Midland students, faculty, and staff will lend their talents and a little elbow grease to help out various Fremont area community partners during MOVE (Midland Outreach & Volunteer Engagement) week, Oct. 1-4.
The second annual event will feature Midland partnering with 11 different area organizations to provide assistance in a variety of ways, including yard work, spending time with animals, and administering blood pressure checks.
During last year’s MOVE week, Midland participants included more than 125 individuals and 175 hours of service.
“Having MOVE week last year helped us get out into the community, and now those community partners have become some of our biggest supporters,” said Lisa Kramme, Director for Campus Ministry and Spiritual Wellness. “It’s great to see those groups trust us as community partners.”
Organizations Midland will be working with are Dodge County Humane Society, Lutheran Family Services, Dodge County Head Start, Thriftology, Keep Fremont Beautiful, Care Corps Lifehouse Shelter, Fremont Housing Agency, Aspire For Greatness, Fremont Sixpence, Uniquely Yours Stability Support, and Habitat Homestore. Kramme said there are nearly 500 available slots for anyone interested in volunteering.
“This is a great way to get the message out there that part of our call as human beings is to help our neighbors,” Kramme said. “We are part of a larger community, and if we can help, it is something we should do.”
Kramme has been encouraged to see Midland students doing their part as community stewards throughout the year, not just during MOVE week. “We have athletic teams and groups of students who have been willing to go out and help,” she said. “I was speaking with someone from Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity, and they told me about a student who helped during MOVE week last year but then kept coming back throughout the year to volunteer.
“Through MOVE week, we hope our students can realize the joy in helping others, as well as increasing the awareness of what our partners are doing in Fremont. This can be part of the process in them becoming more well-rounded citizens, and encouraging them to get involved in their new settings after they leave Midland.”
Anyone interested in volunteering can register for time slots at Helper Helper.
