There’s more to London than Richmond Row.
For Western University students, it can be easy to get caught up in the books or the bars. But on Saturday afternoon, 35 students embarked past familiar grounds and into different parts of the city to spend time with, and assist the elderly and disabled.
The Day of Giving is an annual event between the Rotary Club of London and Western’s Rotaract Club that connects students with local seniors. This year, second-year students Nancy Liu and Lannie Seddon were in charge of planning the day.
Day of Giving co-coordinators, Lannie Seddon (L) and Nancy Liu (R).
Seddon says that the Rotary Club acts like the parents to the Rotaract Club, and is happy to work alongside them.
“It’s really shown me how much can happen when people come together, especially with the Rotarians…. When they come together with their club, mixed with ours, it shows how we can make such a difference in the community.”
For her, the event has helped open her eyes to the possibilities that lie outside Western’s gates.
“It can be easy to forget that we live in a bigger community. It really helps to go out at see that there are many different cultures and socio-economic statuses in London, and it’s nice to get to connect with people and help out.”
Throughout the day, students travel to different clients to help out with tasks around the house or simply to spend time with. In one home, students were tasked with helping build a shelf.
Even though they are sent to assist the seniors, Seddon says that students stand to gain a lot from the day as well.
“I think both sides have a lot to learn, both the clients and the volunteers. It’s crazy, the things you can learn from just visiting with someone you didn’t know before, and making connections in the community.”
For Liu, being a Rotaract member and volunteering throughout London has made her university experience that much more special.
“I definitely think it has opened me to more than just the school community. Before I was just focused on my own school work, I never really thought about the other people in the city, but there are a lot of people who are in need of help.”
Seddon urges all students to burst through the ‘Western bubble’.
“It’s so easy to get caught up in your own personal life, but you know there’s other things more important than getting a good mark on a test.”
