The We Are UCM community service day on Feb. 12. allowed students to illustrate UCM’s motto, “Education through Service,” through active service projects.

  Student organizations teamed up to complete various service projects on campus.  Projects included creating tie fleece blankets for the homeless, cat toys from recycled t-shirts for area animal clinics, and Valentine’s Day cards for students in quarantine and those at local nursing homes.

  Phi Sigma Pi President Sydney Conley said this is an important cause to her.

  “I’ve made tie blankets before, but I also want to make sure that everyone has something to help keep them warm with all this cold weather we’ve been having, which I hope will have a good impact on the community,” Conley said.

  Emma Boessen, president of Ladies Inspiring Versatility, hopes their project spreads joy and brightens the days of recipients.

  “We wanted to spread some good vibes to the elderly and let them know they have people thinking about them during Valentine’s Day,” Boessen said. “Also, we thought they would really enjoy getting cards since most can’t have visitors due to the current COVID precautions.”

  Bethany Paul, chair of parent relations of Delta Zeta, said this event provides her with an opportunity to give back to the community and take an active role in the Warrensburg community.

   “I wanted to do this project because I feel like the community has been so welcoming as a new student to UCM,” Paul said. “I wanted to give back and show them that I am very thankful that they are all so caring. I also wanted to be an active member within the community and this was a great place to start.”

 Boessen said she hopes Valentine’s Day cards make people feel like they’re remembered.

  “Everyone deserves to feel special and cared for,” Boessen said. “Making cards for a group of people most at-risk for feeling isolated because of the pandemic fulfills a crucial need in the community right now.”

  Community day gives students the opportunity to learn what community service means to them.

  “Giving back to the community always means so much to me. I have volunteered a lot before, and it always is so rewarding to give back to people that have less than us,” Kaitlynn Heussner, sophomore member of Delta Zeta said.

  Conley said this event allowed members of her organization to bond while doing good for the community.

  “My favorite part of the event was working on the blankets with a few friends from my organization because we got to hang out while also giving back to the community,” Conley said.

  Boessen said she hopes these cards help nursing home residents feel less alone.

  “My favorite part of the event was just knowing how excited the recipients of the Valentine’s cards would be,” Boessen said. “Before my grandpa passed away a little over two years ago, I would go visit him in the nursing home anytime I could. My family made sure to visit my grandpa every day, but many people never got a single visitor. Seeing how the lack of visitors impacted those individuals broke my heart, so anything I can do to make sure all residents feel loved is extremely important to me.”