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WSU students gave back to the community through volunteer service projects sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement on Saturday.

Saturday, Oct. 22 marked the national “Make a Difference Day,” in which volunteers across the country came together with a single goal: improving the lives of others. The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) plans a variety of projects every year for students to become actively involved in for the benefit of the Pullman community. This year, four service opportunities were planned out: Orphan Acres Equine Rehabilitation, White Spring Ranch Museum, the Disability Action Center’s “Map-a-thon” and Senior Chores Assistance.

CCE strives to offer opportunities every student would enjoy, CCE marketing and communication coordinator Erin McIlraith said. Orphan Acres typically has students help care for horses, provide attention and clean horse stalls. White Spring Ranch gives students the chance to interact, archive and rearrange historical artifacts. The “Map-a-thon” by the Disability Action Center in Moscow has volunteers create informational maps locating wheelchair-accessible locations, lactation areas for breastfeeding mothers and gender-inclusive restrooms. With the Senior Chores Assistance, students assist local senior citizens in doing chores around their homes.

This year, four students, including CCE project leader Beth McGaughey, did yardwork and weeded the garden of Pat Lane, a Pullman community member. McGaughey, a senior majoring in civil engineering, helps facilitate students as they go out and do service projects.

“I’ve only done Senior Chores once before, but I really enjoyed it. I love working with seniors. They’re amazing people who’ve done so much for the community already,” McGaughey said.

Bailey Caruso, freshman biology major on the pre-med track, originally got involved in community service because one of her classes required it, but she soon found the variety of the projects in CCE and plans on continuing to volunteer in her free time.

Raking leaves and just helping out any way she can was something she knew she wanted to do, Caruso said. Originally from Idaho, Caruso found that working in a new community allows her to get to know more people and feel like she makes a difference.

“I really want to become a pediatrician,” Caruso said. “But I know, along the way, I’m going to have to work with seniors at some point, and that makes me as happy as working with kids.”

Kristina Umbright, coordinator for the Pullman Senior Chores program, initially spent seven years coordinating Meals on Wheels. She then became treasurer for the Pullman Community Council on Aging and started coordinating the Senior Chores program three-years ago. Umbright also works full-time at the WSU Veterinary Hospital.

Pullman has a really good community outreach program for college students, Umbright said. When she started, the gap between activities for college students and for the elderly separated the community, so Umbright set out to make a difference. Working with Dial-A-Ride for 20 years, she made strong connections with the older population.

Umbright tries to match volunteers with similar interests as the seniors they’re assisting. For example, a pre-med student was recently paired with a retired nurse, and from their shared passions they connected. The seniors in our community all have interesting pasts and amazing stories to tell, Umbright said. With matching up seniors and students, they really take the time to connect, and Umbright is always looking for more volunteers.

“When people know that they’re helping somebody that really needs it, and appreciates the help, they’re willing to step up and do whatever they can. It’s amazing,” Umbright said.

When Pat Lane, recipient of Senior Chores, requires assistance, Umbright finds volunteers to help her out around her home. Since an asthma attack a year ago, Lane cannot work in her yard anymore, but really appreciates the assistance provided and strongly believes in community service, she said.

Lane formerly volunteered as a “Pink Lady” at Pullman Regional Hospital. Pink Ladies previously assisted nurses in improving the well-being of patients, Lane said. She wrote thank you notes on behalf of patients for flowers and other get-well presents, read mail to those who couldn’t read, brought patients juice and fresh water and any small task that made hospital stays as comfortable as possible.

While students weeded her yard, Lane hosted a “menagerie” bazaar in her living room. Christmas decorations, antiques and crocheted gifts filled the display tables. Homemade loaves of bread, pies, jams, lemon bars and candies were set on a table. The majority of proceeds went to the food bank and to a local church, while she keeps a small amount to fund next year’s supplies. Lane usually holds bazaars once a year and plans on doing the same next year.

“Make a Difference Day” happens on the fourth Saturday of October every year, and the CCE plans community service days every semester. WSU students can sign up for activities through CougSync or by contacting a peer mentor in the CCE Student Resource Center.