BYU 'idle' time spent in service
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PROVO, Utah — While organizing a service project for BYU students who could not participate in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games as volunteers, members of BYU's Olympic committee gathered supplies to make bags for children's school kits to donate to the Church's Humanitarian Service Center. They surmised the project would take two days.
Three hours later the supplies were gone; cut and stacked and ready to go.
"The people who came were incredible," said organizer Courtney Whittington of the more than 500 student volunteers who participated in the project. "They made the project happen in a way we couldn't imagine and we didn't imagine."
With time on their hands, the volunteers decided to simply do more. After they ran out of supplies, she and Anie Adams appealed to Curtis Nielsen, program director the BYU Student Association Service to the World Club. He regularly distributes service-project supplies from the Church Humanitarian Center to BYU wards and family home evening groups.
He gave them everything he had.
The next day more students returned, again completing all the projects available.
"Our resource is time, especially since we had a week off school," said Anie. "It is nice to see a lot of people come, willing to give what they do have."
For Jeffrey England it was natural to participate in the service project. "I wanted to do Olympic service but didn't get the chance," he said. "I am privileged to have all the comforts of life that I do. Since I have extra time I feel like a good way to spend it is in service."
His attitude was shared by dozens of others.
Ernesto Jimenez also wanted to be an official Olympic volunteer, but did not have transportation to Olympic venues. "Any other way I can serve would be excellent," he said.
Even Camille Craw, who had only one extra hour of time, came to the project, telling organizers: "I would like to help if I can."
Anie said the pro-service attitude at BYU is something she has had to get used to. As a freshman she signed up for a service project, but was turned down; too many others had already been accepted. "I said, 'Where am I?'
"I have seen a lot of service projects at BYU," she concluded. "I have never been disappointed. If people hear about them, they show up."
E-mail: sarah@desnews.com
