By Katherine Gibson (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: May 8, 2013
In the midst of frantic essay-writing and late-night cram sessions, getting involved with local communities is an aspect of university life that students often overlook – but not Jessica Griffiths.
A recent graduate from UFV’s hospitality and event planning program, Griffiths worked this year as a student liaison for the United Way (UW) charity, an organization that oversees the collection of donations to smaller non-profit groups.
“This was a brand new position that [UFV] created this year,” Griffiths explains. “The university provided the funding for a four-month contract, in order to test the student response to being involved with this organization.”
During her contract, Griffiths was able to create a small committee of students eager to help UW. One of the main events that this group was able to accomplish was a toonie drive.
“At [UFV’s] trades campus, we stood on either side of the cafeteria line,” she says, “and gave students the option to donate any extra change that they had.”
Griffiths and other volunteers were able to collect $140 worth of toonies in half an hour
This kind of student response and support leads Jessica to believe that students are eager to give.
However, it is not the financial collections that Griffiths feels is most vital to her liaison position or to students involvement with UW.
“I think the main focus should be about spreading awareness,” she explains. “That way students know how much UW does for our local communities and how many people they are helping, and will be able to help in the future.”
Beyond simply aiding the UW’s chartable actions, her involvement with this charity has also left a lasting mark on her own personal life.
“[This experience] has changed me for the rest of my life,” Griffiths says. “I will always keep in contact with the people I have met at the charities.”
“I was completely honoured to have met the people that I did,” she continues, “and I know that if everyone got the chance to see what I have seen and hear the stories that I have heard – students would want to be involved.”
The UW liaison position will continue into the next school year,and Griffiths is optimistic about what the new liaison will accomplish.
“I’ve planted the seeds,” she says. “My hope now is that someone will get the opportunity to water them.”
