Ring-a-Ling for Volunteering

On Saturday, Nov. 17, Viterbo University teamed up with the Salvation Army to have Service Saturday participants serve as bell ringers at Red Kettle locations. The students volunteered for hours in the chilled November air starting at around nine in the morning, and staying out until the early afternoon.

Taylor Howard, Thomas MacGregor, and Caitlin Fallon are all Viterbo juniors who spent their time at the Woodman’s Market grocery store up in Onalaska.

Howard stated the primary reason she volunteers is because she is a member of the Tri-Beta Honors Society, a student organization for those with a focus and interest in the biological sciences.

“I volunteer for a lot of Service Saturdays as I enjoy putting a smile on people’s face and it’s relaxing not to think about school for a while,” says Howard.

When asked if she would do Service Saturday again, Howard stated she “would definitely do it again, as I have done it every year I’ve been at Viterbo.”

MacGregor volunteered as a part of his VUSM 300 class requirements, but does genuinely enjoy donating his time.

“It was fun to see people enthusiastic about giving and may gave us thanks for volunteering which was very nice.” He responded that he would definitely participate in another Service Saturday.

Fallon stated she wanted to volunteer “because even small donations can have a big impact with providing resources to those in need.” She talked about how important it was for these shifts to be covered, as when asked if she would participate in another Service Saturday, the Viterbo student stated that she would “definitely do it again.”

Student Sela Schroeder is one of the Service Saturday leaders. The leaders include three students who have additional responsibilities during the days of service. They drove around and delivered hot chocolate to students at the various Red Kettle locations.

Schroeder delivered warm drinks to students at the Onalaska Shopko as well as a few locations at Valley View Mall.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up through UGetConnected.com, or contact Colin Burns-Gilbert at cgburnsgilbert@viterbo.edu for more information. The next opportunity to participate will be on Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 23, and finally on April 13, as a part of the President’s Day of Service.