Last week, members of Alpha Gamma Delta at Georgia College & State University dedicated their time and energy to serving Baldwin County during their annual Week of Service. From fighting food insecurity to supporting local animal shelters and nursing homes, the women of Alpha Gam demonstrated what it means to give back. But what if every week was “week of service” for those in Milledgeville?
Volunteering and giving back don’t have to only occur if you’re part of an organization or during certain times of the year. In a community like Milledgeville, where local nonprofits and organizations rely heavily on support from local residents and students, there are so many opportunities to make a difference throughout the year.
For many students, volunteering begins as a desire to get involved. Heidi Whitten, past president of Shelter Buddies for GCSU, shared how she started volunteering due to her love for animals.
“I first decided to volunteer at the shelter because I was not able to be around animals as much since I was living in college housing,” she said. “I felt like volunteering at the shelter would be a perfect way to get involved while being around a cause I care about.”
What she discovered was much more impactful than she expected.
“When I would go to the shelter, I noticed the difference it made for the animals, especially the dogs,” Heidi said. “When I would visit the dogs and take them to the yard to play, they would completely come out of their shells by running around, playing, rolling, and asking for pets.”
Volunteering served other aspects of Heidi’s life as well.
“Volunteering at the animal shelter has been one of my favorite parts of my college experience because it has served as an outlet away from school and a way to give back to the community,” she explained. “Volunteering has given me many opportunities and friends that I would not have made if I were not a part of the Shelter Buddies community. I believe that everyone should volunteer in their community because it allows you to gain new perspectives and a deeper understanding of the community around you.”
Food insecurity is a major focus of the community needs in Baldwin County. Vice President of Philanthropy for Alpha Gamma Delta at GCSU Reagan Larson emphasized how urgent this issue is.
“Our philanthropy is fighting hunger, so we really encourage our girls to serve at the soup kitchen and we do multiple canned food drives every year for Chard Wray Food Pantry,” she said. “Baldwin County is one of the most food insecure counties in Georgia, so we are making a direct impact in the community. Anyone can give back and serve the community in so many ways, whether you’re a part of an organization or not.”
During Week of Service, members volunteered at Café Central, packed meals for the Chard Wray Food Pantry, and created Valentine’s Day cards for local nursing home residents. For Harnoor Narang, an Alpha Gam freshman, these small acts of service meant a lot.
“As part of week of service, I volunteered at Café Central and meal packed for Chard Wray Food Pantry, and it’s really great to know that you’re making a direct impact in the community,” she said. “We also made cards for the nursing home for Valentine’s Day, and we want them to know we genuinely love and care for them.”
One thing is clear: volunteering is not just about giving back during a themed week. It’s about helping in the community whenever and wherever you can. It builds relationships, strengthens the community, helps those in need. Whether it’s walking dogs, serving meals, donating clothes, or writing a sweet note, every act of service matters.