When Joel McClure was just a sophomore, he had a vision for a service club that would be different from the myriad of clubs and activities Gonzaga already had to offer. Now as a senior, McClure leads the young sapling group he planted as a seed two years ago.
"We're not coming in to step on any toes. We're here to help and tie things together," said McClure, president of Gonzaga University Service Club, or GUSC.
The goal of GUSC is to participate in mostly one-day events and collaborate with other groups on campus that may be lacking volunteers. The only requirement to join GUSC is seven hours of service per semester. GUSC networks with Center for Community Action and Service Learning, or CCASL.
"At first there was a question if another service club was necessary…. But we showed our own niche through working with CCASL that there is a place for us," McClure said.
Molly Ayers, assistant-director of service-learning for CCASL, and the adviser for the group, agrees that it is the option of committing to a short term project that distinguishes GUSC from other clubs on campus. "[The club] also can meet community needs when they need a large group of students for a short time."
It's hardly fair to call GUSC a sapling group. Although they only became official with GSBA two summers ago, the club is gaining notoriety on campus and in the community. McClure started the club with his brother Kevin, a sophomore, and his friends. With increased awareness has come increased membership. At the recent club fair, the group collected an impressive 150 names of interest. Even more impressive, 50 of the new interests have participated in a project this semester.
"That really proved there was a place for us," McClure said.
Projects for the club have included Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, river clean-up, and fund-raising for the Women and Children's Free Restaurant. One project the group has been participating in regularly is The Second Avenue Dinner, a service that feeds the homeless, which lost its funding. About 10 students from GUSC have been attending to serve dinner and hand out free clothing weekly.
On campus, GUSC has two big projects. The first one is the pop-tab campaign. Networking mostly through RAs and the residence halls, the club has collected a decent amount of pop-tabs. GUSC is hoping to expand this project to have drop-sites in Crosby and other places on campus.
"We just want them to be seen [more]," McClure said.
The club's other passion is recycling. Working with GSBA and GEO (Gonzaga Environmental Organization), GUSC has distributed recycling bins all over campus. Future plans on campus involve helping with Aprilfest and Relay for Life.
McClure will graduate this spring, and after younger brother Kevin, there are no more McClure siblings, but Joel is not worried about the future of the club. With the participation of underclassmen in the club, he does not doubt that GUSC will make a positive impact even after he graduates. McClure says he feels good knowing that he has left something behind for Gonzaga.
This week's projects include visiting L'Arche Spokane, a center for disabled adults and children to deliver candy grams for Valentine's Day.
McClure said as many members as participate in GUSC, there is still room for more. If interested, the group meets twice monthly. For more information contact Joel at jmcclure@gonzaga.edu.
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