Yard work is rarely something college students wake up early on a Saturday to do, but 450 people did just that for Make a Difference Day at the University of Idaho.
Hosted by the Volunteer Center, Make a Difference Day pairs student organizations with regional businesses and nonprofits to match the desire to volunteer with work that needs to be done.
This year, 22 sites received volunteer groups. Anna Dolezal, lead service coordinator at the Volunteer Center, said there is a growing number of students who sign up for the event.
“I hope it’s because we promoted it, or people wanting to get their feet wet in volunteering, and this is a good way to see if that’s something they’d like to do,” Dolezal said. “That would be my hope for the event is that people find something they like or that they’re interested in and they can grab a friend or go back by themselves.”
Most groups were Greek houses, but the Food and Nutrition Club, the National Society of Black Engineers and the College Republicans of UI also participated, among others. Dolezal said the sites included the Northwest Children’s Home, Moscow Public Library and the campus itself.
“Make a Difference Day allows people to get two community partners in a group setting. It’s a lot harder to walk in on your own like ‘Hi, I’m here to volunteer.’ To be able to go in a group opens that door,” Dolezal said. “And if you find an organization you really like, students are much more likely go back and repeatedly build that relationship with the community partner.”
The Food and Nutrition Club asked specifically to work at McDonald Elementary. Miranda Anspach is treasurer of the club and she said they had such a great time volunteering at McDonald earlier this year they decided to do it again. She said they will clean up garden beds and prepare them for winter.
“We were just looking for a volunteer project. It’s really convenient ASUI does this. They pair us up with people,” Anspach said. “You just show up and get free T-shirt, snacks and do work for the day. It’s kind of hard to find a project for yourself.”
Togetherness and giving back were the big themes of the day. Haley Smith of Delta Delta Delta sorority said 18 women from her house participated.
“We really like not only to volunteer, but doing it together makes it a lot more fun — makes a bigger impact I guess,” she said. “It just shows how fast you can get work done. You can make it easier, a positive environment to be around.”
Aleta Rutherford of Gamma Alpha Omega sorority said her house believes that serving the community is important and they want to give back to the community that has given them so much. She said the high student turnout was impressive.
“I think it’s really cool,” Rutherford said. “People have this stereotype that college students are lazy and don’t want to do anything, but then you come to places like this and it is overflowing with people and these are college students that want to spend their Saturdays helping people and giving back to their community.”
Theta Chi fraternity rounded up nearly 25 members and headed off to touch up the landscaping around WISH Medical Center in Moscow. The men brought a boombox and a positive attitude.
“For the most part, everybody here is really excited,” said Dillon Blair, Theta Chi member. “Everybody loves to give back to their community. Some aren’t as early risers as others, so it was little bit tougher, but everybody’s here for the most part willingly, and without too much harm.”
On their way to WISH, Theta Chi member Nash Johnson said he was excited and expected to have fun.
“We like to organize things like this where we all go together,” Johnson said. “We do it as a house and it’s kind of like a brotherhood event.”
The men tore out dead grass from flowerbeds and trimmed down a shrub, which had been obstructing the view out the door. They gathered trash bags full of yard waste and went the extra mile — trimming obscure limbs and nearly-hidden grass they didn’t have to trim.
CEO of WISH, Michelle Ellinwood, said WISH partners with the university to find volunteer work and has always had a great experience with UI volunteers.
“I love to be involved in helping the community, so to see college students doing it, and doing it with excellence — it’s encouraging,” Ellinwood said.
An hour into the work, Johnson said it was going great. He said he was really impressed with the other members.
“I didn’t expect to be having this much fun,” Johnson said. “I think it’s the collective attitude of all the guys here just making a difference in the community and that, also, we’re bonding again. We got the speaker playing Johnny Cash. I don’t think it could be going much better.”
Jack Olson can be reached at [email protected]