As snowflakes begin to fall and winter holidays creep up on us, many people get in the giving mood by donating money to charity organizations.
But when college students don't have a dollar to donate, some choose to lend a helping hand instead.
And while scooping spaghetti onto white plates in the basement of a Lansing church isn't the way most students spend their Saturday mornings, that's exactly where nursing sophomore Pam Hudson and English sophomore Jenna Delaney were last weekend.
The two spent the early part of the day serving lunch to local homeless men, women and children. Gathered in a hectic kitchen full of volunteers, the roommates got ready for the lunch rush at Christ Lutheran Church, 122 S. Pennsylvania Ave.
"Volunteering is a good way of getting involved in the community without giving money you don't have," Delaney said. "You get to see for yourself how your time helps."
Wearing name tags marked "Volunteer," Hudson and Delaney worked as runners, taking plates of food from the kitchen to the tables.
"They are so appreciative of what we are doing," Delaney said. "They say, 'God bless you,' and smile. It feels like you're really helping someone."
As members of the community service group Campus Civitan, Delaney and Hudson often volunteer in Lansing-area soup kitchens and food banks.
For college students who say they'd rather be lounging on the couch than helping others, volunteers say there's no excuse for not giving their time.
"So many students say they don't have the time to volunteer," Hudson said. "But instead of sleeping in 'til noon, you can go and volunteer 'til noon."
There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities in the East Lansing area, as well as your hometown. Whether you're willing to serve food at a soup kitchen or pack boxes at a food bank, there's a local spot that needs your help.
While many people get in the giving spirit around the holidays, most volunteer organizations run year-round efforts that often fall short in other seasons.
Dan Hicks, executive director of the Lansing City Rescue Mission, said he doesn't have a tough time recruiting volunteers during holiday times, but the rate of volunteerism in the community still isn't where it should be.
"There's no way we could do this by ourselves," he said. "We need the young volunteers to help make a difference, too. If no one helps out, we can't do our job."
The mission serves about 5,000 meals per year from its humble little kitchen and has 110 beds and mattresses for men only. Women and children are housed at other area shelters run by the mission.
The small food-serving room with wood-paneled walls was filled with tables and hungry people Tuesday as a line formed out the door for dinner. On the stove was turkey with gravy and applesauce. A salad bar manned by volunteers also had a long line forming.
Daniel Kunkleman sat at a nearby table, smiling at volunteers. Kunkleman stays at the shelter almost every night and said he'd like to see more young people volunteering at shelters and other organizations in the community.
"Thank you all so much," he said, smiling as volunteers left the shelter for the night. Kunkleman, who eats at the mission twice a day, said more people would help if they knew there were hundreds of homeless people in Lansing.
"I just don't think they realize the problems going on in the city," he said. "If they come in here, maybe they'll see a glimpse of the outside world."
Many volunteers say there's nothing like the feeling they get after they spend time helping.
"It gives me a different perspective on life and helps me not take things for granted any more," Hudson said. "I truly realize how lucky I am."
Delaney said even though she's only volunteered a handful of times, it's changed her perspective on life.
"Lots of times, I tend to think, 'Gosh, I don't have tons of money,'" she said. "But when you do volunteer, it hits you - I could be worse off."
For more information on Campus Civitan, e-mail damianb@myrealbox.com. For more information on local volunteer opportunities, visit the Service-Learning Center in room 27 of Student Services.
