Last Friday, Albion College’s Student Volunteer Bureau (SVB) hosted a festive Friendsgiving Night in collaboration with Harrington Elementary School. Families filtered into a bustling space filled with the smell of pizza and pie, the chatter of children, and the energy of student volunteers. The evening featured a gratitude program led by Albion community leader Harry Bonner, face painting stations, and a craft table where kids created their own cornucopia centerpieces to take home for Thanksgiving.
SVB, a student-run service organization at Albion College, works to connect students with volunteer opportunities that support local partners and address community needs. Nearly every Monday during the academic year, SVB teams up with other student groups to host service nights, where they assemble care kits, make blankets, craft donations, and more. These events give students regular and accessible ways to support the Albion community.
Last spring, however, SVB felt inspired to expand that impact beyond their weekly meetings. Out of that desire came the idea for Harrington Family Nights: free, themed gatherings for Harrington Elementary students and their families. Each event includes food, hands-on activities, and special programming coordinated by SVB and Bonner, with help from Albion College student volunteers.
The first Family Night, held in April, took the shape of a block party complete with yard games, crafts, popcorn, and cotton candy. Its success was immediate and enthusiastic, prompting SVB to organize two more this fall.
According to SVB president Iris Patel, an Albion College junior from Saginaw, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Harry says the families really like it,” Patel said. “They keep asking us, ‘Hey, when is the next one?’ So that’s been really great to hear, especially since we want to keep doing more with them.”
Patel added that volunteers have found the experience just as rewarding. “A lot of the volunteers have said they have a lot of fun with it and enjoy being able to do stuff with the kids as well,” she said.
Harrington Family Nights are becoming a reliable way for Albion College students and Harrington Elementary families to connect outside the classroom. By offering regular opportunities to share a meal, try new activities, and spend time together, SVB is helping strengthen a relationship that benefits both the campus and the community. As these events continue, they’re proving to be a simple but effective way to build familiarity, trust, and a sense of connection that lasts beyond a single evening.
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