UCO’s Volunteer Service Learning Center (VSLC) organizes service projects and events around serving the local community. The Vista caught up with VSLC Assistant Director Brandt Smith to see what they have planned for the year.
The Vista: What do you guys have going on in the coming weeks and months?
Smith: We just finished with Broncho Difference, which is our kick-off service project. What we did this year was something called “Love Luggage Project,” where we held a community-wide luggage drive, where people brought all these bags and stuff to the University Center, as well as about 120 or so pieces of suitcase luggage. Students painted those and decorated them in order to be given to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, in order to be given out to foster kids. On the ninth of September, we have the 9/11 service project. We’re not doing it on 9/11, because that’s on a Sunday; many students won’t be here or won’t be available. What we’re doing with that is we’re planting American flags out around Broncho Lake to commemorate those who lost their lives during the 9/11 attacks, and we also take students around to 20 or so fire departments and they prepare a meal for the firefighters there. And then, after that Poverty Awareness Week is next. (Poverty Awareness Week) is going to be on the week of October 9.
The Vista: And that is the week in which everyone goes out in boxes?
Smith: Yes. Poverty Awareness Week includes Shack-A-Thon, where students simulate poverty in order to build awareness that not everyone gets to live at the standard that we as college students get to.
The Vista: And what else goes on during Poverty Awareness Week?
Smith: This year we are going to be including a poverty luncheon, where students pay a dollar for a meal, and they will choose out of a hat or a bowl, and they find out what “class” they get to eat as. So it will range from a meal of, like filet mignon, or a steak, or ribs or something, down to sharing a bowl of rice with someone else to experience that; again, not everyone gets to live at the same level we do. We’ll hopefully also have a presentation from an organization called 1.4 Billion Reasons. They came at the beginning of summer and gave a presentation about their mission: bringing awareness to extreme poverty. Hopefully they’ll join us, and that’s all I can think of as a part of that.
To get involved with any of the VSLC’s upcoming events stop by their office on the third floor of the Nigh University Center across from the bookstore, next to the Greek Life office.