Student organizations aim to help the homeless through the Griswold-Zepp Awards

McDaniel College student organizations are aiming to help the homeless through the Griswold-Zepp Awards.

The student organizations submitted proposals centered on giving back to the community through food drives, creating bundles of necessities for those in need, and bringing awareness to nonprofit organizations.

The first Griswold-Zepp Award was given in 1991 and was established to honor Earl Griswold and Ira Zepp, long-time faculty advisors for Student Opportunities Service (SOS)/Hinge, community service and volunteerism groups on campus in the 1960-70s. 

The Center for Experience and Opportunity oversees the Griswold-Zepp Awards. The award selection process focuses on projects most strongly exemplifying the true spirit of volunteerism and community service.

The primary purpose of the award, which can total up to $3,000, is to provide support for proposed volunteer experiences of McDaniel students, addressing the needs of local, regional, national, or worldwide communities.

The projects include:

The McDaniel College chapter of Habitat for Humanity received the Griswold-Zepp Award to hold events that benefit the Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County, which seeks to bring people together to build homes, community, and hope.

While some events like making terrariums on campus have a goal to bring awareness of the environment for Earth Day, others include raising funds for a new duplex to house local families in Taneytown, Md. The McDaniel chapter also plans to create and sell T-shirts with proceeds to go to the Westminster, Md., nonprofit.

“Donations to the Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County will help with whatever is needed to help families,” said Haillee Witkowski, a freshman from North Brunswick, N.J., who submitted the proposal on behalf of the organization. “This can be for homes, clothing, or food. This will help someone live a better life and give them what they need most.”

The McDaniel College Progressive Student Union was selected to receive the Griswold-Zepp Award to donate to the Westminster Rescue Mission as well as create care kits for the Karis Home, which provides emergency short-term help for homeless women and children in Baltimore. Students were involved in two packaging events on March 30 and April 8, where they pulled together a total of 96 bundles. The bundles included toiletries, gift cards, food, and other necessities.