Last fall, I found myself looking for more ways to get involved and serve the people of Auburn. I had spent my freshman year focusing on myself, but sophomore year I wanted to serve others.

I had some fraternity brothers who were involved on campus, so I began to ask them about their experiences. One of them told me about IMPACT, an organization providing volunteer opportunities for Auburn students.

Curious to know more, I asked him what their weekly service projects looked like. He told me about The Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, and how each week he took a team of five or six to help maintain the facilities. They cleaned up the trails and also helped take care of the 110 acres of land that the university has set aside to preserve. I love the outdoors, so naturally I was drawn to this.

In my time serving at the preserve, I reconstructed walking paths, cleaned off trails, and helped maintain the plants. At the Kreher Preserve, the staff offers their own version of an outdoor kindergarten. Kids are able to come and learn about nature and the Earth while they explore the land. A big part of our job was preparing whatever the kids would be learning about that week. 

My time serving the community and university was spent at the nature preserve, but there are so many other ways to get involved. The AUMC food pantry, Salvation Army, and the Pine Hills Literacy Project are just a few of the IMPACT programs that Auburn Students can sign up to be a part of. IMPACT is free of charge and requires no weekly commitment.

If you want to serve the Auburn community, you can register for IMPACT on AUinvolve. I encourage you to get involved in and around Auburn. I loved it, and I know you will too.

Be well, Auburn.

Photography: Jacob H.