North Idaho College students and faculty brought friends and family out for the spring 2018 Day of Service event on Saturday, April 27th.
This semester the event had a lower turnout than expected, causing the NIC beach clean-up to be cancelled. Teams did make it to several other non-profits. ASNIC President-Elect Peter Soderberg led a group to Kiwanis Park in Post Falls where they aided in thinning trees to allow more light to penetrate to the undergrowth.
“I love the outdoors and hiking, so being able to clean up outdoors and make them better, and our local parks especially, is a great way to give back to the community,” Soderberg said. “I think parks, community gardens and non-profits are a huge part of this community, and we have the ability right now as NIC students to volunteer and give back.”
Another group led by ASNIC senator Montana Dobbs headed to the Community Roots Gathering Garden on the NIC campus. There, the group of volunteers was directed by the garden’s manager Jessica Mannon on the chores and cleanup to get ready for the spring planting. Not only does the food grown here in the garden go to local food banks and even the volunteers, NIC’s culinary arts program has recently been working with the garden to bring their fresh produce onto the menu.
“This year we will be growing arugula, basil, maybe some kale among other things for Emery’s,” says Mannon.
Other volunteer groups went to the Shared Harvest Community Garden to help prepare them for spring as well. ASNIC senator led a small group to the Human Rights Education Institute where they helped clean up and prepare for some painting projects.
A small selection of breakfast items, drinks and lunches were sponsored by STCU and put together by dining services, including vegan and gluten-free options for the volunteers.
“I think it’s important to get everybody involved in any community, whether it be my family or friends, or anyone really,” said Shawn Wilbur, who had brought along her daughter and her friend to help volunteer for the Day of Service. “We had signed up for the NIC beach cleanup, but they didn’t have enough volunteers show up today, so they asked if we wouldn’t mind coming out here. It’s still outdoors and it’s still helping the community.”
