NE North Dakota News

Students in Lacey Anderson's "SOC 115: Social Problems" class at the University of North Dakota are tasked with a unique assignment that encourages them to engage with their communities. The assignment requires students to volunteer for at least four hours over the semester with an organization addressing a social issue.

Kadence Lockie, a senior in Social Work from Miles City, Montana, faced challenges due to her location in Froid, Montana—a town too small for major social service organizations. She organized a winter clothing drive to help children stay warm during recess. Lockie expressed her initial uncertainty about spreading the word but managed to gather community support through flyers and social media.

Lockie's initiative resulted in an overflow of donations including hats, gloves, coats, and boots. "It was amazing and an all-around great feeling," she said. The experience opened her eyes to social issues and the importance of basic necessities like winter clothing.

Instructor Lacey Anderson highlighted the impact of such assignments on students' perspectives: “When you can approach in a personal way some of those problems that society actively tries to avoid or ignore, you come away with an entirely different perspective.”

Sophomore Maia Jensen from Fargo volunteered at Great Plains Food Bank’s warehouse packing rice for distribution. She found the experience rewarding and continued volunteering beyond her initial commitment.

Anderson noted that many students felt inspired to continue volunteering after their assignments ended. "One of the students who delivered meals to older adults noted that he found the experience so impactful that he planned to become a regular volunteer for the program,” she shared.

For those interested in getting involved, Anderson suggests checking out UND Volunteers on the UND website which lists local nonprofits and organizations.