Broncos give back: WMU students strengthen Kalamazoo community during annual Cares Day
Students in the Merchandising Opportunities and Design Association designed custom bandannas for the dogs at the WMU Therapy Dog Clinic.
WMU Child Life Club brought donated toys and activities for patients at Bronson Children’s Hospital.
The Aspiring Educators of Michigan at WMU partnered with Blankets for Bronson RSO to assemble tie-knot blankets for patients at Bronson Children’s Hospital.
Courtesy: Andrew Collaku, Western Herald
The Student Council for Exceptional Children created care packages for the faculty and staff at the Washington Writers’ Academy.
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—More than 200 Western Michigan University students embodied the College of Education and Human Development’s mission to positively impact society during the college’s annual Cares Day on Nov. 18. Through volunteering, donation drives and giving, this year’s Cares Day served five community partners in meaningful ways throughout the Kalamazoo area.
“We often talk about the relationship between the college and the community, but this year we saw that relationship in action,” says Dr. Laura Dinehart, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “Seeing hundreds of our students improving our community outside of campus is truly remarkable.
“The college couldn’t be prouder of the energy and empathy our students brought to Cares Day.”
Students from the Merchandising Opportunities and Design Association (MODA) designed and constructed bandannas for WMU’s Therapy Dog Clinic during their club meeting. They customized multiple bandannas to be worn by the clinic’s dogs during their visits across Kalamazoo, Calhoun and Van Buren counties.
WMU’s Child Life Club participated in Cares Day with a donation drive for toys and activities that were passed out to patients at Bronson Children’s Hospital. Most of the items were donated by the faculty and staff of the College of Education and Human Development.
In addition to Child Life Club’s donation, the Aspiring Educators of Michigan at WMU collaborated with Blankets for Bronson, a registered student organization (RSO), to assemble more than 25 tie-knot blankets for patients at the hospital. Made using fleece fabric, the blankets will be given to children that stay there for extended periods of time while receiving treatment.
The Future Teachers of Color (FTC) RSO and the Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) both gave back to schools in the area for their Cares Day activities. FTC students spent the day at Parchment Central Elementary giving teachers a break by volunteering as substitute teachers, and SCEC made care packages for the staff and teachers at the Washington Writers’ Academy.
Students enrolled in the college’s first-year experience classes also played a pivotal role in Cares Day. Using donated supplies, students assembled more than 80 hygiene kits for the Kalamazoo YWCA and those it serves. Kits included essentials such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and soap.
To learn more about the College of Education and Human Development’s Cares Day and how to get involved next year, visit the Cares Day webpage.
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.