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Dustin Luca
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SALEM, MASS. – A group of 130 incoming Salem State University students hit the North Shore Friday, Aug. 29 for the 10th annual First Year Day of Service, lending their energy and enthusiasm to 20 community projects touching thousands of lives.
This year’s program included two partnerships with Salem Public Schools, one of which combined volunteers from the program’s 19 morning service projects to create an afternoon project impacting all public elementary school students throughout Salem—an offering that was created out of popular demand for more activities from volunteers in prior years.
“After they went on their service projects in the morning, we brought them back in the afternoon, because we heard feedback from students that they wanted a full day of activities to meet more people and make a bigger difference,” said Mathew Chetnik, assistant dean of student success and first year experience, and co-organizer of the Day of Service program. “Students said, ‘we expected a full day when you said ‘Day of Service.’ The opportunity to socialize in an environment where they feel they’re doing something meaningful is really important to them.”
For many at Salem State, the “day” of service becomes something even greater—a demand that has also been met with a solution.
“Based on this interest, the Center for Civic Engagement plans service projects all year long,” Chetnik said, “revisiting many of the sites that students volunteer at.”
Vikings Ready to Serve
Held the Friday before Convocation every year, First Year Day of Service is an opportunity for new Vikings to move into campus early and immediately give back at the beginning of their career at Salem State University. Volunteers are joined each year by a team of returning students known as the “O Team,” an opening day team that helps guide the newcoming students throughout the day by sharing knowledge from both their experiences on campus and their time in the communities surrounding Salem State.
“First Year Day of Service is an important reminder that service is not just about what we do on campus—it is about strengthening the neighborhoods and organizations that support us every day,” Salem State University President John Keenan said. “As the Commonwealth’s Civic Engagement University, service is woven into who we are as an institution. It is more than a one-day event: it is a reflection of our values, and it is a tradition we hope our students carry with them throughout their time here and beyond.”
Through the program, students signing up are asked to list issues that matter to them—responses that allow program organizers to assign them to projects that align with their interests. Leading the interests were issues around animal welfare, racial justice and equality, LGBTQIA rights and advocacy, and access to education.
“We see some really interesting and not surprising issues the students are concerned about,” Chetnik said. “They’re spread across the board, all coming with really unique and individual ideas around what issues they want to have an impact on, which speaks to the diversity of our student population—they aren’t one-minded in what they want to focus on.”
Service projects take the students throughout the North Shore, with projects taking students to Beverly, Danvers, Lynn, Peabody, and throughout Salem. From preparing meals and serving guests at My Brother’s Table in Lynn, to supporting Beverly Bootstraps by organizing and displaying donated items, participants in First Year Day of Service do it all.
“What we’ve found is that so many of our students have met their best friends at Day of Service. Sometimes it’s at the site, or it’s at lunch, or they connect at the bonfire,” said Katelyn Adams, associate director of Salem State’s Center for Civic Engagement, and co-organizer of the Day of Service program. “The relationship piece is so important.”
Students Serve Salem Public Schools
Several of the students went to Collins Middle School in Salem Friday morning for a service project putting together 250 backpacks with school supplies funded through a grant awarded to Salem Public Schools. The bags will go to newcomer students as they arrive to Salem, and they contain messages wishing them a good school year in Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole, with templates provided by the university.
“This is a profoundly kind gesture from Salem State, and we are so grateful,” said Collins Middle School Principal Gavin Softic. “At Collins, we strive to build a welcoming community with a strong sense of belonging. Having backpacks and school supplies ready on the first day helps students feel seen, builds confidence and makes the transition to a new school smoother. This thoughtful act will truly impact their school experience. Thank you, SSU.”
Following the morning service projects, many students returned to Salem State’s North Campus to prepare more than 2,000 pencil pouches for students throughout Salem’s elementary schools, funded by the university. The pencil pouches were also loaded not just with supplies, but with inspirational messages to start the young child’s year off right.
"We have long valued our partnership with Salem State, with which we share many values," said Salem Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Zrike. "These gifts and the presence of student volunteers send a powerful message to our students about the importance of civic engagement. We're grateful for the relationship we have with the Salem State community."