Section A·Page 10
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, December 9. 1997
Volunteers mentor area children
Program matches kids with role models
By Erinn R. Barcomb
Special to the Kansan
Casey Schirk, Lawrence junior, plays pool with his little brother, Travis Cain, at Jaybowl. Schijk volunteers for big gamers/Bigisters of Douglas County. The two try to get together about once a week. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Wedged between a sporting goods store and a bar at 733 Massachusetts St., Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Douglas Co. Inc. is a haven for children amidst a very grown-up world.
With the assistance of paid employees and volunteers, Big Brothers/Big Sisters matches children from single-parent homes ages 5 to 17 with a mentor for about a year.
Casey Schirk, Lawrence junior, was a volunteer driver for the Jaycees this summer when the organization took unmatched children in the program to Worlds of Fun. Travis was one of those children, and the two hit it off.
Travis Cain, a 14-year-old from Lawrence, is one such child helped by the Douglas County program, which made its first match in 1991. Unlike most matches, however, Travis' most recent match was a matter of coincidence.
That wouldn't be as easy as it might seem.
Travis' previous big brother, whom he had been with for five and a half years, had recently moved. Travis and Schirk then discussed the option of becoming a match.
According to Mary Beth Karlin, co-executive director of the Douglas County branch, extensive background checks are run on potential big brothers and sisters. The process takes four to six weeks. It entails an informational meeting, a psychological test, four references, three levels of investigation including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Child Abuse Network, a home visit and a one hour interview in the office.
"If someone sticks it out through that, they're probably going to be a good match." Karlin said.
After that comes the fun part.
Recently, Travis and Schirk went on their first outing. They grabbed a drink at McDonalds, looked for some new shoes for Schirk and stopped by the Jaybowl in the Kansas Union.
"A lot of what I plan to do is guy stuff," Schirk said.
"That's the best thing about this program. You don't have to find a specific activity. It's whatever I'm
doing that day."
Travis' mother, Connie Cain, appreciates the activities Schirk does because Travis' father lives out of town.
She said she thought the program benefited Travis, who has been involved in the program for seven years.
"I'd been divorced, and I felt he needed male guidance," Cain said. "I didn't want him to sit around and do nothing."
Sitting around and doing nothing is not usually an option for college students who often have hectic schedules. But Karlin said about 80 percent of the volunteers were college students. She attributed this to an adult community which is generally busy with full-time jobs.
"A lot of classes push volunteerism. A lot of them miss their siblings at home. In fact, a lot of the community people think all we work with are college students," Karlin said.
Although volunteers can be of any age older than
18. Karlin said it was good for the children to be exposed to college students. Cain hopes Travis will learn from Schirk's dedication to school.
"The idea of going to school might have some kind of an impact because he will know Casey on a personal level. He'll see "This guy is going for something he really wants,"" she said.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters employs workers like Karlin who find matches for the children, as well as utilizing volunteers to solicit funding and run the office. The organization also plays host for interns from the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare.
While the organization cannot provide money for the volunteers, community businesses will sometimes offer special deals so that pairs like Travis and Schirk can afford to do things around town.
"A lot of people think that it takes a lot of time. I work and go to school full time," Schirk said. "Instead of spending a couple of hours watching TV, you can hang out with your little brother."
Rachel Epp Buller, Lincoln, Neb., graduate student, plays with a kittens at the Lawrence Humane Society. Buller plays with kittens so they can get used to human contact before being adopted. Photo by Dip Dishman/KANSAN
Students lend a paw to pets
Abandoned animals in need of assistance
Kansan staff report
KU students who volunteer in Lawrence are not all building houses for the homeless or feeding the hungry. Some volunteer to work with underprivileged animals.
About 20 students currently volunteer at the Lawrence Humane Society,1805 E. 19th St., according to Kim Roberts, volunteer director. These students, in addition to about 50 other volunteers, perform a number of services for the animals, mostly as caretakers.
Caretakers are responsible for the animals' basic needs, such as feeding and keeping their living areas clean. They also give the animals attention or socialize with them. Volunteers at the center take care of clerical work and help with fund-raising events.
Rachel Epp Buller, Lincoln, Neb, graduate student, first volunteered after reading an article about the Humane Society in the paper. She said it bothered her that so few people seemed to take pet ownership seriously, and she thought that by volunteering she could help.
"I feel like I'm making a worthwhile contribution," Buller said. "It's a good change of pace for me.
a time when I can think about something other than school."
All volunteers must take part in a two-part orientation, the first of which takes place at the shelter on the first Thursday of each month. The second session is done by appointment and focuses on the volunteer's main area of interest.
Buller said she worked mostly in the nursery now, with the animals that are too young to be adopted. In addition to keeping these animals, which are mostly kittens, clean and healthy, she tries to help them become more socially adapted, making them better candidates for adoption.
Banzet works with the shelter's sick animals. She said that although it was not always the most uplifting job, she enjoyed watching animals that had been ill recover enough to be adopted.
Roberts said an experienced caretaker stayed with the volunteers to answer questions and to provide assistance when they first started working.
Lee Banzet, Mulvane senior, said when she came to Lawrence she decided the Humane Society would be the best way to help animals.
Both Banzet and Buller agreed that volunteering could be fit into a busy schedule relatively easily.
"As long as you're responsible, it shouldn't be a problem," Banzet said.
paper towels bleach blankets and towels cat and dog toys detergent sponges rabbit food 35mm film Polaroid film clippers washer and dryer van or truck
The Humane Society allows volunteers mostly to set their own schedules. Buller said she volunteered one day a week.
The Humane Society is a nonprofit organization and has contracts with the city and the county to cover most of its operating costs. They accept donations from private businesses and memorial funds as well as those from individuals. Most of the money goes toward the animals' food and medication. Some helps pay the shelter's 12 full-time employees.
The Humane Society also seeks donations ranging from cleaning products to camera film.
Restaurant-style a change from soup kitchens
"Every little bit helps," Roberts said.
The shelter encourages potential pet owners to check the Humane Society before buying an animal from a pet store or breeder. They also ask that pet owners have all of their pets spayed or neutered.
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Hill said there were fewer than 10 restaurants like it in the country.
"It gives guests a sense of dignity and the ability to make choices carries over to their daily lives," she said.
The cafe is staffed by about 30 people each Tuesday morning, the majority of whom are students at the University of Kansas.
Shifts begin at 6 a.m., and volunteers can work one or more of the three shifts.
"I set my alarm for 5 in the morning, as loud as it will go," said Stephanie Sapienza, Kansas City, Kan., junior. "A lot of times I will have my friends call too."
Sapienza said she usually cooked when she arrived at 6 a.m. Other duties include setting tables, making coffee and juice and serving as the wait staff.
"I remember the first time I sat and ate with a guest," Hill said. "He was talking about doing his laundry in the river and hanging it on a tree to dry. I'd never thought of doing laundry like that before."
All volunteers are encouraged to sit down and eat with the guests if they have an opportunity.
In addition to the KU students who volunteer at the cafe, others not associated with the University also donate their time.
"I'm giving back what the community has given to me. I didn't come from a wealthy family. When you are poor, you learn how to survive. If you focus on the negatives, you won't be successful." Turner said.
Turner said he was homeless when he first arrived in Lawrence and was a regular at the Jubilee Cafe. Now, Turner cooks at the Cafe.
One such person is Donnell Turner, managerial director at Friends Oread Meeting House.
The cafe has been successful since it opened in October of 1994. Three years after its opening, Clark Keffer, Lawrence sophmore and restaurant manager, estimated the cafe had served more than 6,250 meals.
Keffer said the cafe remained open during the winter and summer breaks, including Christmas morning if it happened to fall on a Tuesday.
The cost to keep the cafe open is about $5,000 per year, which covers the cost of food and supplies. Much of the funding for the cafe comes from the Episcopalian church, and this year, from donations from fraternities and sororites.
Clark Mitchell, Lawrence senior, shops every Monday afternoon to restock the kitchen for the next day's breakfast. He said each meal cost about $1, and each week's grocery bill was about $60.
"Ialways get funny stares," Mitchell said.
"Here I am, this college student, buying all this breakfast stuff. No one ever asks, though."
Center provides opportunities for volunteers
By Gwen Olson
By Gwen Olson
golson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Throughout their years at the University of Kansas, students are encouraged to become involved in activities that help the campus and Lawrence communities.
The Center for Community Outreach, the University's volunteer headquarters, heads 12 standing programs. The programs provide a wide range of opportunities for students to get involved in community service.
Emily Heath, Oskaloosa senior and co-director for CCO, said if the group continued with its current success, they would have more than 3,500 volunteers by the end of the school year.
Alternative Sprina Break
Heath said CCO was approached by individuals as well as other campus organizations that wanted to participate in service activities. Alternative Service Branch
"Some of those are just one-time service projects," she said. "I'd say continually we have about 700 volunteers."
Alternative Spring Break is a program that puts students in inner cities throughout the country during a time when most students are taking vacations.
"Anybody can go off for spring break and have a great time, but this is one of the only opportunities people may have to do something like this." Najim said.
Jamie Najim, Wichita senior and co-director for CCO, said students work side-by-side with people in the community to help with activities such as cleaning up neighborhoods.
Volunteers can choose from sites in Cleveland, El Paso, Texas, Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington, New York and Kirtland, Ohio. Last year Najim said the program had 75 volunteers at nine sites but said a higher concentration of volunteers in fewer sites would be better to assist the community.
Concerned. Aware and Active Students
Concerned, Aware and Active Students (CAAS) helps inform students about social problems the Lawrence community has. CAAS also organizes CCO's action months. One example of an action month is Hunger and Homelessness month, which is November.
Kate Turnbull, Lawrence sophomore and co-coordinator for CAAS, said the program also tried to get students involved in other programs that CCO offered.
Campus Volunteer Program
The Campus Volunteer Program works specifically with groups that want to participate in a volunteer activity.
The program reters students to specific Lawrence or campus agencies that deal with the interests of the group.
College Bound
The College Bound program matches college students with a fourth-, fifth- or sixth-grade class to help the students understand more about college experiences.
Community Internship Program
The Community Internship Program allows students to look into career opportunities while working with a local nonprofit agency.
Najim said the group targeted schools that had students that would be first-generation college students. Volunteers visit the classes six times, and for the last visit, the students take a tour of campus. Community Interahub Program
The Jubilee Cafe, located at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont St., provides breakfast on Tuesday mornings for the homeless and people in need in Lawrence.
The internships include paid and nonpaid positions and volunteers are expected to work eight to 10 hours a week for one semester.
Cheryl Hill, St. George junior and co-coordinator for the program, said the cafe served people in a restaurant style.
"The philosophy is to serve our guests with dignity and respect," she said. "Our goal is to let people make their own choices."
Jayhawk Connection
Najim said the Jubilee Cafe is one of CCO's most pop ular programs.
The Jayhawk Connection provides freshman and transfer students with a list of upperclassmen volunteers who can help them during their first year at the University.
René Meyer, liberal senior and co-coordinator for the program, said volunteers gave information about their interests, majors and activities.
Natural Ties
Natural Ties is an organization that matches student organizations up with a person with a developmental disability to establish a friendship or ties with that person.
John Warren, Denver senior and administrative coordinator for the program, said the group worked with 23 KU organizations including fraternities, sororities, scholarship halls and the KU Band.
"We work at providing someone with a disability the opportunity to have a friendship with an organization," Warren said. "The ties are adults who work around Lawrence and range in age from 22 to 50 years old." Students Tutoring for Literacy
Students Tutoring for Literacy places volunteers at different learning sites in Lawrence to help adults and families with reading skills.
Scott Hendrix, Lawrence graduate student and co-coordinator for the program, said he enjoyed working with the program because it was different than teaching his English classes.
"It's very sobering to see adults who have only basic reading and writing skills," he said. "It's also a kind of teaching that I don't get to do in the classroom."
The program has nine sites in Lawrence that are specialized for specific age groups.
Students on Board is a program that helps students get involved on advisory boards of local government and nonprofit agencies. Youth Student Council
Youth Student Council
The Youth Student Council places students in local elementary schools to help with the school's student councils.
school students develop leadership and organizational skills.
Youth Volunteer Corps
The Youth Volunteer Corps is a program that is being developed this year. Volunteers help children in the community by becoming a group leader.
The group leaders work to encourage children to begin serving the community while they are young and give the children opportunities to volunteer.