Doing an act of charity is a humanitarian endeavor. One “Senior Seminar” class benefited humanity last Saturday by spending their Saturday afternoon serving homeless women and children.
By Jeremy Barrick
Online Editor
Doing an act of charity is a humanitarian endeavor. One “Senior Seminar” class benefited humanity last Saturday by spending their Saturday afternoon serving homeless women and children.
The class, taught by Michael Niccol’s, an adjunct professor of mathematics, went to the Welcome Home Shelter in Greensburg. They spent their day cleaning, scrubbing down bathrooms, vacuuming carpets, wiping down baseboards and other cleaning tasks. The class also prepared the shelter for spring and Easter by decorating. They hung wall hangings, streamers, and tablecloths. The class entertained the children with an Easter egg hunt. Hard-boiled eggs were used in the hunt and were donated by Seton Hill University students. A festive meal was dished out to the patrons of the shelter as well.
“I’d like to think that we accomplished something meaningful, if not by our words, but in our actions. Perhaps when these women and children are in a better position they’ll remember how a group of students reached out to help them to try and make a difference and then try to do the same for someone in need,” said Marlene Grasha, a senior.
Upon finishing their duties, students left the shelter with a sense of fulfillment. Their efforts were strictly voluntary, although the project was a requirement for the course.
“It was an effort that I will never forget. I feel like we, as a team, made a difference in peoples’ lives,” said John Tempo, a senior.
“I went into this project hoping to do some cleaning at the shelter. Although that part of the project was accomplished successfully, I feel there was a more profound sense of hope instilled into the individuals we came in contact with. I feel we gave them inspiration to look to the future and once again believe in themselves. I’m not sure who got more out of the day, the individuals at the shelter or me,” said Roseanne Sanders, a senior.
Teamwork and hard work paid off for the students as well as the families at the shelter. They left that Saturday afternoon leaving an impact on the homeless and impoverished citizens of the Greensburg community.
“The project was a very rewarding experience for me as it was something that I had always wanted to do and finally got the chance. We all came together and accomplished our plan of action for the day in the allotted time. What a great group,” said Tina Gower, a senior. “My feeling of reward comes from the smiles on the kids’ faces and knowing that I made their morning with the activities I had them do,”.