Abstract

In an effort both to raise funds and to serve the community, Florida Gulf Coast University's Center for Civic Engagement holds a basket making competition each year in which university groups compete against each other to create the most unique or imaginative basket, filled with food or other basic necessities. Members from the university community serve as judge, voting with monetary support. The monies are then used to sponsor other events at the Center, and the baskets are distributed to needy seniors who might not otherwise receive a gift for the holidays. Linda Summers submitted this effective practice in July 2004.

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Issue

Faith in Action has many volunteers to assist their elderly clients in home repairs, shopping, or with other essential chores of daily living. However, because many of the clients do not have family, during the holidays they often do not receive gifts. Volunteers usually don't have the funds to purchase gifts or food for them.

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Action

According to the Director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU):

• The Center for Civic Engagement sponsors a basket making competition each year. Several campus groups participate, including student organizations, university departments, and those affiliated with student housing buildings, and there are several categories by which baskets are judged.
• Each entrant in the competition fills a basket with food, necessities, and special treats; some baskets have themes, some are just gift baskets.
• The week before FGCU breaks at the end of fall semester, the baskets are displayed and the university community "votes" for its favorite baskets with monetary donations.
• The basket in each category with the most "votes" wins, and the groups that sponsored the winning baskets gather for an ice cream social hosted by Center staff.
• The money raised goes toward other Center projects.
• Baskets are distributed to clients of Faith in Action — elderly seniors who have long-term health needs.

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Context

Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to the learning goals and educational outcomes of aesthetic sensibility; a culturally diverse perspective; an ecological perspective; effective communication; ethical responsibility; information literacy; problem-solving abilities; technological literacy; community awareness and involvement — believing these objectives provide a foundation for lifelong learning and effective citizenship.

A number of courses at FGCU have service learning components, and service-learning hours can be earned by taking these courses. The faculty member teaching the class sets the criteria for the service-learning sites appropriate for the course. The faculty member may have suggestions for service-learning activities or may ask students to develop their own.

The Center for Civic Engagement supports faculty service-learning efforts. Support includes directing faculty to resources, letting them know about conferences, sponsoring workshops, attending classes to explain service-learning to students, helping faculty develop service-learning placements at appropriate not-for-profits, providing a reflection booklet that can be adapted to individual courses, and documenting student activities.

Faith in Action is an interfaith volunteer caregiving program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Faith in Action awards grants to local groups representing many faiths that volunteer to work together to care for their neighbors who have long-term health needs. Faith in Action volunteers come from churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship, as well as the community at large. Volunteers help those in need by providing non-medical assistance with tasks such as picking up a few groceries or running errands; providing a ride to the doctor; friendly visiting (talking and listening); reading or helping to pay bills. With this volunteer assistance, members of the community who have long-term health needs can maintain their independence for as long as possible.

Starting in 1983 with the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers Program and continuing in 1993 with the introduction of Faith in Action, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has supported faith-based community efforts to help those in need with volunteer caregivers. These efforts have helped to create nearly 1,000 interfaith volunteer caregiving programs across the country.

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Outcome

The students, staff, and faculty at Florida Gulf Coast University have totally embraced the FGCU Cares basket project. After several successful years, the time to organize the project got away from Center staff in 2003. Howls of protest and requests not to skip the project again, ensures the holiday project will receive appropriate and early attention in the future!

The sense of friendly competition is evident. Staff members bring in change collections from home to vote for their department's basket; student groups send their members to scope out the competition and stuff their own "ballot box" with pennies.

Several individual staff members, who declined to be in the competition, nonetheless made beautiful baskets.

The clients themselves have been overwhelmed and very appreciative that they are in the thoughts of the university community.

Faith in Action is delighted to be able to help some of the neediest individuals with thoughtfully selected items in beautiful baskets.

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Evidence

The staff of the Center for Civic Engagement has received heartwarming feedback from the recipients of the baskets through Faith in Action. One woman was reluctant to open the basket that was left on her doorstep because she couldn't believe anyone would give her anything for the holidays. She was afraid it was a mistake. Another client shared her joy at receiving a basket with a tearful call to Center staff.

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Posted On

August 1, 2004

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For More Information

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Related Practices

• Using art to raise funds and awareness for hunger relief

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Related sites

Faith in Action

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