College supports community with second annual day of service

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) held their second annual CEHD Cares Day, a day of service to the fields the college prepares professionals to work in. Faculty, staff and students volunteered their time and made donations to make the event a huge success.

"CEHD Cares Day allows our faculty and staff to demonstrate their ongoing passion and dedication for our students and local community," says Dr. Laura Dinehart, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. "I am incredibly grateful for everyone’s unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of care within the college."

In its second year, CEHD Cares Day increased the number of opportunities available for faculty, staff and students to contribute and volunteer. This was also a year of many firsts, this includes the addition of a bake-off, book fundraiser and participation from first-year experience classes.

• To celebrate local teachers, the college created gift baskets with student written thank you cards and cookies. The cookies were made by CEHS faculty and staff during a bake-off utilizing the college's cooking lab.
• Spencer Myers, CEHD student success advisor, and his first-year experience (FYE) class started a blind date with a book fundraiser to raise money for Read and Write Kalamazoo, a non-profit organization designed to celebrate youth voices through the cultivation of reading and writing skills. As part of the fundraiser students wrapped and wrote clues on 165 books. The concealed books were then sold across campus and in total raised $485.
• Child life students and Karin Rourke, family science instructor, dropped off donuts and toys to Bronson Children's Hospital. 
• Students in CEHD FYE courses used donated fabric to make 13 tie blankets. The blankets are going to be given to registered student organization (RSO), Blankets for Bronson at WMU. The RSO has close ties with Bronson Hospital and makes blankets for their patients. 
• To prepare for the opening of the Campus Closet, CEHD collected used business professional clothing during the week. Located in Kohrman Hall, the Campus Closet will be a space for students who don't own interview ready clothing to pick-out outfits keep and use. 
• During the week, CEHD collected school supplies to be donated to local school districts. The supplies will be given to classrooms to show appreciation for their support of the college's student teacher interns. 

“CEHD Cares day was a very beneficial event for our FYE students to participate in," says Kelly Flannigan, elementary education major and FYE co-facilitator. "Not only was it a fun way for students to spend time together outside of class, but it also provided a great opportunity for our students to give back to the schools and communities are students will soon begin their fieldwork and careers in!”

For more information and how to get involved next year, visit the CEHD Cares Day webpage.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

The College of Education and Human Development at Western Michigan University is a diverse and vibrant institution of professional education, preparing individuals annually for leadership in their fields. The college is comprised of six departments: counselor education and counseling psychology; special education and literacy studies; family and consumer sciences; human performance and health education; teaching, learning and educational studies; and educational leadership, research and technology. For more information, visit the College of Education and Human Development's webpage.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.