Ball State University is taking a proactive approach to commemorating the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
For the first time, Student Voluntary Services and the United Way of Delaware County are partnering to provide students with five different opportunities to volunteer to honor Patriot Day.
"National Day of Service is a fantastic opportunity for BSU students to volunteer and a great way for them to get to know the community and show the community that they're involved and engaged," Hillary Tribbett, manager of marketing and communications at the United Way of Delaware County, said.
Instead of wallowing and immersing ourselves in the sadness of the day, today's event is a time to honor America and remember those directly affected and those who have given their time to pick up the pieces following the attacks, Kathy Smith, an associate director of Student Life and adviser at Student Voluntary Services, said.
SVS has worked to give as many students as possible the chance to help out. Starting at 8:30 a.m. and going until 5:30 p.m., students have the option of going to five different locations around Muncie and helping with five different projects. Each project involves a two-hour commitment.
"It's a way to do something good, to make something good out of something negative," Smith said.
The first of the five is at the Muncie Mission, a faith-based, not-for-profit organization that works throughout East Central Indiana with the needy and poor.
The second is working with Rebuilding Together, an agency that works with the elderly and disabled residents of Muncie, building and rebuilding homes for them.
The third project is with Back to School Teacher's Store, a not-for-profit store in town that collects gently used school supplies and provides them to teachers in the Delaware County area for free.
The fourth group is the Boys and Girls Club of Muncie, described as a positive place for kids throughout America that provides them with learning and growing opportunities, recreation and a caring, loving environment.
The last project is with the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana. This organization provides food to the needy of eight different counties in the area, including Delaware County.
SVS also sponsors a service project the second Saturday of each month to accommodate schedules of students who may not have time to volunteer during the week.
The Second Saturday Service Project for September will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Volunteers will serve at the Muncie Children's Museum and will assist the staff in cleaning and maintaining materials used in "The Basement," their annual haunted house.
With these opportunities, Smith said she has no doubt that Ball State students can make a difference because the focus of the National Day of Service is not just to honor Sept. 11, but to also get students interested and excited about volunteering.
"I think that Ball State has a great opportunity to volunteer and do something positive in the Muncie community," Smith said.
The National Day of Service is a day for students to make the time and effort to help other people in the community, Tribbett said.
"The great thing is that United Way is promoting lifestyle change," she said. "We want people to take ownership of their community, using their time and talents to advocate and volunteer."
Smith also sees three important reasons for Ball State students to volunteer.
"One, Ball State as an institution, as a university, one of our missions is to create good citizens, not only of the community but of the world they live in," Smith said.
Volunteering is an avenue students can take that teaches them how to become a good citizen, what that means and what responsibilities come with citizenry, she said.
Second, volunteering can help students get a glimpse of some of the problems in society.
"It's going to bring to light social injustices in the world," Smith said. "People live with blinders on."
Third, gaining hands-on experience that cannot be found elsewhere will help college students later in life, she said.
Today's job market is about more than getting the degree; it's about the experiences gained along the way.
"You're going to be able to put some things in action and learn some skills that are going to boost your résumé," Smith said.
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