CMU Students volunteer at Renaissance Academy

By: Amanda Crabtree

Students from Central Michigan University volunteered their time to students at Renaissance Public School Academy, last Wednesday.

Twelve members of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority gave one-on-one time to 31 students between the morning and afternoon preschool class of Amy Lucas.

Lucas has taught at Renaissance Academy for nine years and has never had volunteers come into her classroom, she said.

The girls who volunteered intended to come read with the children, but Lucas said they ended up following the children around the room doing art projects, coloring and some reading.

The Tri Sigma Sororities philanthropy slogan is “Sigma’s serve children,” so this was a great opportunity for the sorority to make a difference and help local children.

“If there were more volunteers, we would definitely do this again,” Lucas said, “because the experience was so well perceived by the children.”

While Maureen Kelly, a Muskegon sophomore and Tri Sigma member, had fun playing with the children, she could see they did not get volunteers often because there was no structure to their time with the children, she said

“She didn’t introduce us to the kids, and they don’t really talk to adults they don’t know,” Kelly said.

Overall, the children and Tri Sigma’s both enjoyed the experience and benefited from it.

“It’s nice to have fun and know you are making an impact just by playing with the children,” said Alyssa Strickland, Grand Rapids senior.

“Our chapter is now discussing the possibility of doing this more frequently and I think its a great way to get more involved with philanthropic type activities in our community,” said Dana Oselett, Education Director of Tri Sigma.

Edited by: Sarah Schuch and Meredith Mayberry