By McKENZIE CUNNINGHAM
Tiger Media Network
(Video by Andrew McGinnis)
A group of students at Fort Hays State University are banding together to help give back to not only the campus, but also the community.
The Organizational Leadership students in the Leadership 310 course at FHSU have partnered for the third semester in a row with Breathe Coffee House for the Pay It Forward Project.
“This project is all about being personal and caring for others,” FHSU student Allison Muth said. “The whole idea is to get individuals to communicate and be a part of something bigger than themselves. It uncovers compassion in people, and I love that. I am blessed to be a part of this project.”
The pay it forward project with Breathe is designed to help people pay it forward with one coffee cup at a time as well as connecting not only small businesses but academic departments on the FHSU campus, too.
“I am so excited to be working with Breathe Coffee house for the Pay It Forward project because a simple act of kindness can go a long way,” said Quinn Munk, a student helping with the project. “We started this project with (Breathe owner) Patrick McGinnis so we can help create a fun and connective community.”
The Leadership 310 course is a semester long course that helps with hands-on learning opportunities rather than just studying the curriculum. The students also focus on leadership projects as well as things around the community such as positive changes and service opportunities.
The group is in the process of distributing six total baskets around the Hays community, three going to small businesses, two to the FHSU campus and one to a student organization. Two baskets already have been delivered, to Regeena’s and Simply Charmed.
Denice Lastra Blanco, another student organizer, is excited for the opportunity of the Pay it Forward project and the effect it will have in years to come.
“The Pay it Forward project is not only connecting the Hays community as a whole, but it is integrating multiple generations to become unified and supported,” she said. “It’s not just about the basket, it’s about the conversation that is initiated by the kind gesture. The pay it forward project opens the opportunity for our local businesses, school organizations and academic departments to become a support for one another instead of completion.”
Hannah Haury is the fourth member of the group who is helping with the project.
For more information or to take part, email ddlastrablanco@mail.fhsu.edu.