To a backdrop of TV screens tuned to election coverage and the LSU-Alabama game, a group of LSU students came together not to celebrate or party but to give back to their community.
Rotaract, a service organization at LSU with more than 100 members, held a community service event Saturday night at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza just off campus to benefit Trinity Hospice.
“Rather than going out to the bars, this is an opportunity to get together for a good cause,” said Michael Tipton, a political science and history junior. “It’s in a fun, safe environment, and we’re giving back to the community.”
Trinity Hospice is a program that looks over needy senior citizens in the community, said Rotaract President Alexandra Chung.
“They asked for us to help out with 22 people,” Chung said. “We saw it as a way to get together and do some club and community service at the same time.”
Margret Atkinson, an elementary education senior, said Rotaract is held up by four ideals of service: community, club, international and
professional.
“This type of event reflects exactly what Rotaract stands for,” Atkinson said. “We’re giving back to the community and supporting and encouraging our club.”
The club’s members arrived before 6 p.m. for dinner and soon began stuffing bags full of socks, slippers, towels, bath items and other essentials.
As they lined up around tables in the restaurant to stuff bags with the items, Rotaract members noticed much of what they were handling is
usually taken for granted.
“It’s little things that for us are just everyday stuff,” said Paul Coussan, a mass communication sophomore. “It’s stuff that they can’t afford. We take it for granted.”
Chung said the members of Trinity Hospice are only allotted a small amount of spending money and often cannot afford basic necessities.
“It’s basic needs stuff that they can’t afford,” Chung said. “We try to get them all the essentials, things like soap and brushes.”
Chung said Rotaract has been collecting the items all semester and received support and donations from the Sunrise Rotary Club, which donated
some supplies and helped collect more.
There also were tables filled with items that were not so basic such as puzzles, games and cosmetics which were extra donations, Chung said.
Rotaract Community Service Chair Amanda Callais said the organization stuffed around 40 bags because of all the extra supplies.
“The emphasis isn’t so much on quantity but quality,” Callais said. “This has been a great chance for us to end the semester with a service
social.”
Rotaract members also signed Thanksgiving cards and wrapped presents for the Hospice benefactors, which they will deliver with the bags on Thursday.
Chung said students interested in Rotaract can contact the club’s e-mail address, [email protected].