Community Service, Not Punishment

            The Appalachian Center for Community Service (ACCS) offers an excellent outlet for opportunities in community service and social justice for any interested students. The center is not just about volunteerism, but is also about creating positive social change and dealing with root causes of social inequities. This attempt to create change through social justice was evident in the center’s Martin Luther King, Jr. events that took place throughout January.

The ACCS is also very valuable for its community service opportunities. “It is my goal to change the attitude toward service here at Emory & Henry from that of punishment to it being a privilege,” Coordinator of Campus Service Programs, Amy Braswell said. During MLK week, a cleanup day at Rush Creek, a local community, was incorporated as a day of service.

Braswell explained that there are many opportunities for service at Emory that are available to students through the ACCS. “Many times we think only of community service in terms of punishment for doing something wrong, however major or minor the offense. I would love to see the day that students embrace service as a privilege they have, as an opportunity to give back to their community and society” Braswell stated.

“There are so many ways that we can work together within this Emory & Henry community to impact our region but it starts with simply getting out there and getting involved,” Braswell said.

            Public Policy and Community Service student Joni Ritter has found her niche in being involved in the community service projects offered at Emory. “Service, to me, is like a quilt” Ritter said. “It sews and bonds many different pieces of the world or people together of all colors, social classes, and places to make them a unified whole which is stronger than any individual piece would be alone.”

            Ritter participated for her second year in a hurricane Katrina relief effort over spring break. Her view of community service is entirely positive. “I hope that people will realize the need in our own communities as well as in others world-wide for community service” Ritter said.

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