Caring for Our Community
At LCC we believe that our impact does, and should continue to, reach beyond the edges of our campus. LCC is not an institution that exists just for itself, or just for our students, but it is a place that we hope impacts the global world that we live in today. Our mission at LCC is to “provide a Christian liberal arts education within a diverse learning community that transforms people for servant leadership.” That last part, transforming people for servant leadership, is a key part of our work and identity as a university. We seek to provide service-learning opportunities for students to engage with the needs of local, regional, and global communities. The goal of the Service-Learning program is to develop servant leaders who can identify needs within their community and learn how to effectively apply their unique knowledge, skills, and talents to be a catalyst for change.
Learning Outcomes
What is Service-Learning?
Service-Learning: a set of activities rooted in community, empowerment, and partnership, where students provide service activity identified by the community as necessary and appropriate, which promotes reflective learning.
Volunteer: A volunteer is a person who willfully donates their time and energy to help promote a good cause of help an organization work more effectively
Get Involved
1. Follow the Service-Learning Team on Instagram @lcc_servicelearning
2. Attend a Service Club meeting
Service Club has an open meeting policy, so join us any time! We will discuss current volunteering opportunities, make plans to go with friends, learn how to add our volunteering experience on a CV and more! We meet Thursdays in Room 202 at 18:30.
3. Find a place to volunteer! Contact the listed representative to learn more about available time slots and opportunities.
Volunteer Opportunities
Red Cross – Zoriana Bakalets
Volunteer in the Emergency Preparedness Program, Warm Visits (visiting seniors in their homes), and in other educational programs. Language: Lithuanian, English, Russian
Draugas Draugui – Daria Bondareva
Volunteer in a thrift shop that has the goal to make positive change in the community and support social projects. Volunteers are needed to sort clothes and help in other ways. Language: English, Lithuanian
Išganymo Armija (Salvation Army) – Valeriia Hichko
Put together a fun event to engage the lonely in our community or organize programming for Ukrainian children on Saturday afternoons. Language: English, Lithuanian, Russian, Ukrainian
Caritas – Yahor Rameika
Weekly volunteering opportunity to connect with teens. Serve as a mentor and friend by teaching English and having fun. Language: English, Lithuanian
Maisto Bankas (Food Bank) – Zoriana Bakalets
Various opportunities throughout the year to organize food donations and support special projects. Language: English
American Corner – Daria Bondareva
Lead an English Club, movie night, or other event for people in Klaipeda that want to practice English or learn more about American culture. Language: English
Ukrainian Volunteer Center – Valeriia Hichko
Participate in special projects that support Ukrainian military and families. Language: English, Ukrainian
Linksmosios Pėdutės – Yahor Rameika
Volunteer in a local animal shelter and provide care for dogs and cats. Must be 18 years or older and able to commit for a longer timeframe. Fill out the volunteer form or email info@linksmosiospedutes.lt with a CV in order to volunteer.
Buk Mano Draugas – Yahor Rameika
Volunteer in another local animal shelter and provide care for dogs and cats. One time volunteering is possible. Volunteers are needed to clean and shovel snow. Volunteers who come regularly can serve by walking dogs. Fill out the volunteer form to volunteer.
4. Reflect! Join us for reflection sessions at the end of each semester. More information is available in the “Reflection Sessions” Tab.
Forms & FAQs
Service Hours Form – Use this form to report your hours for each volunteering activity. Hours for the current semester must be reported by the last day of each semester. Questions about how to fill out the form? Check the Criteria Guide or contact Ashley Ray on Teams or by email at aray@lcc.lt
Hours Request Form – Use this form to request a report of the hours you have logged with LCC. REMINDER: Your hours are not verified by LCC until you have completed a reflection session for those hours.
Criteria Guide – Use this guide for understanding what DOES and DOES NOT count as service. If you have reviewed the criteria and are still not sure if your activity counts as service, contact Ashley Ray with your questions.
Reflection Sessions
What is a Reflection Session?
A Reflection Session is a one-hour gathering of 8-10 students led by a staff member to discuss the service experiences of the students from the semester. The staff member will ask questions to understand what the students did and what they learned from their experience. Students will have the chance to listen to the experiences of others and more deeply reflect on what they have learned in the past semester about their communities, themselves, and the world.
*If you are not able to attend a Reflection Session, you can email Ashley Ray aray@lcc.lt to learn more about alternatives for verifying your service hours.
Why is reflection important?
Service-Learning requires two major components: the hands-on experience of community engagement (service) and the reflective processing and application of those experiences (learning). To spend time volunteering is one thing, but if we don’t take time to stop and reflect on our actions, we will miss out on the opportunity to learn from our experiences and apply the new knowledge. Reflection Sessions provide the opportunity to process our experience in order to make meaning, deepen understanding, and broaden perspective.
Attending a Reflection Session at the end of each semester is required for LCC verifying and recognizing the hours you have served. Upon graduation, students with verified service hours will receive a certificate of recognition for those hours which can be used for CVs, applications, scholarships, and more. This certificate shows how you as an LCC student stand out from the rest of the world as servant leaders who are capable of applying their knowledge, skills, and talents to be catalysts for change.
Check back later in the semester for a list of available Reflection Sessions.
| Date | Time | Leader | Classroom | Participants | Sign Up Link |
| Info coming soon | |||||
Service-Learning Team
Our team is here to help! Let us know if you have questions about volunteering opportunities, Service Club, the Service Hours Form, and other questions related to service-learning.
What is a Service-Learning Ambassador?
A Service-Learning Ambassador (SLA) empowers students by facilitating service opportunities that promote civic engagement, community development, and servant leadership. SLAs address the needs of their community by making connections with local partners, leading Service Club, organizing service events, and encouraging active involvement in social change. Additionally, the SLA team is responsible for teaching others about service-learning, finding funding for student-led projects, and celebrating student service achievements.
Service-Learning Ambassadors 2025-2026
Left to right: Daria Bondareva, Zoriana Bakalets, Yahor Rameika, Valeriia Hichko
“Hi! My name is Ashley Ray. I am the Service-Learning Coordinator here at LCC. You can find me in 22C or at Common Grounds. I love supporting students as they connect what they are learning in their studies to real-world experiences that can have a positive impact on their community. I am here to support you as you love and care for your neighbors on campus, in Klaipeda, and out into the world!”
Resources
European Voluntary Service: international volunteer program funded by the European Commission
European University Sports Association: volunteering opportunities in sports events held in the EU
European Youth Portal- EU Funded Volunteering: database of volunteering opportunities in the EU