May is National Volunteer Month, and students at Stony Brook University are actively participating in various community service projects. The Center for Service Learning and Community Service highlights these initiatives, illustrating the significant impact students have on their communities and their personal growth.
Amin Khwaja, a biochemistry student, has focused on addressing food insecurity since his first year. He initially volunteered at the campus food pantry, known as the "Seawolves Pantry", and later became an intern there. Khwaja stated, “I wanted to create another avenue for students to get involved.” He established the Hunger Initiative Club, which combats food insecurity with projects like "Adopt-a-Week", where campus organizations host weekly food drives. The club received a $400 grant from The Contribution Project, allowing for the donation of 500 to 600 food items.
Khwaja is working to link food insecurity to healthcare, mentioning efforts to open a food pantry at a Northwell Hospital. He said, “In the volunteer world, I guess that people are always willing to help.”
Carolyn Huang, a health science major, has volunteered at Stony Brook University Hospital since her freshman year, handling various roles in Food and Nutrition Services, the Cancer Center Food Pantry, and the Birth Registrar. She expressed her fondness for her role, saying, “The mothers are really friendly and they want to share [news] about their baby.” Huang chose SBU Hospital to gain healthcare experience and improve her communication skills. “I wanted to get experience in the hospital, and interacting with patients and opening up,” she remarked.
For more information on getting involved in community service, visit the Center for Service Learning and Community Service in SAC 228, email CommunityService@stonybrook.edu, or schedule an appointment on Handshake.
Contributors to this initiative include Aima Chaudhry, Merica Griffin, Lily Kis-Horvath, and Angelica Zeideia.