By James Zilinski ’22, staff writer

LVC encourages its students to get involved in the community through various service opportunities. However, some students, like Nicholas Simon, create their own service projects. The third-year physical therapy student has coordinated many different volunteering efforts as president of the culinary club.

“Food is something nearly every college student can bond over,” Simon said.

Simon started the culinary club as a freshman at LVC in hopes of bringing people together over the common love of food. The Culinary Club has turned out to be a way for Simon to serve the community. The Culinary Club has volunteered for both the Fresh Start Emergency Shelter and Lebanon County Christian Ministries food bank.

“I was inspired to serve at these two locations because both are geared to overcome food insecurity,” Simon said.

Simon acknowledges his good fortune to have never had to go hungry in his life and wants everyone to have the same experience. The Culinary Club donated casseroles to Fresh Start Emergency Shelter and served meals at LCCM.

“Finding time to serve within our busy college schedules is really tough,” Simon said.

Between being a resident assistant, and a member of the tennis team, it is hard to imagine where he finds time to do anything. But service to others is important to Simon, so he makes sure to find the time to volunteer. He credits the gratefulness and love that he has been given in his own life as the driving force behind his service. So many people have provided for him in his life, and he feels that his service is a great way to pay it forward to someone else.

“When it comes to service, I think there is something for everyone,” Simon said.

Simon encourages others to look for things that they can put their time and effort into and make the world a better place. Students interested in learning more about service projects around LVC can contact Jen Liedtka at liedtka@lvc.edu.