School of Mines Volunteer Makes a Difference

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School of Mines Volunteer Makes a Difference

This past fall, students in a psychology class at the South Dakota School of Mines were given the option of either writing a research paper or volunteering for twenty-five hours with a Black Hills organization. While some of the students may have seen both options as just one more assignment to complete for the semester, Kelcy Wanek saw it as an opportunity to help people in Rapid City. She said she was familiar with the Black Hills Workshop (BHWS) and “knew this was a place where I could use my patience and compassion to make a difference in the lives of others.” Kelcy will tell you that she is caring, patient, and loves to help, but when she decided to become involved with BHWS, she wasn’t expecting to be so deeply affected by the people she was serving. For two months, she has been serving in the Sensory Development area and the Suzie Cappa Art Center, assisting with art projects, helping people eat lunch, and spending time getting to know them. Through her time at BHWS, Kelcy says she has learned the power of a hug, the importance of saying thank you, the value of enjoying “the simple things every day,” and other lessons that could benefit all of us. Kelcy was only required to volunteer during the fall semester, but after spending time at the Workshop, she says “there are people I have come to cherish and will dearly miss them when I am gone.” She does not know what her schedule looks like for the spring “but will definitely consider continuing to serve at the Workshop” thanks to the extraordinary people she has met and who have left a lasting impression on her in such a short time.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Black Hills Workshop, you can contact Michael Kaiser at (605) 343-4581 ext. 231, or e-mail him at mkaiser@bhws.com. You can view all of BHWS service opportunities at www.volunteermatch.org. Search “Rapid City, SD” and “Black Hills Workshop” or go through the link under the Volunteer section of www.bhws.com.