November 30, 2005
Students at Hesston College don’t just study hard and enjoy fun
social activities of many kinds. Quite a few are also active members
of the Peace and Service Club, getting their hands dirty by participating
in service projects, and finding a variety of ways to promote peace around
the world.
Campus Pastor Kevin Wilder says the club gathers monthly to brainstorm project
ideas and to eat cookies. “We brainstorm ideas for projects, or sometimes
someone comes with an idea,” Wilder explained. “Then will ask what
month this project should be implemented and completed and who will coordinate
it. We ask people to sign up in pairs, then I work with the two coordinators
to make it happen.
“We say, ‘You have a vision, we’ll help you do it,’” he
said.
According to Wilder, even though the club has a president, Chad Unrein, a sophomore
from Larkspur, Colo., “This is probably the least structured club in the
whole U.S.” But that doesn’t prevent club members from implementing
and completing projects.
So far this school year, club members led a chapel outlining mentoring opportunities,
then signed up interested students in the lunch line, participated in a letter-writing
campaign for Amnesty International, did random acts of kindness following a Wednesday
evening campus worship service, helped with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)
meat canning, delivered cookies and cupcakes to fellow students during mid-term
exams, sponsored three students to attend an MCC United Nations conference in
New York City, sent three students to the annual protest at the School of the
Americas in Fort Benning, Ga.; planned an AIDS chapel with Penny Dugan, a board
member for the Harvey County Homeless Shelter who also gives leadership to the
vision for an AIDS hospice, plus an ongoing project that started in November--knitting
and crocheting hats and scarves for people at the homeless shelter.
Club members also raised nearly $3,000 from three projects to help hurricane
survivors in the Gulf Coast. The projects included two work days, skipping meals,
and a community hymnsing. The funds were sent to Mennonite Disaster Service,
Mennonite Central Committee, and the American Red Cross.
Wilder said activities planned yet this semester include an angel tree, where
students, faculty, and staff take an angel from the tree and purchase gifts for
local children identified by Social Rehabilitation Services of Newton, and a
letter writing campaign by students to support efforts to stop the use of child
soldiers in conflicts and wars around the world.
Wilder said 13 students have led or participated in projects this fall. “But
we say every student at Hesston College is part of the club,” he said. “For
example, when we plan an event, like raking leaves, we invite any and all students
to participate. And many do.”