by Clem Boyd, Communication Content Manager
End of semester. Such a time of intense focus – studying, taking finals, packing up, heading home. Often times, university students have unused meal credits, which they refer to as “swipes” or “scans,” on their college IDs. Wasted resource in the middle of the rush to finish? Not if Rachel Wenzinger has anything to do with it.
Wenzinger, a senior nursing major at Cedarville University from Deshler, Ohio, imagined a different outcome for all those unused breakfast, lunch and dinner scans. She and fellow students could contribute at least three of them, each valued at $3, to help the Life Enrichment Center (LEC), 425 N. Findlay St. in Dayton, Ohio.
— Jeff Sorrell
Wenzinger and fellow members of Cedarville’s Student Nursing Association (SNA) will receive students’ meal scans at a table located just outside Cedarville’s dining hall during lunch and dinner on Wednesday, April 24.
In addition, bins will be located in the upper level of Stevens Student Center and in residence hall lounges through April 26 to collect canned food and hygiene products.
“If there’s one thing college students don’t have, it’s money,” Wenzinger explained. “So I thought scans as a fundraiser is a great way for students to contribute. Especially since many have extra scans that won’t be used.”
Wenzinger completed an on-site nursing education experience, called a clinical, at LEC during fall semester, 2018. Her mind went back to the Dayton-based organization serving the impoverished as the logical choice to benefit from her creative fundraiser.
“I was at the LEC for my clinical last semester and saw the love and passion they had for the impoverished of the Dayton area,” she said. “I wanted to do this one small thing to help them.”
Scans contributed by students April 24 will be transferred by the university dining hall director to SNA, which will then use the money to purchase and deliver supplies for the LEC. “I do not know of any other university doing this, but I do think it could turn into a ministry that would be an easy way to involve students in the community,” Wenzinger noted. “I really hope this is something that continues and grows.”
According to LEC’s director, Jeff Sorrell, the 2010 U.S. Census showed 38% of people in Dayton living below the poverty level, and 46.8% children in poverty. The LEC provides meals, haircuts, showers, a clothing room, tax preparation, health screenings, fitness opportunities, mentoring, general equivalency degree and English as a second language training, help with finding jobs and housing and Bible studies.
“I am amazed at the students of Cedarville University and their desire to help and be a part of the solution for many of the problems that our community faces,” Sorrell noted. “They are always willing to do whatever is asked of them and have shown great compassion when dealing with our clients.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,193 undergraduate, graduate and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its M.S.N. family nurse practitioner (FNP), master’s in global public health, and M.S.N. nurse educator programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.