AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 8, 2026
SEMO Social Work Students Engage in Fall Break Volunteering
During the recent fall break, Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) social work students dedicated their time to supporting the Cape Girardeau community by volunteering at Project Hope. The initiative aimed to connect more than 400 individuals and families with essential free services and resources.
Project Hope: Supporting the Community
Project Hope is an annual event organized by Cape Community Partnership. Local agencies and volunteers come together to provide community members access to much-needed services, such as medical, dental, and vision care. Participants also benefit from food boxes, pet care supplies, and haircuts without cost.
Student Volunteers Contribute in Various Roles
The SEMO student volunteers played diverse roles throughout the event. Their activities included assisting vendors with setup, welcoming guests, sharing vital information, guiding visitors within the venue, staffing agency tables, serving lunch, and collecting exit surveys from attendees. These experiences provided student volunteers with hands-on exposure to the practical aspects of social work.
Bringing Classroom Learning to Life
Dr. Dana Branson, assistant professor of social work at SEMO, highlighted the value of this experience for her students. "It’s an amazing opportunity for social work students because the material they’re learning in class comes alive at Project Hope," she stated. "They get to see and be part of the work they’re learning about, which gets them excited about being social workers." This direct involvement exemplifies the importance of community volunteering in social work education.
Student Participation from Across Missouri
Participating SEMO students included Stefani Anders of Perryville, Kayte Black of Essex, Hannah Colabianchi of Dittmer, Shell Jones-Grigsby of Cape Girardeau, Ciana Jackson of Ballwin, Amanda Kimmich of Cape Girardeau, Kaylee Lawrence of Jackson, Lamiyah Mackins of Cape Girardeau, and Claire Shipman of Jackson. Their collective efforts helped strengthen the impact of Project Hope on the community.
Social Work Program at SEMO
The event served as a practical opportunity for SEMO's social work students to apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting and make a difference in their community. For more information about SEMO’s social work program, visit semo.edu/social-work.
Related coverage
Source: suntimesnews.com.
