A new BioBus route to help students volunteer at local agencies will begin operations at the start of the spring semester, with trips leaving campus every hour Monday through Thursday from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. to stops in Burlington near community partners that work with the Kernodle Center for Service Learning.
The Downtown/East Burlington Express Loop accomplishes several objectives. Organizers anticipate a reduction of student vehicles traveling through the community, which will lead to a reduction in the university’s carbon footprint. The new route will also remove complications for academic service-learning and federal work study students who need transportation away from campus.
The route, which is open to the public for free use, will make it easier for all students to serve in the community and will improve safety by placing fewer young drivers on the road.
“The new Downtown/East Burlington Express Loop is responding to the requests of community members, faculty, staff and students who need transportation to volunteer with local agencies,” said Mary Morrison, director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning. “We want to provide an opportunity for more consistent interactions with our community.”
Faculty will be able to take entire classes to earn on site about specific agencies and issues. Conversely, partner organizations will be able to commute to campus easily and engage with students and faculty, both in an out of class.
The Burlington City Council has also pledged support for the pilot project, which is scheduled to run through May. Organizers will assess the program at that point to determine whether changes need to be made or whether additional funding is available within the community to further enhance the route.
“This project is a win-win for the campus and the community,” Morrison said. “We can build bridges and help people learn more about Alamance County and our neighbors.”
The partner agencies to be served by the Downtown/East Burlington Express Loop include the following:
American Red Cross
Women’s Resource Center
Meals on Wheels
Alamance Citizens for Education
ARC of Alamance County
Christmas Cheer
Bynum Education Center
Downtown Burlington Corporation
Family Abuse Services
Habitat for Humanity main office
Loaves and Fishes
McCauley Family Learning Center
May Memorial Library
Alamance Health Care
Alamance County Community Services Agency
Alamance County Department of Social Services
Crossroads
East Burlington Community Center
Eastlawn Elementary
Friendship Adult Day Services
Healthy Alamance
Positive Attitude Youth Center
Open Door Clinic
Burlington Housing Authority
Excel Christian Academy
Mayco Bigelow
Allied Churches
OE Enterprises
Ralph Scott Life Services Center
Residential Treatment Services
Alamance County Justice Center
For more information on the service loop, contact the Kernodle Center for Service Learning at elonvols@elon.edu or 278-7250.