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Students Share Service To Give Back

For many students at Utah State University, as the holiday season approaches, service becomes a priority that often takes precedence over schoolwork and other personal endeavors. Students can serve others through various programs provided by the Val R. Christensen Service Center.

Danica Moran, a student at Utah State University, volunteers every year during the holiday season by helping local families and children that are in need.

“By serving other families who are in need I am able to show thanks and appreciation for everything I have,” Moran said. “Volunteering provides me with a better sense of appreciation. It is a humbling experience.”

The Val R. Christensen Service Center, located on the third floor of the Taggart Student Center, is a division of the Associated Students of Utah State University. The purpose of the service center is to organize students into committees and projects that will improve the Cache Valley environment, including issues at the University.

“Money is tight during the holidays and there is no better time to help others when they are struggling to provide for their family,” Moran said.

Megan Darrington, a full-time employee at the service center, said that the center's busiest time is during the holiday months.

“There are so many people in need during the holidays and we have so many students who want to help out in any way," Darrington said. “It is nice to know that citizens in Cache Valley are concerned for the community and continually want to make it better.”

During the holiday season, the Val R. Christensen Service Center puts on a program called ‘stuff-a-bus’. Volunteers go out into the community, knocking door-to-door collecting non-perishable cans of food for the Cache Valley Food Pantry. 

This annual event takes place every Monday night in Nov. Volunteers meet in the Romney stadium paring lot at 7p.m, and several buses transport the volunteers throughout the valley to designated areas where they collect food.

Trent Morrison, a member of ASUSU student government, participates in the stuff-a-bus program every year. Morrison looks forward to this event because it allows him to give to those in need in the Cache Valley community.

“I have been so involved in this event because it provides me with a well rounded college experience and I am able to serve others,” Morrison said. “I have had a different perspective after seeing these local families that are in need.”

Another upcoming event at Utah State University is the annual 'sub-for-Santa’ program. This program works closely with ‘stuff-a-bus’ and provides gifts for children between 18 months and 14 years old throughout the Ut. county area.

The sub-for-Santa event is a Christmas assistance program providing local families who are in need with gifts and money for children. Families also are provided with learning opportunities to help better budget their money and time.

This annual event starts the day after Thanksgiving and volunteers meet outside of local department and grocery stores asking for monetary donations. All donations go to the Cache Valley Family Support Center to purchase gifts for the children at the center.

K. Wells

S. Stack