While many juniors and seniors try to think of ways to fit their Service-Learning requirement into increasingly hectic schedules, freshman Jessica Buhman already is reflecting on her nearly-completed project.

Buhman is part of a new program through her Sociology 101 class, in which students volunteer at Community Table. Buhman and several other students have helped prepare and serve meals for Eau Claire citizens in need of food and hospitality.

“A lot of people don’t think there are people in need in Eau Claire,” Buhman said, “but it’s obvious that so many are.”

The project was the creation of Yanick St. Jean, a visiting assistant professor of

sociology.

St. Jean said the volunteer opportunities presented by Community Table perfectly reflect her goals for her sociology students.

“One of the goals of sociology is to reduce ethnocentrism,” she said. “A great way to do this is to have students engaged with people they wouldn’t normally be in contact with.”

Community Table was founded in 1993 by several area churches, in association with the local food bank and other concerned citizens and social groups. It serves meals once a day almost every day of the year.

In order to incorporate Service-Learning into her classroom curriculum, St. Jean approached Carrie Ann Dachel, an employee at the Service-Learning Center on campus, and Peter Raleigh, a Community Table volunteer who has been highly active in facilitating student involvement.

Dachel said the students are getting exactly what St. Jean had hoped they would get through the project: a hands-on exposure to the community.

“The students’ role was to not just serve meals, but also to assist with planning and fundraising,” Dachel said. “The students are also learning about non-profit organizations and how they impact a community.”

She said students already have helped to raise more than $1,000 for Community Table and will have served 22 meals.

As for making contact with members of the community, Buhman said the experience changed a lot of things for her.

“I didn’t know what to expect going into this, but after a while, you realize it really does make a difference,” she said. “You are talking to real human beings about real things. Suddenly, you’re connecting with a person you might not have talked to otherwise.”

Buhman recalled one instance in which she brought a friend not associated with the program to help serve meals.

“A man walked up to my friend and said, ‘I love you. Well, I love what you’re doing here.’ It made the entire trip for her,”

she said.

Buhman said she has every intention of continuing to volunteer.

“I could definitely see myself doing this more in the future.”