NORWICH – In an effort to make a positive impact on teens and the community each semester, Professor Cyndi Riedi’s students at the Morrisville State College Norwich Campus team up for a Service Learning Project.
The various projects – which involve researching a specific population within the community and addressing its needs – are based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, typically described as a theoretical pyramid, said Riedi. The lower levels of the pyramid represent a population’s most basic needs – such as food, water, sleep and shelter – while the more complex needs are at the top.
“In Chenango County, we have a fairly large percentage of our population who are struggling to meet their most basic needs, and the current economy has increased the numbers of people needing help to meet those needs,” said Riedi. “My students have designed projects that are meant to help some of our disadvantaged residents.”
Each project is unique, added Riedi, and all six will be completed by the end of April, with the exception of Psychology 101 students Ernie Franklin and Jennifer Lovelace’s presentation on American veterans and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which will be held in early May.
That presentation will include a number of guest speakers who will detail the causes and symptoms of PTSD, as well as how to interact with those suffering from the disorder, said Riedi. And while it’s aimed at college faculty and students, it will also be open to the public, she added.
Olivia Taylor, A.J. Zimmer, Chelsea Estelow, Michael Perez, Jessica Strough, Danielle Lorimer, Nadine Spencer and Anita Hopkins – also Psychology 101 students – planned a food drive to benefit Catholic Charities of Chenango’s Roots and Wings program. The group has placed collection jars and boxes throughout the city and the Norwich Campus, and are also collecting monetary donations for the Chenango County SPCA.
“In our current economy, many families struggle to meet their own basic needs and the needs of their pets,” said Riedi. “For some, their only companionship is their pet, and my students hope to make it easier for disadvantaged families to keep their pets.”
Psychology 101 students Jacqui Rayne, Jamie Kratz, Catherine Benenati, Beverly Combes and Samantha Larrabee focused on collecting gently used clothing, appropriate for the summer months and back-to-school, also to be donated to the local Roots and Wings program. Nicknamed The Great Closet Cleanout, the group has placed collection boxes in various locations in Norwich, Oxford and Afton, which will be collected the week of April 10, added Riedi.
The fourth Psychology 101 group – made up of Tara Ossont, Gina Fryer, Toni Campbell, Leann Supensky and Heather Patrick – plan to volunteer at the St. Bartholomew Soup Kitchen for several hours throughout the month of April, said Riedi. In addition, the students will be collecting money to aid the kitchen in buying necessary equipment.
Riedi’s Psychology 242 class split into two groups for this semester’s Service Learning Project. The first – comprised of Josh Simons, Samantha Wackford, Nicole Thompson, Tasha Butts, Mike Collier, Erica Beckert, Zlanweah Morlu and Stephanie Vance – will host an Educational Fun Day from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on April 29 at The Place, 22 East Main St.
The event will feature a variety of games and activities designed to teach teenagers some valuable lessons in life, including table manners, appropriate dress and tips on a successful job interview. The group is also collecting donations of toiletries and school supplies for teens in need, which will be distributed to those who frequent The Place, added Riedi.
Fellow Psychology 242 students Amy Rowe, Wanda Wills, Heather LaBar and Sabrina Meyers teamed up for a second toiletry drive, which will be distributed to disadvantaged teens currently enrolled with BOCES. Again, donation boxes have been placed countywide, as well as jars for monetary donations.
“Food Stamp recipients, including a lot of students, can’t purchase a lot of toiletry items such as sanitary supplies, body wash, laundry detergent and shampoo, stuff that’s essential,” said Rowe. “We just wanted to get involved because these students are the future of the community and it’s a way to boost their confidence. It was quite alarming to learn that people receiving assistance can not purchase these necessities.”
Labar said she believed it important to realize the number of young students out there who face ridicule on a daily basis due to their inability to meet society’s expectations when it comes to cleanliness. Hopefully, she added, these Service Learning Projects will help all involved feel more confident and more comfortable in the classroom and the community.
“Each group has put together a unique and interesting project,” added Riedi. “As their instructor, I am very proud of them for their hard work and determination to help those less fortunate than themselves.”
For more information or to make a donation contact Riedi at 334-5144.