Community Service Association

We work directly with the Licking County American Red Cross to organize blood drives on Denison’s campus. Volunteers work on four blood drives annually, helping with publicity and campus outreach.

The committee asks for strong commitment and involvement during the week leading up to the blood drive and has minimal obligations during the time between drives.

The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Licking and Perry Counties is to develop confident, competent, and caring youth through professionally supported, one-on-one relationships with caring mentors. In the “Lunch Buddies” program, college students are matched with an elementary school child and meet with their “Littles” once a week. All contact takes place on school grounds. With their Littles, they will help develop reading skills, tutor as needed, and be a friend to a child in need of a caring role model and mentor.

BreakAway is a national organization that gives young men and women the chance to serve in different capacities in varying cities across the United States. Denison’s BreakAway Chapter offers several week-long service trips during the last week of Winter Break. Prior to the trips taking off, students spend time with their group leaders and group members discussing their topic, location, service-learning, and preparing for their direct service in the communities they will serve. The trip topics in recent years have covered topics such as Education, Economics, and Civil Rights in the 21st Century. Students have a unique chance to leave Denison and Granville to delve into some of the most pressing issues of our generation hands on.

The Denison chapter of Habitat for Humanity works with the international organization in its mission to alleviate homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter accessible to people of all backgrounds, races and religions. Our volunteers are involved in local renovation and building, as well as a winter break work trip, and work in partnership with the families in need.

HnH provides opportunities for ongoing service and holds an awareness week in November. We regularly collect items from residence halls for distribution in local agencies and transport meals donated from our dining halls to be served in community shelters.

Medical Volunteers are committed to preserving the quality and dignity of life by offering physical and emotional care based on the highest standards. Volunteers work at the inpatient unit at Licking Memorial Hospital to staff the volunteer desk, talk with patients and families, and simply provide a listening ear or comforting presence for someone in need. Working at the administrative offices or on group projects is also an option for those less inclined to work in a hospital setting.

Working with the Licking County Homeward Bound Humane Society, we go weekly to assist the shelter’s regular staff with the animals. We also help fund-raise and plan annual events.

New Beginnings is a battered women’s shelter in Newark. Student volunteers spend time with children while their mothers attend support groups, court hearings, or other appointments in order to rebuild their lives. Volunteers also take children to activities on the weekends, such as bowling, swimming, or a local park. Volunteers should be patient and enthusiastic about playing with children. We are also looking for male volunteers to model positive behaviors to young boys who oftentimes do not have other positive male role models.

DVP will now be working with RedFrame Lab and DCSA will work with them to provide service hours for organizations that are awarded the grant each year.

DCSA works to affect positive social change through student-led committees that address the needs of the community by volunteering in a variety of organizations. DCSA leads much of the community service work that takes place on campus. Our students work with campus partners, such as fraternity and sorority life and athletics, on service work in the community. Students can join committees that address specific social issues at any time.