Dear Kelly,
I enjoy volunteering for community outreach; however, I haven’t been as involved as I would like to be due to the pandemic. How can I find out about community service projects in the area that I can become a part of?
Wow, what a phenomenal question! Mercer University values service; in fact, it’s integrated throughout its mission statement. Mercer’s ultimate goal is to inspire its students to become world changers, and through volunteering in the community, you embrace that goal.
There are several offices you can connect with to identify incredible service opportunities. To begin with, I would research the Mercer website and click on the magnifying glass in the upper corner. That magnifying glass connects you to all things “Mercer.” By searching the word “volunteer,” you will find a plethora of resources available to help you with your desire to serve your community.
Remember, Mercer is devoted to empowering students to discover their gifts and talents to serve the needs of all humankind. Because of that, the University is dedicated to ensuring volunteer resources are easily accessible. After looking on the website, the second thing you can do is reach out to offices that connect students to community service opportunities.
Who you contact depends a lot on which campus you attend. For instance, if you are a Macon student, I would first contact the Center for Community Engagement. The Center for Community Engagement connects students who have a passion for service to various one-time service projects and ongoing opportunities throughout Macon-Bibb County.
For Atlanta students, I recommend reaching out to the Office of Student Affairs. They will connect you with service projects in and around the Atlanta campus.
For the Regional Academic Centers in Douglas County and Henry County, contact their coordinators, who are fantastic resources for community involvement in their areas. Their contact information is:
- Douglas County Regional Academic Center: Justin Brown, (678) 547-6516; or Lou Robinson Jr., (678) 547-6489
- Henry County Regional Academic Center: Myself, Kelly Browning, (678) 547-6231
In addition, remember that you can also reach out to your academic advisers, as they may know of specific service-learning opportunities available that coincide with your particular academic program.
As you can see, service is at the heart of Mercer’s commitment to graduating students who are dedicated to changing the world. And your question already exhibits the passion you have to give to others through your gifts and talents, and hopefully, through asking it, you will inspire others to do the same.
Good luck in all your endeavors, and as always, I wish you health, happiness and continued success throughout your journey!
Kelly Browning, a master’s student and student success coordinator at the Henry County Regional Academic Center, answers questions from the Mercer community. Email her at kelly.l.browning@live.mercer.edu or fill out our online form to submit your question anonymously.
