Bursting the Bubble: College Students Helping Their Communities

It’s a not-so-pleasant stigma that tends to be attached to prominent colleges and universities: wide-eyed, idealistic students who have the privilege of getting an education at a major institution stay within the confines of the campus, rarely venturing outside the “bubble” of their school into the neighborhood that is just beyond the gates. In the cases of many schools, the surrounding city is often plagued with poverty and social ills to which most would turn a blind eye. Students dwell in a world of hypotheses and theories while those less fortunate struggle to cope with the harsh realities of life.

But this one generalization doesn’t tell the whole story. Especially in this bleak economic climate, more and more college students are getting involved in the communities that have welcomed them for a four-year stay. Take a look at these five schools whose students are working to burst the bubbles around their campuses.

Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut

At Wesleyan University, students are engaging directly with the surrounding community in the Middletown, CT chapter of Food Not Bombs (FNB), an international anti-poverty and anti-war organization. According to its official website, FNB takes the stance that government spending on weapons exacerbates poverty; to combat hunger, each chapter of FNB organizes the distribution of free meals to the hungry. The Wesleyan chapter of FNB, however, has encountered legal obstacles in the past year. On the basis of health code violations, FNB was issued a cease-and-desist order from the Middletown Health Department for serving free meals in town last spring. FNB has countered with a federal lawsuit against the city of Middletown for violating the group’s right to free expression by requiring it to obtain a license for distributing food. In spite of these legal woes, FNB, at its core, seeks to reach out to the Middletown community and offer direct aid to those who need it.

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

College students across the country all share the same gripes about meal plans: what can you do with leftover meals at the end of the semester? Last fall, in an effort to answer that question, two University of Pennsylvania freshmen (now sophomores) decided to put their leftover meals to good use by taking out cafeteria food and bringing it to the homeless in Philadelphia. The initiative, called More Than Pennies, quickly became popular among UPenn students, and soon take-out boxes were being formally delivered to a local homeless shelter. This personal touch allowed for real interaction with those the students were helping. Although More Than Pennies functioned as an unofficial program last year, the students who created it plan to create a more structured organization at UPenn this year.

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Since 1983, Harvard University students have been taking matters into their own hands by running—entirely on their own—a homeless shelter in Harvard Square. The Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, which was renovated in 1999, is a spacious refuge complete not only with beds for 24 occupants, but also a kitchen, an eating area, a television, computers, and laundry facilities. The shelter also provides services to help the homeless get back on their feet; the shelter’s trained staff assists guests in applying for government benefits, finding housing, and searching for a job.

Elizabeth Durgin, a Harvard student who helps to run the shelter this year, says that it is “impossible to ignore the visibility of the homeless” in Harvard Square.

“[Homelessness] is such a devastating cycle,” she says. “It has given me perspective and helped me realize that homelessness can happen to anyone. The Harvard community, as I am sure is the case with other college communities, can obsess over little things like papers and tests, but going to the shelter is a welcomed reality check about the real challenges people face.”

What makes the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter so unique is that it is operated by student volunteers who balance books, activities, and the perks of student life with the physically and emotionally taxing task of helping the homeless. For over 25 years, the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter has prided itself on volunteers who have the strength and drive to do just that each and every day.

Colorado State University, Larimer County, Colorado

Ever wondered what 109,000 lbs. of food looks like? Head to Colorado State University during its annual Cans Around the Oval event, and you’ll find out! That’s how much food Cans Around the Oval, the largest food drive in Larimer County, CSU’s home county, collected last year to benefit the Food Bank of Larimer County. This October, Cans Around the Oval turns 22 years old and has an ambitious goal to meet: raising 100,000 pounds of food for the food bank. But judging from last year’s figure, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. If every CSU student donates 10 cans of food, the total will equal 250,000 pounds already!

Penn State University, Hershey, PA

In 1973, the Interfraternity Council at Penn State University decided to do philanthropy with a twist – quite literally. Those dedicated students created the annual Penn State Dance Marathon (a.k.a. THON), a two-day dance marathon that raises money and awareness for pediatric cancer, with funds going to the Penn State Hershey Medical Center Children’s Hospital. THON has expanded considerably since 1973; today, it is not only a prominent tradition at Penn State, but it has also become a popular charitable event at several other universities across the country. The national THON organization is now the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Penn State’s next THON is in February, so you’d better start working on your dance moves!

How To Burst The Bubble At Your School

You’ve read these examples of students reaching out into the community, and you want to start an initiative of your own to burst the bubble surrounding your school. Here’s a simple guide to organizing an outreach program that’ll send you and your peers beyond the college gates:

1. Identify a problem in your community that you’re passionate about.

   What are some of the issues that persist in the surrounding area? Among other things, you can address homelessness or raise money for a local establishment that needs it. The possibilities are virtually endless, but try to think of some of the often-overlooked problems in your community.

2. Drum up interest for your cause.

   Contact your school’s student government and the newspaper to get publicity for your new initiative. Use the best of the grassroots strategies to inform people: put up fliers, email out over list-servs, take out ads in student publications, and work whatever soapbox (literal or figurative) you’ve got!

3. Coordinate your efforts with the town/city.

   Get in touch with the local government to find out in what ways, if at all, the administration is addressing the issue. At the very least, you’ll get the word out that there’s a problem in the community that needs to be addressed, and your town will likely be receptive to your help.

4. Get creative!

   How do you get students involved in your program with so many other organizations vying for the attention of the student body? Think of creative ways in which to get them involved and keep them involved. Use social media tools like Facebook and Twitter to continuously update participants about new developments. Sponsor an event that may be unrelated to your mission but will ensure that your organization’s name is seen. Students will be more likely to remember your cause if you do something that captures their interest.

Sources:

http://www.foodnotbombs.net

http://www.middletowneyenews.blogspot.com

http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hshs

http://www.collegian.com

http://www.thon.org

Elizabeth Durgin, Harvard College ‘11