USF Students Spend Their Day Volunteering

University of Sioux Falls students spent Wednesday October 3, 2018 serving the community of Sioux Falls. More than 600 students and staff went to various organizations to volunteer for Culture for Service Day.

Event coordinator and Vice President of Student Development and Dean of Students, Corey Ross, said it was a record turnout.

“We have 500 students signed up. We love our students to get connected out into the community. We think this reflects the mission of who we really are and who our students are.”

USF students and staff went to places like the Great Plains Zoo, The Alpha Center, Feeding South Dakota, The Butterfly House, Good Samaritan, Prairie Creek, and more than thirty other locations.

Freshman, Karissa Trobec, went to The Butterfly House and said it was a very rewarding experience.

“I think my favorite part is being part of a team, serving God, myself, and the community as well as the animals that live here.”

Volunteer Coordinator, Megan Myers, at Feeding South Dakota says the USF helpers sorted nearly a thousand pounds of food.

“We appreciate every volunteer that comes through our doors. We literally couldn’t do the work, feeding as many south dakotans who need help and are dealing with food insecurity, without the volunteers who come through here. Having nearly fifty volunteers from the University of Sioux Falls is a huge thing.”

Junior, Nakita Ewest, was also a volunteer at Feeding South Dakota.

“Those who don’t have food or can’t provide for themselves are able to come here and grab what they need.”

This is the second annual USF Culture for Service Day. Corey Ross says last year the event was on a Saturday. This year in the spirit of service, the school committed to allowing the students to volunteer on a school day which Ross says made the experience valuable.