What can I do to help someone today? That is what the people of the Social Work Organization (SWO) at Shippensburg University often ask themselves every day. SWO has undergraduate social work majors come together to participate in community-based projects.
Charlene Lane, the assistant adviser of SWO, has been a part of the organization since arriving at SU more than two years ago. SWO is involved with various forms of community outreach. SWO works extensively with Homeless Connect, which is a state-wide organization that helps homeless people know of different services that are available to them. Other volunteer work that SWO does includes helping out at the local senior center, taking part in the AIDS walk and cleaning up the community.
Being involved in SWO is not only very important for social work majors, but also gerontology minors.
“It serves as a clearing house for the service learning project,” Lane said.
The service learning project is a project that all gerontology minors have to take part in. Each student has to volunteer with someone 65 years or older and then write a reflection about their experiences with them. Students also have to volunteer with each older adult for a certain number of hours, typically ranging from 12-15 hours. Students usually volunteer at local places in Shippensburg, but can branch out to Chambersburg and Harrisburg.
SWO not only helps students fulfill their required volunteer hours, but also helps them form relationships. It helps them get more familiar with and meet new people who are also social work majors.
Natalie Scherfel, the president of SWO, is working with other members to plan a fundraiser. They are planning to sell Gertrude Hawk chocolate to raise money and host a bingo night for the fall that would be open to all students and the community. Scherfel said the organization made T-shirts and is selling them to students within the major.
Social work majors are automatically members of SWO, but other students are welcome to get involved. The next SWO meeting is in Shippen Hall in Room 370 on Thursday, March 24 at 3:30 p.m.
The Slate welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.