College of Coastal Georgia students Hannah Veazey and Derek Pak sweep up outside the dog kennel at the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia Friday. Four CCGA students spent the morning cleaning around the center as part of their participation in the CCGA volunteer program ‘CCGA Serves.’ Bobby Haven/The Brunswick News
While most college students spend their summer soaking up the sun and living up their last few years of freedom, Hannah Veazey, a rising junior at College of Coastal Georgia, is spending her time serving others.
Veazey, a Glynn Academy graduate, is the head of a volunteer program at the college, aptly called CCGA Serves.
Veazey and her fellow members, pick one venture a month and volunteer their time and abilities to a cause they deem worthy.
The group recently took part in an alternative spring break, where they traveled to Tampa and helped serve the homeless.
This month, the group is helping the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia by spending a morning at the facility and cleaning, sweeping and generally assisting to create a healthier home environment for cats and dogs.
“I’ve always liked dogs and adopted them, but I decided that maybe I should come and help as opposed to trying to adopt them all,” Veazey said with a smile.
The Humane Society requires a lot of attention each morning before it opens to the public at noon. Pine needles, leaves and other debris must be swept out of the outdoor part of the dog kennels. The “cat palace” must be
cleaned and fresh water put in their bowls.
“It’s great because college students have flexible schedules, so they can sometimes volunteer during the middle of the day while others are at work. It’s a great partnership between the college and our selves,” said Humane Society Volunteer Coordinator Cathy Thrift.
The Humane Society offers two different types of volunteer opportunities. Those with large groups, such as CCGA Serves, Boy and Girl Scouts of America and even some FLETC students come out and help the society by scheduling a time to volunteer. The volunteers help keep the society clean and running smoothly.
For a more hands-on volunteering opportunity, potential volunteers must go through a dog and cat handling class, which is held once a month.
Volunteers must go through this training to be allowed to interact with the animals. This ensures that all animals are handled the same way throughout the society.
“Our volunteers are getting consistent training, which is also providing consistent training to our animals,” said Thrift.
Veazey said the program is valuable to the servers and the served.
“I think that giving back is a huge part of what makes us who we are, and if we’re giving back and helping other people, we will live happier lives, too,” said Veazey.
RYAN STEWART
The Brunswick News
July 11, 2015