Harding University social clubs and students have been working to raise funds and awareness for local and national organizations this month.
Through a creative use of ideas and resources, members of Zeta Rho, Ko Jo Kai and students of the social work course Community Practice have collected donations and provided services to support Relay for Life, Type one diabetes and the Sharing Shoppe, a thrift store that benefits Searcy Children’s Homes, Inc.
The women of Zeta Rho used their time and talents by babysitting for faculty families and references. Members worked in pairs between 4 p.m. and 12 a.m. on Sept. 7 to give parents a night out. The proceeds went directly to Zeta Rho’s Relay for Life teams. Service directors, juniors Emily Cook and Sara Denton, said that this project was a way for girls to give their time instead of money.
“We focus on servicing the community and service within our club; we’re trying to find a good balance between the two,” Denton said. “The babysitting was great, because it allowed community members to give — we could give to them [and] they could give to us.”
Cook said that nearly $400 was raised through the babysitting event and helped the club to win Relay for Life’s online challenge held the same day as the fundraiser. By raising the greatest amount of money for the online challenge, the club now has first choice of an area on the front lawn for Harding’s Relay for Life event on Oct. 12.
Ko Jo Kai’s vice president, senior Anna Grace Chandler, and service directors, sophomores Mary Pickens and Nicole Wallace, organized their fundraiser held on Sept. 10 and 11 to support the Walk to Cure Diabetes held on Sept. 15. Students had the opportunity to donate money and receive a 10 percent off coupon for drinks at Midnight Oil. Sophomore Adam Dell played on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the coffeehouse from 7-9 p.m. Nearly $230 was collected overall to donate to the walk, sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Chandler, diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when she was 8, expressed that she is passionate about the walk and not only raising funds to support the lives and research of those with diabetes, but to raise awareness as well.
“Some people don’t realize how serious diabetes is if it’s not taken care of,” Chandler said.
Mindy Gross, a senior social work major, has also been preparing a fundraiser on her own for credit in her course, Community Practice. Gross and her team received the opportunity to promote and volunteer for the Sharing Shoppe of Searcy, a local, non-profit store that sells thrift items at discount prices.
“We’re trying to raise awareness, especially on campus, that the Sharing Shoppe exists and that it’s a great place to go for cheap and fashionable clothing,” Gross said.
All proceeds from the store benefit Searcy Children’s Homes, Inc. Gross plans to implement an upcoming fundraiser on campus for clothing donations and to inform students of the shop itself.
Whether through a large club or an individual, opportunities abound on campus for students to support and serve.
