Student volunteers shovel heaps of snow, provide heaps of kindness towards D.C. community

Nearly two feet of snow could not keep the campus community indoors as student volunteers and staff decided to dig out not just Kendall Green, but neighborhoods surrounding the campus, from #blizzard2016.

With coordination between Carl Pramuk, associate dean of the Student Center Programs and Services, the Student Body Government (SBG), the Gallaudet Interfaith and Non-religious Network (GaIN),
and the D.C. Mayor’s Office, the volunteers shoveled snow on campus and along the following streets off-campus: Sixth Street, Seventh Street, Montello Avenue, Morse Avenue, West Virginia Avenue, and Owen Place, giving particular attention to elderly and disabled residents.

Mary Harman, SBG president, was inspired to see volunteers contributing to the community. “Their levels of compassion humbled me,” said Harman. “Some of them even shoveled houses with snow-covered stairs and driveways that weren’t on the list. It made me proud to see that Gallaudetians are not only committed to giving back to our immediate community but also to our surrounding community. Every single volunteer came back into the building red-faced but genuinely smiling–that was heart-warming despite spending time in the cold weather.”

During the SBG welcome reception for her on January 28, President Cordano recognized the spirit of volunteerism initiated by the students. “The energy of volunteers shoveling, the act of helping each other, changed the energy and dynamics here,” said Cordano, who also volunteered.

The volunteers: Emma Balderas, Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano, Keith Doane, Darrius Doe, Jason Flynn, Paige Foreman, Trey Gordon, Mary Harman, Tsung Han, Shelby Jensen, Jaddua Johnston, Carl Kingstedt, Alanna Laughrey, Rhiannon Le Lievre, Jehanne McCullough, Taylor Mickelson, Anna Polivanchuk, Arthur Rodriguez, Aleksander Rozentsvit, Kimberly Shorette, Andre Simons, Dorathy Sietsema, Ethan Sonnenstrahl, Damir Tuzmukhamedov and Morgane Vincent.

Be sure to give them a thumbs up!