THE VOLUNTEER SPIRIT
Saluting Student Service at the College of Charleston
Christina Blais, Logan Gibson, Matt Harmon and Keon Rhodan
Students Team Up to Helping Crisis Ministries

by Amanda Deitsch
Comm Students
From left:  Matt Harmon, Keon Rhodan,
Logan Gibson and Christina Blais
Christina Blais, Logan Gibson, Matt Harmon, and Keon Rhodan are students in Professor Deborah McGee's Small Group Communication class.  As a semester-long project, the class work toward identifying a problem or a need within the Charleston community that can be solved over the course of the term. 

For their small group project Christina, Logan, Matt, and Keon decided to partner with St. Andrews Elementary School of Math and Science to collect cans of food for the Crisis Ministries Program located on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston.  The quartet has worked hard to acquire more than 5,000 cans of food over a period of only one week. 

The class volunteer experience has been just the latest community service work performed by the members of this foursome who, as you'll read below, have had The Volunteer Spirit for some time. 


   
 
Christina Blais
Hometown:  West Hartford, Connecticut
Degree Objective:  Communication Major/Hospitality &
Tourism Minor

Logan Gibson
Hometown:  Charleston, South Carolina
Degree Objective:  Communication
Matt Harmon
Hometown:  Fairfax, Virginia
Degree Objective:  Communication
Keon Rhodan
Hometown:  Charleston, South Carolina 
Degree Ojbective:  Communication
What is the groups’ current volunteer activity?  Christina, Logan, Matt, and Keon have partnered with St. Andrews School of Math and Science in collecting more than 5,000 cans of food for Crisis Ministries in downtown Charleston.
What are you most proud of contributing to your organization?  We are most proud of the effort that the local elementary school has given to the community in acquiring thousands of cans of food to support Crisis Ministries in downtown Charleston.  In an effort for our group to help Crisis Ministries we decided that by working with the local elementary school we felt as if we not only contributed to Crisis Ministries but also to the education of elementary school students to understand the importance of community service.
What are some of the previous volunteer activities that individuals in your group have been involved in?  Habitat for Humanity, Food Drives, Nursing Home, Soup Kitchens, Homeless Shelters
What do you enjoy about community service?  Logan:  I enjoy working in soup kitchens during the holidays because there are numerous people there and they are excited to see you helping.  Keon:  I enjoy helping Habitat for Humanity in building new houses.  Not only do we help those in need, the teamwork that is reached is phenomenal.
What have you learned about yourself through volunteering?  Christina:  I have learned that I have much to give to others and I now understand how blessed I am for the things I have in life.  Matt:  I have learned that I have a blessed life.  I have learned not to take the small things in life for granted.
How do you think your friends or co-workers would describe you?  Christina:  outgoing and funny; Logan:  hard working, outgoing, and friendly; Matt:  funny, determined, and opinionated;  Keon:  charismatic and hard working
What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering?  Logan:  The volunteer experience is a fulfilling experience and a good activity to perform to keep balance in your life.  Keon:  The experience is worth the hard work and dedication because people are so thankful and you realize how blessed you are compared to others.

For more information about Crisis Ministries:    Call Crisis Ministries at (843)723-9477 or visit www.crisis-ministries.org

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