Record-Breaking Service
Operation InAsMuch Gets Students Out of Dorms, Into Community
Melanie Patterson, O&B Staff Writer
Issue date: 10/3/08 Section: News
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Over 30 campus organizations took part by offering their services to non-profit agencies in the Jefferson County area. Students worked on projects such as picking up trash, painting, mowing lawns, and visiting patients at healthcare centers. Groups traveled throughout the county to Morristown, Dandridge, Jefferson City, and as far away as Strawberry Plains.
Community Connections along with the efforts of Campus Ministries, Students Activities, and Bonners organized the event. Meghann Overholt, director of Community Connections says the goal of Operation Inasmuch is to build relationships between students and agencies in hopes that the students will return in the future to volunteer on their own.
"We want students to find that passion to give a lifetime of service," said Overholt.
Operation Inasmuch is dependent on sponsors to cover the cost of the event. It takes about four thousand dollars to pay for the cost of the shirts for volunteers and their lunches. This year's donations were up and are expected to continue to increase as Operation Inasmuch grows in popularity on campus.
"It touches my heart to see students come out to do all the work," Overholt said, "I think over half of the students came because they have a servant's heart."
Senior Jennifer Tramel has participated in Operation Inasmuch for the past three years and knows the rewards of giving her time to help others. Community service is a major part of her life and has been for several years. She naturally became involved in Operation Inasmuch because of the impact it has on her college community.
Tramel worked her first Operation Inasmuch at Appalachian Outreach helping to organize the food pantry and hanging donated clothes. The next year, she worked on the Community Connections staff to help organize the Operation and take photos.
Currently, Tramel serves as public relations chair for Community Connections and spent most of her time helping to organize this year's event. The amount of students who showed up to lend a hand impressed her, but she says she believes students came away with more than they expected.
"College students get a really bad reputation for not caring about the community. It means a lot to have a quarter of the campus get up early on a Saturday morning to help people they don't even know," Tramel said, "I think Operation Inasmuch unites our campus and shows just how unique Carson Newman is."
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