Sociology: Serving the Community
Inspired by Matthew 25:35-36, and in accordance with Sociology’s mission to contribute to the public good, the department will organize several Serve Days throughout the year. Students, staff, and faculty will partner with several nonprofit organizations like Meals on Wheels and The Invisible Girl Project. Serve days will consist of providing meals, organizing social events, and making Christmas gifts and cards for agency clients. We will also deliver coffee and breakfast to social service and criminal justice professionals.
Giving Day 2023 Update Giving Day 2023 funds were used to purchase supplies for our Serve Day events including Christmas ornament kits, card writing kits, bracelet making kits, and breakfast for local law enforcement. We wound up raising more than our goal so we expanded our efforts beyond Meals on Wheels.Why should donors support this fund?
Sociology and Criminal Justice Serve Day will support student learning efforts. This project is focused on two of the department’s student learning objectives: The first enables students to appreciate the role of research in solving human problems and strengthening human well-being. Related to this objective, students will review the research on loneliness which indicates a five-year increase in feelings of isolation.
Our partnership with Meals on Wheels and the Invisible Girl Project will address this issue and expand our reputation and outreach efforts in the community. Our plan to serve breakfast to social service and criminal justice professionals enables students to express gratitude, while also expanding their network. Students also benefit because volunteer work is increasingly necessary for acceptance to graduate school and to compete in the social services labor market.
The second learning objective is for students to learn how to live and work as a Christ-following sociologists. Our serve days are inspired by Matthew 25. The service project also aligns with the mission of Vanguard University, specifically to equip each student for a Spirit-empowered life of Christ-centered leadership and service.
Student Impact
"Sociology's serve day was a fun and rewarding experience where I got to meet more staff, faculty, and students from Vanguard and learn about how Vanguard reaches out to help the community, and further places abroad. I loved being a part of something impactful especially as a Christian and Sociology major." Grace Fullmer ‘24
How will the funds be used?
The funds will be used to purchase supplies related to the social events we organize and the holiday gifts and cards we make for senior citizens and clients of The Invisible Girl Project. We will also use funds for breakfast supplies for social service and criminal justice professionals.