Giving Back at PSU

            "It's a good thing to do," Ian Axtell, a senior at Plymouth State University says as he adds a boston creme pie to this evenings dinner lineup, "Plus, it's a free meal, and it's a hell of a lot better than Prospect." Ian is one of many Plymouth students who volunteer regularly at "Meals for Many," in the basement of the First Congressional Church every Thursday.

            Meals for Many is ran by "Community Closet," an organization established by the Plymouth area churches. Nearly everyday out of the week the organization is working with the community and giving back in some way. The group does a little bit of everything, from giving financial assistance to families in emergency situations, to delivering baskets of donated food before Christmas.

            Lou Young, who has been running the Thursday dinners since the late 90's, was eager to recruit some new volunteers, "We are always looking for kids to help out, sometimes we get a little too packed and trip over each other, but the days when we are low, mostly near the end of the year and winterms, we really need people."

            Around Plymouth there are plenty of opportunities to give back this holiday season. The Whole Village Homeless Shelter is always looking for people to help out in various forms, even tutoring people who are attempting to get their GED, as well as the various programs the Community Closet runs regularly.

            Donating some time and helping around your community is not only a nice thing to do, but for many, it's a graduation requirement, and Meals for Many and other programs like it are the perfect opportunity.

            Zach Goldenber, a senior at PSU and another regular at Meals of Many says, "It's really about being part of the community. You think that 'oh sure the towns doing alright, it's got the campus and everything,' but then you look around," he pauses and looks over the long line of people awaiting meals, "but poverty isn't restricted to an urban setting."

            With the cold winter seemingly already upon us time and efforts are greatly appreciated to help those in need in our community.

            "It's open to everyone, we don't consider it for the poor, or for the lonely, we consider it as a community meal," James Koermer, a meteorology professor as PSU says.

            Donating time and effort not only will help you resume and graduate, but will also build a stronger community around our already beautiful campus.