MONCTON – Hundreds of New Brunswick Community College students and staff traded classroom time for volunteering Wednesday, as part of the school’s Service Day.
Students and staff at all six campuses were out in their communities, helping out with local non-profits and community projects.
In Moncton, students in the pharmacy technician and practical nursing programs spent their day volunteering with Blankets for Moncton, and cleaning up Honour Park.
Student Hilary Taylor said she thinks the initiative is a good idea.
“Especially where we’re in a profession where we’re meant to help people. I think it’s good to get a better understanding of all different kinds of people,” she said. “It kind of gives you a better understanding of what they’re going through.”
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Taylor was helping another student sorting blankets, while some of her classmates sorted kitchen and bathroom supplies.
The idea of the day is to give the students a sense of community and to foster a culture of service.
NBCC President and CEO Marilyn Luscombe told Global News that each campus was participating in a different initiative.
“In St. Andrews, for instance, the carpentry students are building wooden benches for the elementary school there,” she said. “In Woodstock, the digital photography students are undertaking some photography of cancer survivors to establish a calendar.”
“Some of the activities are apropos to the skills that students are undertaking in their programs of choice and others a just a campus collective group effort,” said Luscombe.
In Saint John, students participated in a community clean-up along MacDonald Street.
While in Fredericton, students were stuffing envelopes to help the community kitchen with its fundraising drive.
Katie Wilson, an instructor with the practical nursing program in Moncton, said she asked the students about what the experience meant to them.
“Aside from skipping class, which was great,” she joked. “They felt it was just a nice thing to do for other people.”
NBCC will be holding another Service Day in April.
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