BUIES CREEK – Campbell University’s Psychology Club resolved to increase its community service this academic year, and so far, it’s off to a great start.
The club has been active with three projects this fall, according to club President Sam Faulkner. The first involves Noah’s Landing, a nonprofit zoo that houses more than 60 exotic animals.
The club visited the zoo on Aug. 28, immediately after Hurricane Irene brought rain in relatively strong winds to the area, to help clean up leaves and limbs and pick up wind-blown chairs and tables.
A group of 12 club members and friends brightened the face of zoo caretaker Dora by lightening her load in preparing for the Labor Day “spectacular” planned for the following weekend.
“It is our goal as representatives of the club and of Campbell University to be committed to service, and Dora provided us with not only an opportunity to help, but an interesting and informative trip to the zoo,” Faulkner said.
The club joined other Campbell volunteers on Sept. 10 for the university’s 9-11 Day of Service. The Psychology Club traveled to Erwin to assist an elderly lady whose house was left in pieces after the tornado that ravaged Harnett County on April 16.
The path of the tornado was directly over the top of her house. Five months later, she was still struggling to put her possessions and her life back together.
“As a group, we consolidated her possessions in a more orderly fashion and consolidated garbage, drywall and wood into piles to be picked up by the Campbell University Physical Plant,” Faulkner said. “The pain and anguish of having your life literally ripped and tossed around was distinctive within this lady’s face and left a mark on all of us, not soon to be forgotten.
The club, in collaboration with Micro-Pine Level Elementary School Counselor Abigail Stephenson, has recently attempted to gather food resources for elementary school children. These resources consist of meal items, healthy snacks and drink items that are used to pack two meals a week in a backpack.
Each backpack is sent home with a child who may not otherwise have a meal to eat over the weekend. A box has been placed in the second floor of Taylor Hall to collect needed items.
Since the beginning of the collection effort, two loads of supplies have been forwarded to Micro-Pine Level Elementary School. The club’s goal is to donate a minimum of 15 meals per month during the school year.