Nov. 14. The first was a holiday card-signing for military personnel, held in the CC Commons dining unit in the Bush Campus Center. Fifteen students and Allison Bressler Grove, director of the Office of Student Engagement, volunteered their time to write approximately 350 heartfelt holiday messages to those in the armed services. The signed cards then went to Sarah R. Yoder, coordinator of admissions operations, who sees that they are distributed every year (her brother is on active duty). The second volunteer opportunity was held at Dwell Orphan Care in Williamsport. Five students and Shannon L. Skaluba, student organization and information center specialist, assisted with sorting clothing and other items for The Hope Chest, which provides new and gently used clothing, shoes and necessities for foster and adoptive children of all ages. In addition, prep work was done for Dwell’s year-end (community) Service Saturdayappeal mailing. Interested in volunteering? Email the Office of Student Engagement to be added to the (community) Service Saturday interest list.
Photos provided by Shannon L. Skaluba