Urban Impact

UC Serves reaches a milestone in its fifth year as nearly 500 faculty and staff lend a hand at more than 50 not-for-profits around the Tristate.

By Melanie Schefft
513-556-5213

Photos: Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services and provided

May 23, 2018

Buzz saws, scraping shovels and children’s’ laughter were heard loud and clear all over the Tristate during the recent May 18th "UC Serves" volunteer day of community engagement.

That's when nearly 500 University of Cincinnati faculty and staff devoted more than 3,400 collective hours toward volunteer service at more than 50 community venues and not-for-profits. Service activities included planting trees, playing with local school children, cleaning debris, packing diapers, painting walls and furniture and much more. 

“UC Serves has been a fantastic way for staff and faculty to lead by example and act as role models for our students in service to others,” says Fran Larkin, program coordinator for UC’s Center for Community Engagement, which co-hosted the event in partnership with Emerging Leaders in Student Affairs. “This event gives staff and faculty the opportunity to expand our campus networks, meet new people and deepen our connection to our colleagues and the community.”

Win-Win

“It’s always a win-win when we team up to help promote a cross-campus diverse collaboration and share in the common experience of meaningful community engagement,” adds Larkin.

"UC Serves" builds on other university community engagement and volunteer efforts, including the seasonal Clean Up Cincy student groups working around the city.

And partners in the community also supported the UC volunteers. Several restaurants around the Tristate provided free lunches to all the volunteers in appreciation for their hard work.

“At Dumpsters.com we’re always excited to see UC’s faculty and staff, as well as students volunteering to keep the Cincinnati community clean,” says Sara Cifani, digital strategist for Dumpsters.com. “It was a pleasure to speak with Kyle Wilson, president of Clean Up Cincy, to learn more about the UC Serves faculty and staff event, as well as spread the word about the students’ hard work on our blog."

In lieu of building muscle, and because of the threat of rain, a number of UC “servers” stayed indoors to make phone calls for the American Cancer Society, pack boxes of books in preparation for a sale at the the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, help tidy up the home of Cincinnati's Madcap Puppets, and work (play) with elementary kids during their field day in local schools.

UC Clermont biology professor Krista Clark makes a new friend while working at the college's community garden.  

Learn to Serve, Serve to Learn

Dodging the occasional raindrops, volunteers cleared local landscape beds of weeds and debris, and planted fruit trees in urban gardens. Others assembled a garden greenhouse from the ground up at the Pleasant Hill Elementary School.

"Our site manager said the greenhouse would not have been able to be built if it were not for our team being there that day," says Ryan White, associate professor of UC chemistry, electrical engineering and computer science. "We worked really well together and it was very rewarding to make that kind of impact on the community while also getting to know colleagues from across UC’s campuses."

While contributing to an institutional culture of service, faculty and staff also say they learn and benefit by giving back.

“I used to rehab homes with a good friend who taught me the ropes, so joining the team for the Habitat for Humanity build was a no-brainer,” says Mike Mitchum, interim director of UCIT’s technology team. “It was great to get out of the office and put those skills to work to help a deserving family build their home, and I will return to the site to help out again.”

Others sewed blankets for veteran patients at the Bluegrass Care Navigators Hospice in Florence, and some painted walls in local teen centers and homeless shelters on both sides of the river.

Volunteers also packed diapers for Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank while animal lovers spent the day sprucing up the walls and floors of an Adopt-a-Pet Center in preparation for an upcoming adoption event.

“I loved having the opportunity to answer phones and take pledges with [radio stations] WVXU and WGUC and can’t wait to go back!" claims Lacey Tomlinson, assistant director in UC Enrollment Management. "I have the pleasure of working with the students at UC through advising, but the opportunity to be able to support our larger community through non-profits like WVXU is just as important.” 

James Whalen, director of UC Public Safety, helped tidy the grounds around the Harriet Beecher Stowe House.

UC Serves volunteers helped out at more than 50 not-for-profit organizations around town. 

Paying It Forward

The annual "UC Serves" events can have long-lasting impact throughout the community. For instance, last year, UC volunteers worked with kids at Rolling Hills Elementary. At that time, several students became particularly excited after making volcanoes with paper supplies, watercolor paints and baking soda. Since then, their enthusiasm for science has grown, and the teachers remark how many of them look forward to becoming UC students when they grow up.

This is why several local schools plan field days around the annual UC Serves event. It provides a day of fun and learning for all.

Tie-dyeing T-shirts at Woodford Paideia Elementary School .