On Thursday, Oct. 5, a bus transported students to the CityGate Dream Center for an afternoon of service.
It is no secret that Elon University offers students a plethora of opportunities to get involved in service. Whether it be helping at a campus blood drive or volunteering at overnight events through Alternative Breaks, there is no shortage of service opportunities available.
However, for students who may not know where to get started, the Kernodle Center for Civic Life offers the “Get on the Bus” program as a chance for students to learn more about service opportunities at Elon. Each event can accommodate up to 20 students and is designed for those who may lack transportation or seek guidance in connecting with a community partner. On Thursday, Oct. 5, a bus transported students to the CityGate Dream Center for an afternoon of service.
“The program is an accessible way to get involved. Students just have to show up and the rest of the experience is set up for them to try and help reduce initial barriers students may have as they want to volunteer with the local community,” said Kyle Anderson, associate director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. “It is also a way to volunteer with friends on an experience and/or meet new students who may share similar interests or passions.”
The CityGate Dream Center has been a partner with the Kernodle Center since 2020. The Dream Center serves as a hub of activity for those in the Burlington area and aims to advocate for children, students and families in Alamance County. The non-profit also partners with several local schools to provide resources and build relationships with students, offering free weekly dance classes, fitness classes, music and art classes, tutoring, summer camps, and more.
Volunteers helped greet families and distribute diapers as part of the Dream Center’s monthly diaper distribution during the Oct. 5 event.
“A student who takes part in a “Get on the Bus” event is getting real-world experience in relation to what it means to be a community partner,” said Jack Bull ’26, the Kernodle Center’s CityGate Dream Center coordinator. “The diaper drive is all about members of the community coming together in support of each other. Through this event, students at Elon University are getting to become a part of this wonderful community in support of others.”
Bull initially was unaware of the opportunities at the Kernodle Center, until he volunteered through his HSS 1100 class during his first year at Elon. Later in the semester, when his advisor informed him of an internship affiliated with both the Kernodle Center and the CityGate Dream Center, Bull saw the perfect chance to continue doing what he loved. Now a sophomore, Bull can assist his fellow students in experiencing service opportunities.
“My takeaways from this experience have been that you can always do something,” Bull said. “Through my time volunteering at the Dream Center, and now coordinating volunteers for them, I have learned that there is never a job too small. There is always something you can do to empower a community. And when you do, you become part of the community. It is the actions we take that show who we really are.”
Every week, the Kernodle Center offers numerous opportunities to volunteer through their Elon Volunteers! student organization. Students can register for “Get on the Bus” and learn more about registering for other service opportunities through the Phoenix Serve platform.