EDITORIAL: Continued focus on charity
Students play a vital role in charity efforts in Mount Pleasant.
Each year, thousands of Central Michigan University students look past themselves and their studies and work to better the lives of others. It’s a point of pride and it’s something that we would like to see continued.
The Humane Animal Treatment Society is assisted by regular volunteers who provide hands-on care by walking, cleaning up after and caring for adoptable animals in the community.
Mount Pleasant has three senior care or assisted-living facilities in the city, where students can volunteer their time to connect with the elderly and provide valuable services to those in need.
Athletes, Greeks and students across various colleges frequently give their time and funds to help those needing help in our community. This year, Greek Week raised more than $30,000 for Special Olympics Michigan.
In addition, health professions students organized three charity races this month, raising $8,500.
Residence halls on campus dedicate hours and funds raised each year in order to reach five star status – an award handed out annually.
These opportunities are important to our community and our role as stewards within it. Not only do charities benefit, but so do students, who develop habits of selflessness that will continue after college.
Students in high school are often encouraged to volunteer to gain an advantage on college applications. Continuing to volunteer in college and beyond is vital in creating a better future.
Our college years provide us with opportunity to develop as adults, and volunteering introduces individuals to a host of experiences outside what they have become accustomed to. Community service changes lives, and the opportunity to do so is quickly becoming extinct.
Many service groups around the state are experiencing hardships trying to gather enough volunteers because newer generations don't see the necessity or have the time to join. As busy as society is today, allowing personal goals to take precedent and pushing volunteering down the priority list is a mistake.
We encourage all students to research opportunities to give back to the community, and a good start is the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center at CMU. Aside from that main conduit, the opportunities to help on-campus and off are boundless.
Whether it’s adopting a highway, volunteering in the community – alone or as part of one of the many charitable registered student organizations on campus – or simply donating a few dollars to a cause greater than yourself, now is the time to do your part and make a difference in the lives of others.
