Livingston CARES is a nonprofit organization that works solely with Geneseo. Its trips are based on assisting people across the country (and surrounding territories) who have been affected by natural disasters. This organization creates a strong relationship between trip participants, the general Geneseo community and those who are affected by natural disasters.
Secretary of the Board of Directors for Livingston CARES Garth Freeman helps organize these trips, which take place during school breaks. His background includes involvement in service and community development. He explained the connection between Geneseo and the Livingston CARES organization.
“Livingston CARES solely works with SUNY Geneseo. So, it’s its own charitable organization, non-profit. But there’s a great relationship with the college and that’s where we get most of our trip participants and volunteers. We do also have community members that go on the trips as well,” Freeman said. “We also have community members that are on the [Livingston CARES] Board. [Livingston CARES is] meant to be both a great tie to the college and to the community. We do events throughout the year [where we do service here in Livingston County].”
Freeman discussed the experience students have while on these service trips. These trips are both educational and exceptional life experiences that require no previously attained skills or qualifications. One of the greatest results is the sense of family created among participants who embark upon this opportunity.
“The important thing to think about is just the educational and life experience for students who participate in Livingston CARES trips,” Freeman said. “In the five days that you’re working and the seven days you’re traveling you really come together as a family.”
Geology major junior Brooke Stickles went on her first trip in her freshman year of college. She previously attended a Catholic high school that instilled the value of community service in its students.
Stickles reflected on her first experience in Puerto Rico.
“It’s kind of like 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. where you’re just basically at the worksite. We kind of weatherized the house on my first trip. [The homeowners] were all so grateful and it made me want to do it again,” Stickles said. “The main aspect of [this trip] is doing service, but you also get to do other things beyond that … You have the opportunity to bond with the people you work with.”
Volunteers on the trip prepare meals together, explore the town during downtime and can maintain connections with those who they helped via social media outlets. There is also special training involved depending on the people who the participants are working with.
Freeman shared his experience volunteering in Texas in 2017. He described the surreal feeling of helping people who otherwise would have had greater difficulty getting back on their feet. He also said that, even today, he maintains friendships with the other participants he went with.
“I took a trip in 2017 to Texas and we went to Beaumont, Texas, and it was … the fall where it was Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Irma in Florida and Hurricane Harvey in the Gulf Coast,” Freeman said. “We went with 14 people, and I was one of the leaders and I’m still doing things with those students on campus and the relationships that you build [are] just sort of like an outcrop of that experience.”
Freeman described the general population of people affected by these natural disasters. Those affected have had something happen to their community that has put them in a more challenging position to move forward. Some people also may not have the right insurance to cover expensive devastation costs. Others may not have the right support system behind them in order to both rebuild their lives and the greater community around them.
History major senior Karilyn Nieves has been to Puerto Rico and participated on this trip in order to give back to her Puerto Rican grandfather’s hometown.
“I’ve only been to Puerto Rico; I went in January of this year … I went for personal reasons. I wanted to give back to [my grandfather’s] community because I didn’t realize that they were in this rut, socially and physically. Then I decided to be a student leader and now I’m on the Livingston CARES Board,” Nieves said. “In March, I’m actually going with one of the AOP advisors. It’s just going to be another personal experience with the people that have made my education better in Geneseo.”
In giving back to people who live in such destructed and impacted communities, participants retain both feelings and memories of helping community residents who would otherwise be struggling to survive.
“The experience you get on the ground is valuable both as a human being to be able to give that time and be kind of really focused and devoted. We do tons of volunteering at Geneseo,” Freeman said. “It’s something that’s kind of built into the fabric of who we are. Being able to give a whole week of your time and focus.”
Freeman commented on the upcoming service trips. Each trip takes place during a school break: winter, spring or right at the end of the spring semester. While there is a cost to the trips, the price includes several of the expenses involved with traveling. Also, Freeman emphasized that there is financial assistance available to any students who want to attend a trip but are hesitant for financial reasons. Any students who are interested or hesitant about attending these service trips should speak to Freeman.
The upcoming service trips that are not yet full include: a trip to Tampa, Fla. in January, a trip to New Jersey in January, a trip to Tampa, Fla. in March and a trip to the Florida Keys in March.