Cougars Creating Community Returns on Oct. 24

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Kalamazoo Valley’s Oct. 24 Cougars Creating Community Event will send volunteers into the community for a day of service Kalamazoo Valley’s award-winning Cougars Creating Community event returns on October 24, 2014. The community-wide effort creates a pass it forward atmosphere in Kalamazoo. Last year’s inaugural event, dubbed C3, placed more than 400 participants throughout the community pitching in as volunteers and completing acts of kindness.

During the 2013 event, volunteers provided assistance at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, the Ecumenical Senior Center, Loaves and Fishes, the farmer’s market, the Peace House on Kalamazoo’s east side, and dozens of other destinations. One service project involved sewing handbags for a church group that uses their proceeds to buy water pumps for African villages. In addition, free haircuts and manicures were offered at Anna Whitten Hall in downtown Kalamazoo for those who couldn’t afford the services.

Similar service sites will be a part of the 2014 effort. This year’s event will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Work at service sites will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Project selection begins at 8 a.m. in The Forum at the Texas Township Campus.

Student and Phi Theta Kappa honor society member Luke Pesavento will give the welcoming address at 8:50 a.m. in Dale B. Lake Auditorium. Then, event organizer Dr. Urminda Firlan, who teaches psychology at Kalamazoo Valley, will explain how the project ties in with Institutional Learning Outcomes. “Faculty are excited to involve their students in meaningful service to the community while simultaneously teaching our Institutional Learning Outcomes including team work, communication, diversity and critical thinking,” Firlan said. “We’re planning on a great turn out again this year.”

Dr. Firlan expressed gratitude to Kellie Dean for donating the buses and Chipotle restaurant for donating lunches. “These two donations alone contributed over $10,000 to our event,” Firlan said. “Many others have also contributed to make the event possible. I am deeply appreciative of the 70 members of faculty, staff and student groups who have volunteered to help coordinate various aspects of the event. Not only is this event impacting the Kalamazoo Community, it is bringing our college together. Faculty, administrators and students are all collaborating to create this vision of service to others.”

Firlan said that at a recent gathering of faculty, an envelope was passed by Communications professor Steve Ott with his own contribution to start the collection. Within minutes, close to $500 was donated by faculty in attendance. “The spirit of passion and purpose is making a difference to our internal community at Kalamazoo Valley,” Firlan said. “We are honored to pass it forward to our larger Kalamazoo community on October 24.”

Participants in the event will travel by bus to the sites where they’ll volunteer. Work will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Back at Kalamazoo Valley, participants will eat lunch and participate in small group discussions.

The entire group will gather at 2 p.m. in Dale B. Lake Auditorium to share their experiences and observations. Kalamazoo Valley President Marilyn Schlack and Kellie Dean from will be the last speakers of the day.

Kalamazoo Valley communications major Alex Claus participated in last year’s event and said it made a profound impact on her. “As the day progressed it was unmistakable that the sense of community and scope of what community truly means was transforming before our eyes,” Claus said. “Connections were made among all involved. Faculty, administration, staff, students, family, friends, the young, the old, the rich, the poor, and people from all walks of life united together for one common goal and if even for just that one day; we were all one big community full of love and care for each other.” Claus and her husband plan to volunteer again this year. “We’re both really looking forward to it,” she said.

Kalamazoo Valley student Hayley Younce, who serves as president of the Kalamazoo Valley chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society agreed that being involved in Cougars Creating Community is a rewarding experience. “I have seen it grow from simply an idea to this amazing event that is truly changing Kalamazoo,” she said. “I am so excited to see the impact we can make this year, and how many more lives we will change in the years to come. I feel so proud to attend a school that has come together for such a great cause. Participating in C3 2013 was one of the most powerful experiences of my life, and I look forward to experiencing that again this year.”

Volunteers who plan to participate should wear comfortable clothing and tennis shoes or boots. Dress should be suitable for any service learning project with possibilities including painting over graffiti, cleaning up trash, working in a community garden, distributing items to the homeless, reading to children, doing art with elderly, and many other opportunities to serve others.

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