Rowan-Cabarrus Community College volunteers learn ‘the need is so great’

SALISBURY The sky was steel gray, and it was chilly, but this group of volunteers from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College was enjoying plenty of warmth and laughter.

After all, they were on spring break. But this wasn’t your mom’s vacation; this was an Alternative Spring Break offered by the community college.

During two days during the week of March 4, some 50 to 60 volunteers from RCCC – students and employees alike –spread out over Rowan and Cabarrus counties to help others.

Emily Baldwin, student activities coordinator, worked with Emily Huffman, volunteer coordinator at Rowan Helping Ministries, to set up a day of volunteer activities at Rowan’s homeless shelter. They also worked at Tucker House and the Cooperative Christian Ministry, both in Cabarrus County.

Just after 8 a.m. this particular morning, a line of clients stretched down the sidewalk, waiting to come in and request services. One client threw up in the grass beside the parking lot.

Inside, the RCCC students munch on pastries and granola bars and drink cups of steaming coffee. Eager to beat the rain that was coming soon, the students grabbed plastic bags and gloves, donned lime-green safety vests and fanned out across the parking lot to pick up trash.

“Students tell us they don’t have money to contribute, but they do have time to volunteer,” Baldwin said. “We wanted to do a project that focused on hunger and health care as well.”

DaiShawn Gwyn of Salisbury is a member of the MISTER Club at RCCC: Men Inspiring Success Through Education and Role-Modeling. Several other club members also had come.

Natasha Lipscomb, RCCC’s director of student life, said the students had chances to volunteer on and off campus.

“Students hear about the needs of the community, and through volunteering, we see them and get the opportunity to meet those needs,” Lipscomb said.

“I’d rather do this than be at home doing nothing,” said Leslie Brown of Salisbury. “I want to feel useful and help someone.”

Brown is studying for an associate’s of science degree and wants to become a microbiologist, focusing on parasites. Her daughter is also an RCCC student. Her son is a senior at East Rowan High School.

“I felt like I was a hypocrite,” Brown said of her decision to return to school. “How could I tell my kids to get a college degree when I don’t have one?”

Outside, Brown quickly filled her bag with trash. A lot of it lay around: empty soft-drink cans, crushed cigarette boxes, candy wrappers and the like.

James Hopkins also filled up a bag in no time. The 2010 West Rowan High graduate is studying for associate’s degrees in pre-psychology and secondary math education. A big guy with an easy smile, he looks for any chance to give back to his community, he said.

Across the street, bulldozers and other construction equipment worked furiously and noisily to prepare the lot for the shelter’s new building, a structure that’s badly needed at the overcrowded facility.

Braheen Hargrove of Salisbury also gladly volunteered for the day.

“I like to help out other folks,” said Hargrove, who came to RCCC after a military stint. “We had help coming up, and you never know when you’ll need help.”

Rasheed Hasan of Salisbury agreed. He’s due to graduate in May with a degree in business administration, and he would like to attend Catawba College for his four-year degree. During the Alternative Spring Break last year he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. Because his niece is autistic, he also volunteers with Special Olympics.

“I do it from the heart,” he said. “I’d rather be out here. I’m not much of a sleeper.”

Back in the small conference room, Lipscomb and student Lisa Godbey bagged rice and beans and talked with Karen Taylor, resource development coordinator, about Rowan Helping Ministry’s services. Godbey had worked late at Food Lion the night before so she could spend two hours to volunteer on this morning.

“One person can’t necessarily fix everything,” Godbey said, “but we can make a difference.”

Later in the morning, students boxed meals in the warehouse, which was deceptively full of food ready for distribution to needy families. They were told it would last only a week or so.

“The need is so great,” Lipscomb said. “That’s what the students walked away with.”