Service as a Catalyst for Connection

As SNHU wraps up the 11th year of its two-month-long Global Days of Service initiative, the annual program continues to unite members of the university community through volunteerism. What began over a decade ago to encourage community service has grown into a large-scale effort involving students, alumni, faculty and staff participating in projects across the country, both in-person opportunities and do-it-yourself projects that volunteers can complete on their own time, wherever they are located. The initiative has become a defining tradition for many, serving as both a celebration of service and a reflection of the university's commitment to cultivating belonging across a diverse community.

This year more than 1,000 SNHU community members participated in Global Days of Service across 44 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Belize, Costa Rica, St. Kitts & Nevis. The initiative included 57 official projects led by 56 SNHU community members, each centered on causes meaningful to the project leader, including environmental action, food insecurity, animal rights, youth programs, blood drives and more.

Beyond volunteer work, one of the most meaningful aspects of Global Days of Service is the sense of community these events create. For many volunteers, the connections they make are among the most lasting takeaways, strengthening relationships, deepening bonds and expanding networks through shared experiences. The value of those connections and what they mean to volunteers can be seen in projects that took place throughout this year's Global Days of Service.

Free Store Production at Crisis Assistance Ministry

The Free Store Production project at Crisis Assistance Ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina, was hosted by SNHU alum Brian Firmstone ’17. The mission of Crisis Assistance Ministry is to assist and advocate for people in financial crisis, helping families move toward self-sufficiency. One of the organization’s most impactful programs is its Free Store, a dignified shopping experience where individuals and families can select clothing, shoes and household essentials at no cost. Volunteers worked behind the scenes at Free Store preparing donated items for distribution.

As a returning project leader, Firmstone looks forward to this project every year. “It’s a unique experience with so many different affiliations of SNHU — alumni, staff, students, children of alumni, staff, and students and even a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors,” said Firmstone.

One of those volunteers was Matt Sharp ’04 ’06G, chief housing stability officer at Crisis Assistance Ministry and fellow SNHU alum. When Sharp saw this project as part of this year’s Global Days of Service, he eagerly joined as a volunteer and looked forward to giving back to the organization he works for. This project connected Sharp and Firmstone around a shared purpose.

“You have a common bond, whether you were on campus, an online alumnus, or you're a current student, faculty or staff member. It's just a cool commonality that we can share together,” said Sharp.

Houston Food Bank and We Are One

A thousand miles away, two projects centering around food insecurity were taking place, creating a connection between SNHU staff Desha Brannon ’23G and SNHU student Nicole Tate '24. At Houston Food Bank, America’s largest food bank, volunteers worked with project leader Brannon to help prepare and package hot meals.

“While volunteering was the center of these events, these experiences were much deeper than that. It was about bringing the SNHU community together, to foster lifelong relationships and bonds,” said Brannon. “Global Days of Service is a beautiful reminder of SNHU’s impact and commitment to changing lives.”

One of Brannon’s volunteers was Tate, who in a few short weeks would be leading her own project as a first-time project leader at We Are One Food Distribution with The Foundation for Black Heritage & Culture. In a short time, Tate and Brannon built a meaningful relationship centered around their commitment to service. When Tate shared this opportunity to participate in another project with Brannon, she agreed to attend right away.

“It felt incredibly encouraging and genuine, having someone like Desha who I met through a previous Global Days of Service event show up to support a project that I was leading,” said Tate. “It made the experience feel both real and impactful. These connections go beyond words or online engagement; they turn into meaningful action and support where it matters most.”

Save the Bay

Back in New England, Save the Bay Beach Cleanup in Providence took place for its second year with returning project leader and Dean of Students Meagan LaMarca, and first-time project leader and online student Bruce Dyer. Save the Bay is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and improving Narragansett Bay through advocacy, education and hands-on action. In just two hours, LaMarca, Dyer and six volunteers collected over 250 pounds of trash.

How this co-leadership came to fruition was a surprise for both LaMarca and Dyer. When they met last year, Dyer was the volunteer coordinator for Save the Bay, not realizing that day's event was being hosted by SNHU, the institution he was currently enrolled in as an online student. When LaMarca and Dyer connected, there was an instant sense of belonging and admiration between both parties, and they decided to share contact information to stay connected.

“The work that Bruce was doing with this organization was amazing, and the leadership that he provided was incredible,” said LaMarca. “And so, this year when I went to do the project again, I said, would you want to do this again together?”

Dyer quickly accepted, and the co-leadership began. “On one hand, it makes my education real. I've loved my online experience. But this was special to meet fellow students and Meagan. It connected me in a much more intimate way to this wonderful institution,” said Dyer.

Give a Little, Feed a Lot

Making its return to campus after a 10-year hiatus, Give a Little, Feed a Lot brought together SNHU community members and the greater Manchester community for a large-scale food donation drive supporting the New Hampshire Food Bank. Across four Manchester locations, volunteers worked to collect, sort and organize donations as they were dropped off.

One of the volunteers was Mya Dowd, an SNHU campus student, who worked closely with her SNHU community to make this event a success with over 3,000 pounds of food collected. In the morning, Dowd worked with Sara Telfer, director of Alumni Engagement, and her family. Later in the afternoon, Dowd got to reconnect with her Alternative Break cohort consisting of other campus students, whose trip just a month prior focused on food insecurity.

“I think it's crucial as a platform to build connections based off common purpose. People are gathering because they want to do good in their community, wherever it is,” said Dowd. “I think everybody can come together regardless of background, regardless of status, regardless of geographical location. People can come together because they want to do service. And I have found it inspiring.”

Connections That Continue Beyond Service

While all these projects focused on a different cause, they all shared a common outcome: bringing people together. With an emphasis on community, collaboration and engagement, SNHU Global Days of Service continues to highlight the lasting impact that shared service can have. Not only on the community being served, but also by the relationships formed among the people volunteering side by side.

Vanessa Karagosian is an advancement communications manager at Southern New Hampshire University with a background in communications and digital media. Her enthusiasm for storytelling and connection began at a young age, inspiring a career dedicated to bringing compelling stories to life. She combines professional expertise with a passion for SNHU’s mission of accessible education, creating communications that celebrate the power of learning and the people behind it. Karagosian can often be found at a Pilates class, spending quality time with her dog, or exploring new coffee shops. Connect with her on LinkedIn.