During the 2023 Giving Tuesday campaign, the Kent Student Ambassadors, a Kent State University professional and service oriented student organization, found new ways of giving back to the community. In the month of November, they created and planned volunteer activities that supported the university community and greater Northeast Ohio region.
“Giving Tuesday is Kent State University’s most generous annual tradition, and it was wonderful to see our students contribute to the campaign in this way,” said Melanie Secre, assistant director of communications and co-advisor of the Kent Student Ambassadors. “Helping the university community is something our students are passionate about, and they really embraced this opportunity to give back in ways that are meaningful to them.”
Lauren Klodt, president of the Student Ambassadors and a senior at Kent State, planned an activity where the group created more than 50 holiday cards to be delivered with meals for Meals on Wheels, a network of 5,000 community-based programs across the country dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation.
“I wanted to find a way to not only make an impact on the Kent community, but also the Northeast Ohio community and bring some joy to the people who receive these meals,” Klodt said. “As college students, it can be difficult to give financially, but bringing it to the student level by giving our time to volunteer and help others is something that we can all do.”
Making the holiday cards was a chance to bring some holiday cheer to people who need it most; while the holiday season is a source of joy for many, it can also bring feelings of grief and loneliness. The Student Ambassadors enjoyed this opportunity to connect with each other while doing something meaningful.
At the end of November, the group completed another service project, this time in partnership with Kent State’s Community Engaged Learning. Together, they made toys for dogs and cats with old T-shirts that will be donated to the Portage County Animal Shelter.
“It was awesome bringing all of the Student Ambassadors together for a community service activity in celebration of Giving Tuesday. It's great to give back to the local community however we can,” said Anna Spagnola, current Kent State graduate student, Kent Student Ambassador member and community chair and organizer of this activity.
The Student Ambassadors also participated in individual service activities to help the campaign. A few of them volunteered at the Street Outreach Service Shelter where they packed hygiene bags for distribution and organized the shelter’s storage. Other students designed mental health journals that will be distributed in homeless shelters and some created Thanksgiving placemats for residents at a nursing home.
Throughout the month of November, the Student Ambassadors accumulated nearly 100 hours of community service, helping spread Kent State spirit during this season of giving.