SALEM — First-year Salem State University, or SSU, students volunteered at nonprofits across the North Shore Friday as part of an annual SSU event called Moving Forward Giving Back, First Year Day of Service.
SSU’s Center for Civic Engagement and First Year Experience Office provided freshmen and transfer students the opportunity to move on campus two days early and volunteer with local nonprofits including LEO Inc., The REAL Program, Northeast Animal Shelter, and My Brother’s Table. The REAL Program volunteers built and installed little free libraries, while other students canvassed neighborhoods spreading the word about Leo’s educational resources, organized a food bank drive at Northeast Animal Shelter, and prepared meals at My Brother’s Table.
“The goal of this collaborative initiative is to promote civic engagement and social justice while assisting first-year students in developing a sense of community and belonging at Salem State University and on the North Shore,” said Katelyn Adams, SSU Center for Civic Engagement’s assistant director. “This annual tradition occurs at the start of every academic year and allows participants to be part of a special cohort of new students who want to make lasting and impactful connections in our community.”
The annual volunteer event first took place in 2016 and has occurred every year since with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SSU First Year Experience program coordinator and fourth-year nursing major Ashely Figueroa was a team leader at My Brother’s Table in Lynn this year.
“Our world is big but it’s also very small and we only have one and so we all have to learn how to live together,” Figueroa said. “Everybody deserves food and everybody deserves to feel like they matter and that they are loved. Being able to do this kind of makes me feel like I’m reaching out to them even though I might not actually talk to them and it makes me feel like I’m doing my part in this world.”
SSU volunteers were at My Brother’s Table from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday preparing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, deli sandwiches, fruit cups, to-go cups of soup, coffee, and tea for community members in need.
“When I found out I got assigned to this project I was so happy because food is a necessity,” SSU first-year student Prahb Dalla said Friday. “Nobody should go hungry. Once I found out about My Brother’s Table, I was inspired by it. I’m happy to be here today.”
Dalla added that the volunteer experience was a great way for her to get to know other students with common interests ahead of SSU classes starting Wednesday. Like Figueroa, Dalla is also a nursing major. Dalla said by the end of her shift, she felt good having bonded with other students and helped a community in need.
SSU first-year and social work major Davida Vandi agreed with Dalla and added that it’s also important for non-students to also serve their community.
“Everyone needs help and if no one helps, how is the world going to be a better place?” Vandi said. “If there’s no kindness, how is there going to be any love? It’s very important that we help each other and help our neighbors with what we can.”
