Students Jumping in to Serve

CU Serves program empowers student volunteerism in creative new ways

This fall, one of the most exciting things happening at Crandall U isn’t actually happening on campus at all; rather, it is the outpouring of many of Crandall’s students into the wider community, giving of themselves for the good of others!

In September 2021 Crandall University launched its new “CU Serves” program, encouraging students to consider taking their gifts and passions into the neighborhoods around them in acts of service. Volunteerism has long been a key ingredient of the Crandall University experience, with thousands of hours dedicated every year to the local community. Building upon that rich heritage of altruism, the new CU Serves initiative seeks to intentionally challenge students to consider their unique gifts and growing skills, then look for needs in the neighborhood around them that they can meet.

While a resurgence of COVID this Fall has required a shift in posture and plans, the Manager of CU Serves and Undergraduate Student Life and Transformation, Rev. Tim Carruthers remains optimistic: “It’s refreshing to see the Crandall student body respond with an optimistic curiosity – finding ways to step up and serve!”

What has made the CU Serves launch so successful is the versatility of the program in a season of frequent changes. While larger group events need to be carefully approached, safe and successful events continue to make a significant impact. These include events such as September’s CU Serves Carwash which raised over $3,000 to support Canadian Baptist Ministries’ global response to vaccine inequity, or the more than 500 pounds of non-perishable food items collected on the Trick or Treat Food Drive for the Peter McKee Community Center in Moncton.

“These aren’t just good things – but Good News things!” noted Carruthers. “With everything we do, the desire is to see students connect the dots between their service journey and their spiritual walk – to see the bigger picture, and seek God’s blessing on the communities we call home.”

While big experiences that are catalytic for student transformation are celebrated across the Crandall community, not every CU Serves experience is larger than life – in fact, many are much more humble in nature, with students looking for opportunities to show love for their neighbours in small ways. Whether it is students learning sign language to serve those living with hearing impairment, assisting in a local Church, or tutoring a child over the internet, Crandall students are committing to meeting needs, serving others, and ultimately being good news in the community, one interaction at a time.

In September, students washed cars to raise funds for vaccines in the majority world.

Non-perishable food items collected by students during the Halloween Food Drive.