Sociology Club Makes a Difference

Under the guidance of Dr. Sarah Whitley, the Sociology Club has been very busy this year! Here are few of the highlights!

Making their Community a Better Place

Horsing Around

During fall semester, club members volunteered at Orphan Acres in Viola, Idaho, an equine rescue rehabilitation sanctuary. Volunteers brushed horses, took blind horses on walks, picked apples, cleaned used building materials, and dug post holes for a new barn being constructed before the winter months hit.

Giving Thanks

For National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week in the fall, club members collected monetary and food donations to put together Thanksgiving Holiday Meal Baskets for Whitman County residents in need. The Club raised $750 and collected 1,100 pounds of food to make meal baskets for 25 families. Some students were also on hand to distribute the baskets at the Colfax Food Pantry.

Small Town Challenges

Several club members are pen pals with fourth graders at Tekoa Elementary, a [K-6] school located nearly 50 miles north of Pullman. It’s a fun way for the younger students to practice reading and writing with a college student role model, while also giving the older students an opportunity to better understand “between school differences” in Whitman County. Tekoa fourth grade teacher Kim Schulz was a guest speaker at a club meeting and relayed the challenges at the school and in reaching testing proficiency levels. After exchanging five letters during the fall semester, club members are now raising money to bring the Tekoa fourth graders to Pullman for an on-campus college experience. Nearly $250 has been raised by soliciting donations to be raffled from local businesses, including Cafe Moro, Little Caesars, Paradise Creek Brewery, Pizza Perfection, and Wild Ivy. The fourth graders will visit in April!

Professional Development

Graduate students and Whitman County area social service professionals answered questions about specific professions and required qualifications. Panel participants included: Amy Robbins, Family Development Program Manager at Community Action Center; Melissa Johnson, Legal Advocate Alternatives to Violence on the Palouse; Justin Henderson, Outreach Coordinator/Psychology Resident WSU Counseling Services; Jordan Rinehard, Campaign Work and Graduate Student at WSU; and Joseph Kremer, Graduate Student at WSU. Club members also participated in a resumé building/interview skills workshop from a representative at the Center for Advising and Career Development.