The Freshman Day of Service sent the class of 2021 to 11 different service locations all across the metro Oct. 11. This day marks an annual initiative to allow freshmen to receive three hours of service for work done throughout the day.

The class was divided up into a variety of different locations including the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired, the Kansas City Pet Project and the Atriums, an Overland Park assisted living home. Before the day of service, each student took a survey to help place them into their respective location.

“The girls took a questionnaire which asked them what kind of service interests they have and what types of service that they have done before,” Co-Service Learning Coordinator Jessica Hull said. “When assigning them to their locations, I tried to send everyone to a place that they would be interested in that they haven’t been to before.”

Different service locations meant that some freshmen volunteered to work directly with individuals who are considered marginalized, while others worked “behind the scenes” by organizing donated goods.

“I had so much fun working with really young kids at the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired,” freshman Morgan Herriott said. “Some of them were as young as 2 years old. We were helping some visually impaired kids socialize with other non-visually impaired kids.”

Other service locations didn’t involve serving other people at all. For example, at the Kansas City Pet Project, students worked with animals who were considered homeless and had been rescued and taken into shelter.

“I loved going to KC Pet Project,” freshman Grace Hill said. “I also had a really good time getting to know the girls who went there with me since I didn’t know them very well before.”

Parent and teacher chaperones also volunteered to attend each service location with the students. These chaperones helped alongside the girls, participating in service work as well.

“I was at the Atriums, an assisted living home, with six freshmen,” Director of Campus Ministry Stephanie Pino-Dressman said. “We gave manicures to both male and female residents there. At first, it was very quiet between the girls and the residents. But quickly the girls began to minister to the residents with conversation. The girls were very patient, especially with the residents who have dementia.”

The Freshman Day of Service coincides with introducing the freshman class with the school requirement of completing 100 hours of service before graduation.

“The goal of Freshman Day of Service is to help the freshmen envision using what they are passionate about and their gifts that they have to give back to the community,” Hull said. “We want to introduce students to new service opportunities, hopefully to inspire them.”