Local Opportunity for Student Service

Only a five-minute walk from EMU, the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) has become an easy place for students to get involved.

EMU requires all students to take at least three Community Learning classes during their four years. These classes range from First Year Seminar and Colloquium: Cities to International Business. Classes designated as Community Learning require students to log at least 15 and sometimes up to 40 community learning hours. Many students have found VMRC a good place to fulfill those hours.

"It's in walking distance, and if you don't have a car that's a boon," said first year Kevin Butrick. Butrick supervised the VMRC computer lab to fill FYS service hours last semester. He said he enjoyed meeting the residents and appreciated their different perspective. According to Butrick, one lady was writing a book of her great grandmother's memoirs at the time. "I really enjoyed helping her with that," he said.

The possibilities for volunteering are numerous and include helping to carry out activities such as group games and reading to individuals or groups with impaired vision. Students can also work on the grounds, do office work like working at the front reception desk, push residents in wheelchairs to where they need to go, and help in the computer lab.

EMU students can also "adopt" an elderly person or couple living at VMRC as part of the Young People's Christian Association's Saturday Adoption program. The students and their adopted grandparents spend time together every month doing activities or just talking. This provides cross-generational interaction for both the students and the residents at VMRC who participate.

When EMU freshman first come to Harrisonburg and have their orientation they spend time at different businesses and organizations in the community to learn about the local community and some of its pieces. VMRC takes part in this event and hosts a group of freshman on this annual Community Learning Day to help introduce the students to Harrisonburg.

Besides student volunteers, EMU also interacts with VMRC on an institutional level by supporting various events that take place there. One example is the VMRC 5k walk/run which takes place every year. Another recent connection between EMU and VMRC was of a different sort. This year several students from a College Writing Class interviewed some former conscientious objectors that are now residents at VMRC and went with the COs on a filed trip to Washington D.C.

Another benefit of VMRC is the opportunity for employment it offers college students. Employment options include life-guarding at the pool, working as a Certified Nurse's Aid, or cooking and/or serving in the dining room.