This past Saturday, September 9, the Hamilton Association for Volunteering Outreach and Charity (HAVOC) held their 16th annual Make a Difference Day (MADD). Around 150 students participated, volunteering at 23 organizations in Clinton, Utica, Rome and New Hartford.
Vice President and Dean of Students Terry Martinez began the event with a talk regarding the day’s activities. After, students visited sites such as the Kirkland Library, Root Farm and Habitat for Humanity, Rome Humane Society, among others. Participants received a free t-shirt and were provided lunch.
HAVOC is a student-led organization focused on community service projects and allowing students to get to know the area. Students can volunteer throughout the year at various sites on a weekly basis, typically for one to two hours.
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Aaron Oh ’18 stated, “I volunteered at Utica Children’s museum. The other volunteers and I helped set up a tie dye shirt station so the kids could come and make some cool shirts.
“In addition to helping tidy up and clean the museum, we also got a lot of time to just spend with the children there. This was an awesome experience and I would definitely love to do it again. My favorite part of the whole experience was pretending to be a customer at the various prop locations available.”
The event offered students the opportunity to engage with the local community and have a positive impact. Rebecca Werrell ’18 and Lona Sniderman ’19, the two student directors for HAVOC, both kicked off a successful day of service.
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Hamilton students could sign up as part of a group, such as a club or sports team, or individually. When asked about the day, participant Trevor Pearson ’18 said, “I often don’t get a chance to volunteer in the community. I was happy to be able to volunteer with my teammates and learn more about Root Farm. I’m definitely motivated to help out more and lend a hand. It was a great day to bond with my teammates and have a positive impact on the community.”
Make a Difference Day has become an annual tradition for some groups on campus. Ben Cornaglia ’19 said, “MADD is an event the swim team participates in every year not just as a really fun, bonding experience, but as a way for us to give back to the people around us. I think it’s easy to get stuck in the mindset that we’re “on the hill” and stay in that bubble, forgetting there’s a community that gives a lot to us and could use our help, too. HAVOC does a great job connecting students with that community every day, not just at MADD but all year. I hope outreach is an area we continue to strengthen as both a team and a campus.”
Other sites include the Dunham Public Library in Whitesboro. Julia Hartnett ’20 volunteered here with a group of friends, sorting books, boxing materials, organizing schedules and helping with event logistics. “I did it because I thought it would be nice to get off campus and out into the surrounding community for a little and make some kind of contribution to the community, however small it might’ve been. It ended up being a really great day; the women who work at the library were super sweet and happy to have us ther” said Hartnett.
Students who are looking for more service based opportunities can visit the HAVOC page on the college website. The site details more information about one-time service events, how to become a site coordinator and other HAVOC volunteer opportunities.
Weekly projects include mentoring, homelessness/hunger relief, elderly aid, disability aid, animal care and environmental service.
