Farmville Community Misses Students During Summer
Issue date: 4/21/10 Section: News
By Cathy Onorati
Rotunda Reporter
Longwood University students have an impact on the Town of Farmville in more positive ways than one might think. Cindy Morris, Farmville's town planner, stated, "Each Longwood student is an asset to the town of Farmville and plays an important role in influencing the town of Farmville. When the students leave it really feels like something is missing."
Morris said Longwood student volunteers help out with the Farmville Recreation Department, the Fire Department and the Rescue Squad. "Longwood students make up 25 percent of the Farmville Volunteer Fire Department's membership. Their service to the community while they are in Farmville is tremendous, with a three- to four-minute response rate." This cut in response time has a lot to do with the students' location. Since the student volunteers are living here in the center of the town, it is easier for them to respond to emergencies in a quick manner.
The students are very involved with the Farmville Recreation Department as well. William Bailey, the director of recreation for the town, stated the Longwood student volunteers are "a huge backbone support system because they provide so much volunteer support to our programs that in turn allows us to offer free programs to the youth and to the town of Farmville." Typically, the Recreation Department has anywhere from 20 to 30 volunteers. Bailey said the number of volunteers "varies because I have some that will come in for an hour here and an hour there and I have some that are committed to programs."
Not only does the number of student volunteers range, but also so do the jobs they do. Bailey stated the youth programs the students are involved in "are anywhere from art to helping out with sporting events to participating in outdoor activities such as help with rock climbing … The students really enjoy helping out."
Morris said, "The town utilizes student volunteers for our recreation programs. This has been a wonderful and beneficial experience for both the students and the town." She explained the students not only serve the community through their volunteer efforts but the students also simply come to the community and liven it up. "During the school year, thousands of Longwood University students and many of the student's visitors [parents and friends] bring out the busy aspects and unique qualities of the town."
Rotunda Reporter
Longwood University students have an impact on the Town of Farmville in more positive ways than one might think. Cindy Morris, Farmville's town planner, stated, "Each Longwood student is an asset to the town of Farmville and plays an important role in influencing the town of Farmville. When the students leave it really feels like something is missing."
Morris said Longwood student volunteers help out with the Farmville Recreation Department, the Fire Department and the Rescue Squad. "Longwood students make up 25 percent of the Farmville Volunteer Fire Department's membership. Their service to the community while they are in Farmville is tremendous, with a three- to four-minute response rate." This cut in response time has a lot to do with the students' location. Since the student volunteers are living here in the center of the town, it is easier for them to respond to emergencies in a quick manner.
The students are very involved with the Farmville Recreation Department as well. William Bailey, the director of recreation for the town, stated the Longwood student volunteers are "a huge backbone support system because they provide so much volunteer support to our programs that in turn allows us to offer free programs to the youth and to the town of Farmville." Typically, the Recreation Department has anywhere from 20 to 30 volunteers. Bailey said the number of volunteers "varies because I have some that will come in for an hour here and an hour there and I have some that are committed to programs."
Not only does the number of student volunteers range, but also so do the jobs they do. Bailey stated the youth programs the students are involved in "are anywhere from art to helping out with sporting events to participating in outdoor activities such as help with rock climbing … The students really enjoy helping out."
Morris said, "The town utilizes student volunteers for our recreation programs. This has been a wonderful and beneficial experience for both the students and the town." She explained the students not only serve the community through their volunteer efforts but the students also simply come to the community and liven it up. "During the school year, thousands of Longwood University students and many of the student's visitors [parents and friends] bring out the busy aspects and unique qualities of the town."
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