Service with a group (S.W.A.G) is an initiative program formulated during the 2016 fall semester that allows Lancers to take part in community service through the Office of Citizen Leadership and Social Justice Education (C.L.S.J.E). This piloted idea was thought up by Jordan Bynum, assistant director of community learning and engagement, with the hopes that it may grow. The program is meant to give students who need or want service hours the chance to take part in a volunteer opportunity with people whom they have never met.
S.W.A.G typically hosts a community service project once a month for the time being. Each service project is a one time event and if a student wants to volunteer they fill out a quick form online to register.
“It’s once a month for now, since it’s ( S.W.A.G) a pilot for us we really just wanted to see how it would go this semester” said Bynum.
On a Saturday, last month S.W.A.G volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity in the Farmville area. The six students helped to build a house for a lady who was also on the work site helping to build her house as well.
“We went to a build site and we were able to meet the woman who the build was for, which you don’t always see, and she was helping and encouraging and doing the work on her house too so that was cool,” said Bynum.
S.W.A.G hosted another community service project at the Farmville Area Community Emergency Services (F.A.C.E.S) on Nov 12. Approximately 11 students helped around the site to clean the area and distribute food to Farmville and surrounding county citizens.
“We picked sites this semester that we already knew and had a relationship with and ones that we already send students to often so we could have a good experience,” said Bynum.
In terms of getting the word out about S.W.A.G some students involved within the program may hand out flyers with the upcoming information and there are posters around campus containing information about this program.
“The students that came out last month were all students that I have never met before, so it’s also a really cool way to meet people that you’ve never met” said Bynum.
If one is interested in registering for a service project through S.W.A.G., one can
“The hope is that it takes that one time of going out there to propel a student or to give you a taste of wanting to do more so that first serve leads to a life serve,” said Bynum.
