A Purr-Fect Way to Earn SAO Credits
“The Service and Outreach (SAO) program at Toccoa Falls College equips students for lifelong leadership and service through partnerships with community organizations and unique outreach opportunities. Every student at Toccoa Falls College participates in four (4) semester-long SAO opportunities. It is through these opportunities that our students are able to explore and develop their strengths, help others, and experience personal growth. A variety of opportunities allows students to fulfill their SAO requirements in settings that put feet and hands to what they are learning in the classroom.”
As this mission states, each student at Toccoa Falls College is required to participate in four service or ministry contexts for experiential learning credit during their time at TFC. Starting their sophomore year, students can begin completing their SAO experiences. There are four types of experiences that each student must have before graduating from TFC. These include:
Community Outreach (SAO 210)
Campus Ministry (SAO 220)
Church Ministry (SAO 230)
Missions Outreach (SA0 240)
Bailey Maxwell is a current sophomore at TFC majoring in Early Elementary Education. This Spring 2021 semester, she is completing a Community Outreach SAO. One of Maxwell’s favorite pastimes is going to the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter and working with the animals. For about a year now, she has been volunteering with this organization. This semester, she is using it as an opportunity to also receive experiential learning credit.
In order to fulfill the SAO requirements, a student must complete 20 logged hours with a ministry or organization. To fulfill her hours, Maxwell spends at least two hours a week at the animal shelter.
“Most of the time I just socialize with cats or walk dogs. There might be times I help get pictures taken of the animals and stuff like that as well,” said Maxwell.
Maxwell explained that her favorite task at the shelter is walking the dogs, and that her least favorite activity is cleaning the animals’ cages. She also shared that she loves the people she gets to work with at the animal shelter.
There are many opportunities for involvement at this organization, and it is only a 15-minute drive from the Toccoa Falls College campus. Maxwell said that students can “help take pictures, get the cages ready, play with the cats, walk dogs, and sometimes get to help with adoptions.”
She also shared that other students who may be interested in volunteering with the Toccoa-Stephens County Animal Shelter, especially for SAO credit, “should definitely do it! It’s so relaxing and such a great stress relief on hard days.”
“Our Mission is to improve the lives of animals, alleviate their suffering, and elevate their status in the community. We safeguard, rescue, shelter, heal, adopt and advocate for animals in need, while inspiring community action and compassion on their behalf. We are focused on lowering animal over-population and prevention of animal abuse.”
If this mission statement interests you, go volunteer at the Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter for your next SAO experience or simply as a volunteer in your free time! You can find more information about the organization at their website: https://tschs.org
