One of the coordinators of this partnership is Heidi Bustos, MBU residence hall director for PEG students, who live in a dedicated center on campus.
She saw the vital role that volunteering could have in impacting her hometown community in Chicago.
“My living situation at home was not ideal,” Bustos said, “and I always found myself looking for opportunities to join organizations that had service opportunities.”
Bustos found herself in a leadership program that led her to different volunteering opportunities. Through constant networking, she volunteered over 500 hours.
“I believe that service is a big part of me,” Bustos said, “and to this day I look for different ways that I can be involved in my community and encourage others to do so.”
Bustos gives weekly newsletters to her PEG students that list volunteering opportunities in the community, including YVC activities.
Victoria Peterson ’23, a PEG student from Maryland, appreciates the newsletter.
“She [Bustos] introduces opportunities that are available to us,” Peterson said. “I try to come to everything I can.”
Lassiter works not only with university students but also students from the community who are in middle school and high school.
“It has been really cool to see them all interact,” Lassiter said, “and find a common bond through volunteering together.”
Peterson agrees.
“It is nice to talk to people who are the same age as me in a different position,” she said. “It is refreshing.”