Sydney Reichert T’24, one of the Tuck Serves co-chairs, shares her reflections on this year’s annual day of volunteering in the Upper Valley.
Can you tell us a little bit about what Tuck Serves is?
Tuck Serves is a day of giving in which the entire Tuck community—students, partners, faculty, and staff come together to volunteer in the Upper Valley. This year, over 50 volunteers contributed 150+ hours of community service to local organizations including LISTEN Thrift Store, Habitat for Humanity, Hanover Conservancy, and more. The day kicks off with a community breakfast for all the volunteers (this year's breakfast was sponsored by Lou’s!) before everyone disperses to their respective organizations.
What inspired you to become part of the Tuck Serves leadership team?
I have always found ways to volunteer in my local community, and leading Tuck Serves alongside Ruchi Gayakwad T’24 and the rest of the planning committee was a way for me to exercise my passion for volunteering at scale. Also, I enjoyed participating in Tuck Serves as a volunteer during my first year in Hanover, so was excited to take on a greater responsibility during my second year.
What were your key takeaways from the day?
Volunteering is a wonderful way to get to know your peers and mingle among the two Tuck classes. The organizations we sent volunteers to were incredibly grateful for the support, showing just how important volunteering is in the community.
Do you have a favorite moment from your time with Tuck Serves?
My favorite moment was showing up to help the team of volunteers who were tasked with cleaning up trash that was strewn throughout the woods near Storrs Pond from a bear. The task itself was not super pleasant but tackling it alongside a team of smiling and energetic volunteers made it fun.
What advice do you have for prospective students interested in giving back to the Upper Valley community as a Tuck student?
Most organizations in this area have more demand for volunteers than there is supply. If you’re interested in getting involved with a particular organization, find the volunteer coordinator on the organization’s website and express your interest! Or reach out to the Tuck Volunteers Club and we will support you however we can!
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