March 28, 2024

Students volunteer to clean Lake Red Rock

PELLA — Central College will host its first volunteer event of the year Sept. 6 at Lake Red Rock. Students will gather trash, plant trees and collect prairie seed to help the Red Rock Lake Association.

The service project is held each year, with different tasks based on the association’s needs. The event gives Central students an opportunity to serve the Pella area community—and to get to know each other as they work.

Katie Zellmer said she will participate in this service project for her fifth consecutive year. Zellmer, who now works for Central College as an AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America member, said 50 to 100 students usually attend the event.

“As a freshman, I thought it was a good way to get to know people,” Zellmer said. “After that, I knew it was a good time.”

Throughout the school year, the Central Volunteer Center will connect students to community partners who need volunteers. The next CVC event will be Fair Trade Week Oct. 20-25, when the college will host a speaker from Cambodia, as well as various activities centered on fair trade.