W&J students volunteer in honor of MLK
By Dawn Goodman
Staff Writer
dgoodman@observer-reporter.com
Christina Chianelli’s New Year’s resolution was to volunteer.
So on Friday, she found herself at Washington Crown Center, separating items for the Washington Women’s Shelter. Some of the donated items will stay with the shelter, while others will go to Interfaith Hospitality Network and the City Mission. Some will go to Haiti for victims of the recent earthquake.
“I just wanted to get involved in volunteering and I don’t have classes today,” said Chianelli, a Washington & Jefferson College freshman from Pittsburgh.
Students nationwide are volunteering to honor the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr. W&J organized several events where students and staff could volunteer.
This is an opportunity to reflect on the inspirational words of King, Teanca Shepherd, W&J assistant dean of student life and director of diversity programs and multicultural affairs, said in a news release.
Chianelli wasn’t alone at the shelter’s donation site at the mall.
Molly Anthony, a freshman from Greensburg, and Heather Painter, a freshman from Pittsburgh, also helped sort items.
“I thought it would be interesting to help the women’s shelter,” Anthony said. “I thought it would be really cool to help out little kids.”
Painter’s church has always helped out the women’s shelter so she wanted to volunteer there Friday.
“I was curious what happens with it,” she said. “I know it’s a nice thing to do.”
Lisa Hannum, prevention education coordinator for the shelter, said it’s the first time W&J students have volunteered as part of the MLK event.
It’s the fourth year the shelter has had a remote site for donations over the holidays and the shelter now knows to keep it open until the King holiday so college students can help, she said.
“I think it’s great,” Hannum said. “We’re counting on them.”
Nonprofits are typically understaffed, Hannum said.
“This is a great help,” she said.
Join the Observer-Reporter’s conversation about education at our blog at http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/behinddesk/
Staff Writer
dgoodman@observer-reporter.com
Christina Chianelli’s New Year’s resolution was to volunteer.
So on Friday, she found herself at Washington Crown Center, separating items for the Washington Women’s Shelter. Some of the donated items will stay with the shelter, while others will go to Interfaith Hospitality Network and the City Mission. Some will go to Haiti for victims of the recent earthquake.
“I just wanted to get involved in volunteering and I don’t have classes today,” said Chianelli, a Washington & Jefferson College freshman from Pittsburgh.
Students nationwide are volunteering to honor the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr. W&J organized several events where students and staff could volunteer.
This is an opportunity to reflect on the inspirational words of King, Teanca Shepherd, W&J assistant dean of student life and director of diversity programs and multicultural affairs, said in a news release.
Chianelli wasn’t alone at the shelter’s donation site at the mall.
Molly Anthony, a freshman from Greensburg, and Heather Painter, a freshman from Pittsburgh, also helped sort items.
“I thought it would be interesting to help the women’s shelter,” Anthony said. “I thought it would be really cool to help out little kids.”
Painter’s church has always helped out the women’s shelter so she wanted to volunteer there Friday.
“I was curious what happens with it,” she said. “I know it’s a nice thing to do.”
Lisa Hannum, prevention education coordinator for the shelter, said it’s the first time W&J students have volunteered as part of the MLK event.
It’s the fourth year the shelter has had a remote site for donations over the holidays and the shelter now knows to keep it open until the King holiday so college students can help, she said.
“I think it’s great,” Hannum said. “We’re counting on them.”
Nonprofits are typically understaffed, Hannum said.
“This is a great help,” she said.
Join the Observer-Reporter’s conversation about education at our blog at http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/behinddesk/
posted by Dawn Keller at
11:38 AM
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