By Ruth Busbee
Student volunteers from the Jacobsen Center helped plan and run a carnival for the Food and Care Coalition Thursday Sept. 12.
The Food and Care Coalition is a non-profit organization that helps the homeless and less fortunate. They decided to put together a carnival where their clients and the agencies that mentor and help the clients could come together and have a good time. The coalition contacted the Jacobsen Center for help in organizing the carnival.
“The carnival provides an opportunity for the clients to have fun and put stress out of their minds,” said Kena Mathews, the mentor director at the Food and Care Coalition of Utah Valley.
Chad Losee, 18, a freshman from Delta, Millard County, majoring in International Relations was the program director for the carnival. Losee got involved with the Jacobsen Center and the carnival when he attended the Foundations of Leadership Conference. He has been working on the carnival since July.
“When I came to school I wanted to focus on my school work,” Losee said. “But the opportunity to serve presented itself and it”s been truly rewarding.”
Volunteers helped run the carnival booths, the BBQ Club helped cook the food and Krispy Kreme provided the doughnuts. Benjamin Sparks, 18, a freshman from Canyon Country, Calif. majoring in pre-business, was one of many volunteers at the carnival and helped run the volleyball game.
“I like being a part of something and putting on a service event where people have fun,” Sparks said.
Jocelyn Sparks, 23, a graduate student from Canyon County, Calif. majoring in Public Administration, agreed.
“The Food and Care Coalition asked us to get involved and we were so excited to do so,” said Sparks, the Student Service Coordinator for the Jacobsen Center. “BYU is one of the greatest assets of the Provo community. The students are willing to get involved and we have a responsibility to the community.”
The Jacobsen Center hopes to help the Food and Care Coalition with the carnival on a yearly basis.
Matthews said this has been the best group of students he has ever worked with.
“I think college students need the opportunity to serve,” Matthews said. “The Jacobsen Center gives the opportunity to serve and I hope the students continue to take the opportunity to serve in the future.”
