SERVICE LEARNING AT WILLIAMS

Weekly Service Opportunities 2010-2011

A few hours of volunteer service a week could bring years of benefits to you and the people you serve. Extend your education beyond the classroom by participating in service learning at Williams.

The volunteer opportunities listed here offer manageable commitments of 1-3 hours a week for a semester or academic year. These opportunities are called service learning because even though you may get involved just to help people, you are likely to find yourself learning from them as well.

Students involved in service overwhelmingly report that it has a transforming effect on their lives. Your experience can enrich your spiritual life and serve you well as you seek a career. You can develop strong working relationships, gain valuable personal and professional skills, and become aware of the rewards and challenges of working in a particular field or with a particular population.

If you are willing to serve or want to know more, please contact Dr. Steve Harthorn (sharthorn@wbcoll.edu, 759-4152, or MC109).

Elementary Tutor

Assist children who need extra individual attention to succeed in their schoolwork. Be a good role model as you spend time with children, discover new strategies for helping them learn, and experience the satisfaction of seeing a lesson "click."

Community Partner: Walnut Ridge Schools

Walnut Ridge Elementary and Middle Schools seek to educate children in grades K-8 in a caring environment.

• Daytime hours available.
• Transportation required. Location: Walnut Ridge (6.2 miles from campus).

Lunch Buddy

Take a break from college life to eat lunch with an elementary student once a week. Provide support and fun company to a child who would appreciate your encouragement.

Community Partner: Walnut Ridge Schools

Walnut Ridge Elementary and Middle Schools seek to educate children in grades K-8 in a caring environment.

• Daytime (late morning) hours available.
• Transportation required. Location: Walnut Ridge (6.2 miles from campus).

Children's Shelter Volunteer

Provide care and attention to children who are residing at the Children's Shelter. Play games, read books, teach art, do crafts or puzzles, and have fun.

Community Partner: The Children's Shelter of Lawrence County

The Children's Shelter of Lawrence County provides temporary residential care in a safe, caring environment to children ages 0-18 who are victims of family violence, neglect, or abuse.

• Daytime and evening hours available.
• Transportation required. Location: Walnut Ridge (6.2 miles from campus).
• Must be at least 19 years of age. Application, references, and background check required.

Children's Shelter Tutor

Provide much-needed support to displaced children by helping them succeed in their elementary, middle-school, or high-school learning.

Community Partner: The Children's Shelter of Lawrence County

The Children's Shelter of Lawrence County provides temporary residential care in a safe, caring environment to children ages 0-18 who are victims of family violence, neglect, or abuse.

• Afternoon and some evening hours available.
• Transportation required. Location: Walnut Ridge (6.2 miles from campus).
• Must be at least 19 years of age. Application, references, and background check required.

Hospital Volunteer

Gain insight into healthcare professions as you assist hospital staff with a variety of activities. Assist in the dietary department, radiology unit, or offices; visit patients in the hospital's swing-bed unit; or help transport patients in wheelchairs around the hospital.

Community Partner: Lawrence Health Services

Lawrence Health Services operates a local hospital in Walnut Ridge that offers a variety of medical services in a personalized environment.

• Daytime and evening hours available.
• Transportation required. Location: Walnut Ridge (6.2 miles from campus).

Nursing Center Volunteer

Spend time with nursing center residents, visiting with them or participating in games, art, social activities, or events. Or, assist nursing staff with a variety of services and learn what is involved in providing long-term nursing care.

Community Partner: Lawrence Hall Nursing Center

Lawrence Hall provides skilled, personalized nursing care to patients young and old who need health supervision and daily attention, but not the full services of a hospital.

• Daytime and evening hours available.
• Transportation required. Location: Walnut Ridge (6.2 miles from campus).

Hospice Volunteer

Take part in bringing comfort to terminally ill patients. Help assemble or deliver care packages, or assist the office staff with coordination. Visit patients and their families to encourage them during difficult times.

Community Partner: Legacy Hospice

Legacy Hospice provides end-of-life home care to terminally ill patients to help meet their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs, as well as the needs of their families.

• Daytime and evening hours available.
• Transportation required. Location: Walnut Ridge.

Community Liaison

Learn about business in a small-town environment as you interact with downtown merchants and professionals. Gather information each month about activities they have had, improvements they have made, concerns they have noted, or accomplishments they wish to share.

Community Partner: Downtown Walnut Ridge

Downtown Walnut Ridge seeks to promote and improve Walnut Ridge's historic downtown. It aims to achieve high commercial occupancy rates, gain publicity for Walnut Ridge's quality of life, have low business failure rates, develop a culture of entrepreneurship among area youth, and foster a distinctive aesthetic for downtown properties.

• Flexible daytime and evening hours available.
• Transportation helpful, but not required.

Newsletter Editor/Reporter

Put your reporting, writing, and editing skills to use. Volunteer as an editor to design and produce a newsletter or as a reporter to write stories for it. Keep downtown business people and the community informed about people, events, and ideas.

Community Partner: Downtown Walnut Ridge

Downtown Walnut Ridge seeks to promote and improve Walnut Ridge's historic downtown. It aims to achieve high commercial occupancy rates, gain publicity for Walnut Ridge's quality of life, have low business failure rates, develop a culture of entrepreneurship among area youth, and foster a distinctive aesthetic for downtown properties.

• Flexible daytime and evening hours available.
• Transportation helpful, but not required.

Museum Exhibit Researcher/Designer

Research artifacts from the World War II era, discover their significance, and learn about their historical contexts. Prepare interpretive material and assemble visually appealing exhibits for display.

Community Partner: Wings of Honor Museum

The Wings of Honor Museum preserves the military heritage of the Walnut Ridge airport since its founding in World War II as the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School.

• Daytime hours available.
• No transportation required-within walking distance from campus (0.4 miles).

Museum Records Researcher

Gather information about the fates of people who trained and served at Walnut Ridge Army Flying School during World War II. Research obituaries, news articles, and other sources of information to uncover their stories.

Community Partner: Wings of Honor Museum

The Wings of Honor Museum preserves the military heritage of the Walnut Ridge airport since its founding in World War II as the Walnut Ridge Army Flying School.

• Daytime hours available.
• No transportation required-within walking distance from campus (0.4 miles).