By Kourtney Kugler
February was a busy month for the University of Portland's Arnold Air Society, which served over 200 hours in the fight against cancer, visiting local veterans' homes, and making Valentine's Day grams for Doernbecher Hospital patients.
The Richard J. Mallon Squadron started the month off by joining to create special Valentine's Day cards for children suffering from cancer.
The members felt the need to show the children that they were in our hearts and minds on a day when everyone needs love.
Sophomore Tony Vitellaro, who took part in the making of these cards and also helped to deliver them to the children, stated that he "was glad to take part in bringing love and joy to the young ones' lives."
This project was not only meaningful for the children; it also had a positive impact on the club members.
Service continued with a trip to the Oregon Veterans' Home.
Members served ice cream and socialized with former military service men and women during a weekend afternoon.
Senior Holly Gramkow commented, "All in all, it was a great event ... a little pizza, a little ice cream, a little story-swappin' with our awesome AFA folks and a whole lot of sharing and learning with our country's amazing veterans."
Being able to interact with people who have been through similar life experiences is more than just a volunteer project; it is an opportunity for AFROTC cadets to gain knowledge about their future careers.
The most recent project Arnold Air society participated in was the Cancer Ski Out at Mt. Hood.
The Cancer Ski Out supports organizations which provide health care for terminally ill patients, research causes and cures for cancer and supports children with cancer, along with their families. Over the past 21 years, this event has raised nearly $600,000.
While working at the event, the cadets alone helped raise nearly $1,200 by selling raffle tickets to skiers and community members.
Sophomore Steven Beyer commented that "this was a small step towards defeating cancer and everyone had a blast while doing it, committing over 149 (service) hours all together."
It was a very enjoyable service project, "the most fun I have had volunteering," freshman Andrew Lynch said.
After a month full of dedicating their personal time and effort toward various causes, the club members are determined to help even more around the community.
Plans for the future include raising money for the fight against cancer by participating in Relay for Life and volunteering for more service projects.
?Kourtney Kugler is a freshman chemistry major
