By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – The College of Natural and Social Sciences at the University of Nebraska at Kearney is encouraging its students, staff and faculty to be of service to the community.
A committee was recently formed to initiate community service projects for the college.
“UNK is part of the larger Kearney community, and we have gifts and resources that we can offer,” said Claude Louishomme, associate professor of political science. “We can make a difference.”
The college’s first community service project is collecting medical supplies for the HelpCare Clinic, a health care clinic that serves uninsured in Buffalo and Kearney counties.
Collection bins will be placed across campus Monday (Nov. 7) through Nov. 18. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to donate new and unopened Advil Liqui-Gels, Children’s Motrin, aspirin, hydrocortisone cream, Claritin, ducosate stool softener, Monistat vaginal ointment, sodium chloride nasal spray, body lotion, Band-Aids, head lice shampoo and combs, and triple antibiotic ointment.
Students will also be volunteering their time packing food in elementary students’ lockers as part of the Kearney Public Schools Backpack Program. The program aims to make sure no student goes hungry outside of school.
KPS partners with the Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha to provide food for students in need. The food bank packages and delivers food to schools across the state including some Kearney elementary schools.
Chronically hungry students are identified by staff members at elementary schools. The food is discreetly placed in students lockers on Fridays. Each child in the household receives one bag of food that contains enough supplemental meals for the weekend.
The committee will also begin fundraising efforts to create a memorial fund in honor of College of Natural and Social Sciences students who have died or suffered tragedies. Sophomore political science major Marlene Rashidi of Lincoln was killed in June. Junior computer science major Teautla Zimmerman of Beatrice died in September. The funds will be used to commemorate the students. Details have yet to be determined.
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Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
Source: Claude Louishomme, 308.865.8629, louishommeca@unk.edu
