Honor students help out
Lynn WloszekHonor students showed their true colors Saturday afternoon as they marched through Mount Pleasant decorated in red.
More than 150 students swept the city, collecting donations and giving back to the community from noon to 5 p.m. during Honors Service Day.
Students participated in the event as part of the honors colloquium course, HON 311C, which is designed for incoming honors freshmen.
Students were divided into 12 teams led by facilitators covering all areas of the community.
Six groups went door-to-door collecting canned-food donations to give to the American Red Cross.
“It was really nice this year because we did many projects instead of one big project,” said co-coordinator Kasey Trombley, St. Clair Shores junior. “You get to see the results more throughout the community this way.”
Trombley and co-coordinator Erin King, Livonia junior, spent the day circling the various locations helping wherever needed.
“I was really excited at the end of the day when we got the final count for the Red Cross and I heard that we collected more than they’ve ever gotten before,” King said. “It was nice for our students that they worked that hard.”
A record high 3,267 canned food and other items were donated. Along with the food donations, more than $150 also was raised.
“When people went door to door for the canned food drive, some people donated money, which was incredible of them,” Trombley said. “Every little bit helps, so we were really thankful for that.”
One group participated in a pop bottle drive, which raised more than $200 for the local animal shelter.
King said the funds may help the shelter add on a medical wing to the animal hospital.
Other groups went to various places in town from Goodwill, 1313 S. Mission St., to the Community Recreation Center, 5165 E. Remus Road, to the Child and Family Enrichment Council.
“When we went to the CAFE, students were moving stuff around and fixing things. They got a lot of work done there,” Trombley said. “I think the people there really appreciated it.”
Some students chatted with residents at the Tender Care Nursing Home and assisted in gardening.
“I think the students really came out of this feeling a lot better about themselves,” Trombley said. “I always think that it’s really nice when they get to see the progress they make.”
Fenton freshman Christine Walsh said her group spent the day stationed at the Red Cross sorting food items.
“I think it went really well,” she said. “I was kind of skeptical with how many people would give us food and then we ended up with over 3,000 items.”
Walsh said the shelves had noticeably more food at the end of the day.
“I don’t think I’ve seen so many cans of green beans in my entire life,” she said. “It was nice to see the city of Mount Pleasant come together for those who are less fortunate.”
Trombley said the day was the most successful she has seen in her three years participating in the project.
She and King took the honors course their freshmen year and were facilitators during their sophomore year.
“We’ve taken a different turn here this year, but it seems to have worked out very well,” Trombley said. “I definitely think doing smaller projects was a good idea. They may seem kind of small, but the effects that they have are so big that it’s really worth it.”
In the past two years, the class has pitched efforts for the Chippewa River cleanup and Island Park renovations.
“It was nice to unify as a group and go out and represent CMU as a whole,” Walsh said. “It’s a new experience and college is a new experience, so it was good to be able to volunteer and represent the university at the same time.”
