here - Education Management Corporation

warm winter coats warm
hearts and souls
Trying to inspire change in someone or within a group of individuals can take place without even trying. Inspiration can
come dressed in words or action. That’s what took place in early October 2010, when representatives from the St. Jude
House in Crown Point, Indiana, gave a presentation to the Brown Mackie College – Merrillville Law Club. St. Jude
House provides services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to the victim’s dependent children. The
facility is accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Shelter and crisis intervention services are available 24
hours a day, 365 days a year. All services are provided free of charge.
The Law Club, along with other students from the school, organized and held a Law Club Coat Drive from mid-
October through November 2010. The goal of the coat drive was to provide winter clothing for the St. Jude House
residential and non-residential clients who find themselves without adequate clothing for the winter months.
For the Brown Mackie College – Merrillville Law Club and other students, volunteerism gave them a chance to display
their passion and dedication that started with a presentation and resonated into action on the part of the
Law Club.
“The students were so inspired and motivated to conduct the coat drive
for the shelter, they wanted to return the favor,” said Terri Tinder, Law
Club faculty advisor. “Our students were so willing to share whatever
winter clothes they had,” said Law Club member Veronica Orozco.
The Law Club and other student volunteers saw that once they started
volunteering, they ended up realizing how much they got back; and
for them, it was just satisfaction. Volunteering works best when it is
a mutually beneficial experience. It’s a great feeling to be able to help
people and organizations. “Not only did the club members learn about
the services and benefits of shelters like St. Jude House, they also
learned how to feel good about doing something for their community,”
said David Choate, department chair for Legal Studies.
The volunteers worked long and hard, and put in extra hours to make
the coat drive a success. Major goals of the Law Club were to develop
partnerships, give back to the community, and be a positive presence to
inspire others to do the same. In this case, the recipient, St. Jude House,
provided the inspiration that put the school’s Law Club volunteerism
into action.