1. Amy Verbiski

2.  Integrates community service with academic instruction that focuses on critical thinking, reflective thinking, and civic responsibility.  Service-learning programs involve students in organized community service that addresses local need, while developing their academic skills, sense of civic responsibility, and needs, while developing their academic skills, sense of civic responsibility, and commitment to the community. http://www.valdosta.edu/oasis/fye.shtml

3.  Provides quality education;  Increases the relevancy of education to students “living in a real world”;  Teaches positive values, leadership citizenship and personal responsibility;  Empowers students as learners, teachers, achievers and leaders;  Invites students to become members of their new community; http://www.valdosta.edu/oasis/fye.shtml

4.  Teaches job skills and prepares students for careers after college;  Contributes to a university’s outreach efforts to the local community, the state and beyond;  Increases campus-community collaboration and partnerships; and  Increases retention. http://www.valdosta.edu/oasis/fye.shtml

5.  It teaches students that they have a civil responsibility to their community.  Every person plays a role in making their community strong and volunteering combined with education helps to reinforce these values. http://www.ask.com

6.  They are committed to community safety and the prevention of cruelty to animals.  Lowndes County Animal Shelter is NOT a kill shelter.  This means that they do not kill or put the animals to sleep if they are not adopted within a certain amount of time.  Every animal gets a fair chance of being adopted.  The animals in the shelter have their picture taken and are posted on petfinder.com Lowndes County Animal Shelter, Volunteer Handbook

7.  It was called “walking” the dogs, but it actually meant taking them outside in the yard to play.  I had a lot of fun with all the dogs.  I could tell that they enjoyed getting out of the cages and outdoors for a while to play.  If you were going in to the animal shelter to adopt a dog, you don’t really get to see their personality. This was a way to find out what kind of dog they were.

8. They were wore out and ready to take a nap.

9.  The Lowndes County Animal Shelter also has a horse up for adoption.  Her name is Pearl.  She comes right to you when you call her name.

10.  We were able to groom Pearl.  She was a great, gentle horse.  I never knew that animal shelters could receive animals like her, but I guess they can.

11.  I had a great experience at the Lowndes County Animal Shelter.  Everyone there was nice and helpful.  There was even an inmate volunteering there.  He said that he goes there EVERYDAY!  I could tell he did because the dogs got really excited when he came around.  We got to help other people with their adoption choices.  I will be going back to the animal shelter to volunteer in the future!

13.  By donating blood, you can save a person’s life!  Some requirements for donating blood are:  Be healthy (feel well)  Are at least 17 years old in most states  Weigh at least 110 lbs.  Haven’t donated in the last 56 days http://www.redcrossblodd.org

14.  I went into the American Red Cross building on the corner of Bemiss and Northside Dr. in Valdosta.  First, I registered and read the handbook.  Second, I went through the mini-physical.  Third, I donated.  It took me about 5 minutes and 26 seconds to give 1 pint of blood and 6 tubes for testing.  Last, I enjoyed refreshments.

15.  I thought that donating blood would make me cry or pass out or something because I hate to have my blood taken at the doctors office.  It surprised me because I did perfectly fine and really didn’t feel a thing.  The lady that was taking my blood was really nice and answered any questions I had.  I took my husband with me incase I needed him to drive, but I didn’t need him.  I can’t wait to donate again after 56 days!

16.  My husband works at the fire station on base and they have to clean all the fire trucks everyday.  I went up there a couple days to help them clean the trucks.  This is a very detailed job that takes a while to do.  They don’t only want it washed, but also dried.  These trucks are HUGE so they are hard to clean.

17.  I had a great time with all of my volunteer experiences!  I have never really done any volunteer work before this class, but I plan to continue doing it.  My favorite experience so far that I will keep doing is the Animal Shelter experience.  I had a blast and loved getting the dogs outside!