More MSU students can serve at public schools and community centers outside East Lansing thanks to a donation from the Michigan State University Federal Credit Union.
A $20,000 grant from the MSUFCU to MSU’s Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement provided something essential for students to serve and learn — transportation. The funds cover the costs of leasing and running three vans.
Some students can utilize existing transportation, such as city buses, but the vans make it possible for more students to get to volunteer sites throughout the area and within tight class schedules. During Spring semester, 95 additional students were able to get to schools and other sites that otherwise would not have benefited from the MSU service-learning opportunities, according to Karen McKnight Casey, center director.
One beneficiary of the vans was Wexford Montessori Magnet School in South Lansing. In previous years, only one or two MSU students were able to volunteer in the afterschool program each week, but the vans brought three or four MSU student volunteers to the school each day, according to Casey.
To celebrate this new partnership, President Lou Anna K. Simon and MSUFCU leaders rode with the MSU volunteers to Wexford and participated in a March is Reading month initiative.
The credit union donates nearly $750,000 to MSU each year, said April Clobes, vice president of marketing and e-commerce. The credit union became interested in the center because of its involvement in the community and the positive impact to the MSU students.
“We support and encourage volunteerism and community engagement,” she said. “This is very important, not only for university outreach, but for every student to help the community.”
For more information on giving to MSU’s Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement, contact Director of Development Ann Marie Lindley at (517) 432-7543; alindley@vps.msu.edu.