For the past 22 years the new fall semester has been ushered in with Pepperdine’s traditional Step Forward Day. As a day to serve others and consider what has been given freely to oneself Step Forward Day is meant to serve as a reminder to Pepperdine students and faculty to give back to the community.
Student-founded in 1988 the Pepperdine Volunteer Center (PVC) has worked to make Step Forward Day a yearly reminder to uphold the college motto “Freely ye received freely give.”
“The whole goal has always been to get beyond our walls and reach into our community Meredith Miller, assistant director of the PVC said.
Miller has been working on the Step Forward Day project with the help of student workers since June. The process starts by reaching out to about 200 organizations in the greater Los Angeles area via invitation. These groups then either accept or decline the offer to have a group of Pepperdine students help them in any way needed on Step Forward Day, which is on Sept. 11 this year.
By the time Step Forward Day rolls around, the off-campus organizations involved have been narrowed down to about 60, providing about 1,400 student volunteers with the opportunity to serve together on the same day. All volunteers will be provided with lunch and a T-shirt. Students have the option to sign up with a range of groups including Campus Ministries, sororities or fraternities, and residence halls. Each group remains unaware of its placement until arriving at the service location for the day.
Each assignment given is based on the needs of the organization. Due to the fact that the needs vary so widely, the tasks can run from reading to elementary school children to pulling weeds in the Malibu bluffs to taking sack lunches to shut-ins residing in inner-city areas.
Sometimes your project might not seem as fun on the surface but it’s always meeting a huge need Miller said noting importance of every job included in Step Forward Day.
Miller also commented about how these organizations look forward to working with Pepperdine students and express their appreciation for their hard work. Some organizations schedule certain undertakings for Step Forward Day knowing they will have the extra help needed to pull off what might have been an impossible task.
Returning students eagerly anticipate the opportunity to participate in another community learning and building experience.
“I’m looking forward to spending time with my sorority sisters and bonding with them as we serve together senior Kinsey Cronin said.
First time participants also excitedly await the arrival of Step Forward Day. Having missed his first two opportunities to take part in the event, senior Taylor Thompson greets the idea with enthusiasm.
Im really looking forward to Step Forward Day because I’ve missed out in the past he said. It sounds great being able to give back to all the needy people in L.A. because they’re needy and I’ve got lots to give.”
Student workers and special event planners Mattie Gullat and Shannon Kirkpatrick share a large chunk of responsibility when organizing Step Forward Day. They both take pride in knowing Pepperdine gathers students from all groups and affiliations to reach out to their neighbors in need.
“We’re so blessed and it’s a great way to give back to a community that supports us. It’s great getting to know each other through service Gullat said.
Gullat and Kirkpatrick encourage students who are unsure how to get involved to join the Step Forward Day crew. They say it provides a solid first stepping-stone for those who wish to serve.
A lot of times it will spark an interest in people to serve throughout the year in a way they might not have thought of before Kirkpatrick said.
For any students who are looking for ways to serve more than one day a year, the PVC offers ongoing programs and projects that are always available to student volunteers.
Both students and PVC workers alike agree Step Forward Day is a strengthening and fun way to come together to serve a greater cause than themselves.
There is something important about making your college experience not all about yourself Miller said. Step Forward Day reminds us to go out on purpose and be enthusiastic to give ourselves to our neighbors.”