Ethics Class Learns Value of Community Service
Immersing themselves in the spirit of giving, students from Castleton’s News Media Ethics class are spreading holiday cheer to one local household, after adopting a family of three for Christmas. Comprised of a single mother, along with her 7-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter, the trio will experience a holiday season to remember thanks to the class’ efforts.
The end of the semester project stemmed from an idea put together by Communication Professor Dave Blow. In replacement of his usual assignment focusing on journalism in the community, he chose to put a more intimate feel to the project.
“I wanted to do something on a more personal, non-media level and suggested finding a local needy family to raise money for to provide a great Christmas,” said Blow.
Over the past several weeks students from the class have collected charitable donations from across the entire campus and throughout the town of Castleton to use towards gift purchases for the family, raising nearly $1,000. Putting the money to good use, students used the funds to purchase wish list items for the children, with the remaining cash being used towards monthly bills, easing the stress of the holidays for the single mom.
To Blow, the importance of the project was to not only get students to understand the true importance of giving back, but also the significance of becoming an active member of the community.
“There are people out there living with a lot less and I want them to feel that awesome feeling of making a difference,” said Blow.
On Christmas day, Blow will be joined by several students as they deliver their van packed with food, clothes and toys to the family. Blow said he is most excited to see the look on the children’s faces, as well as their mother, when they show up at their doorstep with the gifts.
“That will be our biggest present that day I'm sure,” he said.
Junior Catherine Twing agrees. Twing explained that most people can relate to going through a hardship in life and needing the help of others, making the feeling of giving back even more rewarding.
At the end of the day, it was the generous nature of people around campus and throughout the community that was truly inspiring to Twing and her classmates.
“We could all use the money for something else, but we are choosing to help someone in need,” said Twing. “That was very powerful to me.”