By Holly Walker
Since it opened its doors in 1967, John Tyler Community College has believed in the importance of being part of the community it serves. It’s a concept embraced by many of the college’s students, faculty and staff who believe education goes beyond classroom, that part of learning is giving back, and that acts of kindness – no matter how big or small – make an impact. It’s one of the defining features of Tyler.
Throughout the years, the people of Tyler have participated in a wide variety of community service projects that stem from lessons learned in class; research conducted by students; the missions of Tyler’s student clubs and organizations; and the personal experiences shared by the college’s students, faculty and staff. They’ve collected food, clothing, shoes, books, first aid essentials, toys and other items to help those in need; mentored middle and high school students; held blood drives; supported members of the military by sending cards and care packages and by visiting veterans who are injured or ill; worked with Habitat for Humanity to build homes; collected blankets, bowls and food needed by pet shelters; participated in walks to support research into heart health, Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, and other medical conditions; participated in river cleanups; have worked to preserve history; and so much more.
During Tyler’s 50th anniversary year, we are celebrating volunteerism through Deeds Not Words. The name of this initiative comes from the college’s namesake, President John Tyler, who once said, “Character is exhibited in deeds, not words.”
We are encouraging people to spread kindness by volunteering and by sharing needs for volunteers. To get involved, visit our Deeds Not Words web page. There you can:
- Post an Opportunity - This is a great way to get more participation, create greater impact and raise awareness for your event or service project.
- Volunteer - With a quick click, you can let an organizer know you are interested in participating in his/her opportunity.
- See our collective impact - Browse the postings to see the scope of service learning and volunteer projects at Tyler.
If you post information about your volunteer projects on social media, use the hashtag #DeedsNotWords, and tag @johntylercc, so we might share your posts on Tyler’s main social media pages.