Whyte has spent the past year volunteering with Sustainable Alamance as coordinator with Leaders in Collaborative Service (LINCS).
Lauren Whyte ‘22 has made a deep impact on the local community during her time at Elon University. Through her work with Elon Volunteers!, Periclean Scholars and numerous other programs, Whyte has taken advantage of the many opportunities Elon has to offer.
Through Elon Volunteers! this past year, Whyte has been a coordinator with Leaders in Collaborative Service (LINCS) at Sustainable Alamance, a non-profit organization located in East Burlington.
“We work with everyone. Regardless of their charge or background, we will help them utilize their resources to create a sustainable future,” Whyte said.
Sustainable Alamance works with clients who were previously incarcerated and are in need of economic and other support as they resume their lives outside of the prison system.
Whyte emphasizes the importance of sustainable service and how it is essential to “break the cycle” of current social issues. Through her work, Whyte learned that their clients have difficulty being self-sufficient because of lack of employment opportunities, debt from prison, addiction and homelessness.
Sustainable Alamance supports its clients by offering employment opportunities, so that they may be able to pay their debt and work towards finding stability.
Being the LINCS coordinator for Sustainable Alamance, she helps clients utilize available resources to get on their feet. As clients seek employment opportunities, Sustainable Alamance works with local business partners within the community to reserve a position for one of their clients. These efforts help encourage self-sufficiency.
Through all of her impactful work with Elon Volunteers and Sustainable Alamance, Whyte is grateful for all of the opportunities that have allowed her to meet, connect and support those in her community.
“Volunteer work is not something you should just check off a box. The most impactful parts of volunteer work are building connections with those you are helping,” she said. “Through my experiences, I learned that it is so important to think about how your efforts are affecting the community in the long-term. Always question whether your efforts are sustainable because sustainability encourages self-sufficiency and empowerment amongst the community.”
For more information on how to get involved in the community through Elon Volunteers!, visit www.elon.edu/service.