RVCC Volunteers Go The Extra Mile

By Richard Chen

Leaves rustle as paper bags laden with donated foods pile into a school bus’ opened rear door. Logs plopping while landing in waterlogged mud piles while the soft plucking noise of plants being pulled blends into the airy silence. These are the sounds of RVCC’s volunteers making a difference.

On Friday, October 24, 15 RVCC students, faculty and staff visited the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Northern New Jersey to volunteer for National Make a Difference Day. Athletics and Recreation Equipment Coordinator Greg Jackson, Student Activities Head Mary Sullivan, Student Activities Coordinator Rebecca Zelenty and 12 RVCC volunteers spent their later mornings and afternoons with the Somerset County Parks Commission to further the refuge’s conservation efforts.

USA Today’s Weekend Magazine and its nearly 600 carrier newspaper sponsor National Make a Difference Day [http://www.usaweekend.com/ diffday/] the fourth Saturday of each October.

A nationally recognized refuge for wildlife appreciation and conservation and bird watching, the Great Swamp stretches from Basking Ridge in Somerset County to Chatham in Essex County. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Somerset County Parks Commission and the Morris County Park Commission maintain and guard the 7,500 acres.

As the volunteers entered the forest, the Parks Commission pointed at cut and accumulated logs. Dirtiness and physical labor aside, pairs of volunteers moved the heavy logs to an area for paint application and finishing. After two hours of chat mixed with labor and lunch, the Parks Commission led a dozen volunteers hiking deep into the habitat’s furthest reaches on the Orange Trail. Carefully learning about blighted plant species and their culprits, volunteers pulled unwanted vegetation to prevent continued plant infestation. The volunteerism’s sense of greater good raised the preserve’s future and value for the nation.

The next morning, six RVCC student volunteers, with Mary Sullivan of Student Activities, drove to Our Lady of Lourdes in Readington for the annual Food Pantry Drive. There volunteers were busily weighing and sorting incoming donations. Student Government President Sean Lerch, friend Laura Senkowsky and Pi Theta Kappa (PTK) member Eric Lauritven also arrived, ready to volunteer.

As Sullivan guided the college van along Readington’s residential roads, students spotted and collected donations from driveways. Pink tags on paper bags and a relaxed pace eased the task, whose simplicity underscored how easily any citizen can make a difference. Filled and weighty bags encouraged the volunteers’ retrievals as homeowners saw their donations being collected. Between sightings, students spoke of their volunteerism interests, which lacked organization or opportunities until last year’s Volunteer Team’s creation.

As a PTK cooperative activity, member and PTK Fellowship head Christine Serra noted, “Anything we do as a PTK member, especially volunteering for service, makes recognition better for the club and the college and is respecting oneself as humanity.” She added, “I’m also encouraging needed fellowship amongst student organizations.”

Student volunteers George Baker and Richard Pullman found this opportunity through Student Activities publicity and Sullivan’s creation of a Volunteer Team core group. Latino Club President Elena Nolasco and Student Government Secretary Jeidy Irazarry agreed and enthusiastically hoped for more continued service.

Other volunteers included Local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, the Anderson House, Our Lady of Lourdes Youth Group and residents. The Readington Township Board of Education donated a township school bus to complement local residents’ vehicles to run routes covering every township street. Without volunteerism and resident generosity, this direct assistance program would never meet local families in need.

Suzanna Anderson, program founder and director, noted that “this day shows how everyone can help.” The organized delegation and shortness of the day’s charity were designed to foster participation.

This year is the Volunteer Committee of Readington Township’s fourth and RVCC’s first year of participation. Last year’s donations topped 2,000 pounds, which was entirely sorted by local children volunteers. Starfish, a local food bank, and the Flemington Food Pantry receive all donations.

Student Activities’ Volunteer Team began last year with research, organization and outreach at Orientation Day Picnics, All College Days, and Clubs Fairs. Interests became action in monthly projects with open participation. Student Activities Coordinator and volunteer Sandra Serrano noted, “There are certainly more who would want to do [volunteerism].”

RVCC’s Volunteer Team’s next activity is Wednesday, November 19th starting at 4:00 with Languages Professor Aaron Merino to aid a NYC homeless shelter. Contact Sullivan or Serrano in Student Activities for information or to participate.