Salish Kootenai College flexes its community spirit

By Lailani Upham

Adam McDonald, SKC custodian replaces basketball backboard at the Boys and Girls Club last Friday. McDonald was one of 17 volunteers from SKC to help at the Boys and Girls Club to get it up and running for the summer season. (Lailani Upham photo)

During the college’s annual event, over 200 employees at SKC spent Friday, May 20, volunteering for a wide array of community service projects.

Folks could be found scattered around Blue Bay, Flathead River Buffalo Bridge, Flathead River Sloan’s Bridge, Polson Catholic Cemetery, Elmo Garden, Mission Valley Animal Shelter, Ronan Boys and Girls Club, Jocko Cemetery and SKC campus area, cleaning, mowing, pulling weeds, repairing fences and sidewalks, and feeding kittens.

SKC Academic Success Department specialist, Jerry Keniston, mows acres of lawn at the old Catholic Cemetery in Polson. (Lailani Upham photo)

The Boys and Girls Club Unit Director Adam Schnase said they help is always a day to look forward to. “We appreciate all the help we can get. It helps to jumpstart our summer season,” he said.

Staff and faculty look forward to the day as well. The service day is a time to get to know one another and work their teamwork with other co-workers to accomplish service to the community they live.

Gina Seivert, SKC faculty member pulls weeds and neatens up gravesites at the Polson Catholic cemetery on Friday. (Lailani Upham photo)

“Creating campus community” was the incoming theme this year as Dr. Luana Ross, SKC President’s took her first step into presidency this year at SKC.

The college is continuously finds ways to give back to the community.

For more information on community service day and inquiries on existing or future community service sites, contact Roger McClure, SKC Career Center Director, (406) 275-4713.