Grambling State News

GRAMBLING, LA – When D.C. Hoard says that he and his wife, Inell, own a “few” potted plants, he is vastly underestimating. The Grambling couple loves gardening and own well over 100 potted plants housed in a storage building during the winter months. This year, the Hoards had the benefit of 20 Grambling State University students to help them spread their green thumbs.

As people grow older, they cannot always complete the same physical tasks they could when they were younger. This is a concept that students studying Human Growth and Development know well. As a service learning component to her class, Mary Ghongkedze, an assistant professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, has her students volunteer at the homes of older members of the Grambling community.

“After seeing how adults age and how they cannot always do the same things, we want to promote and help them in whatever way we can. It’s a little bit of service learning for the students, to know that they can give back to the community and just make a difference in someone’s life,” Ghongkedze said.

Kadijah Hoard, a junior majoring in therapeutic recreation, was quick to volunteer her grandparents, D.C. and Inell Hoard, for the class project.

“My grandparents are getting a little older in age, and I know that sometimes I come out and help them in my free time,” she said. “That’s why I volunteered my grandparents’ house, because I felt like it would be a good opportunity to help them out.”

While the Hoards are especially grateful to the class for a morning of having students unload potted plants, sift through soil and clean garden ornaments, D.C. also thinks of it as a good way to keep the class entertained.

“We are just entertaining the class. The class wanted to come out and help individuals in the community. It’s all about what Grambling is about. It’s good interaction with the community, and it’s a good way for the school to stay involved,” said D.C. Hoard, who worked at Grambling State University for more than 30 years.

Rain kept the class from working out in the yard, but one student thinks the best lesson learned from the class project is how to reach out to the older citizens in the community.

“We are coming out into the community and helping somebody. We are doing something to go out into the community to help the older people and let them know that somebody cares about them,” said YeaNia Alicea, a junior therapeutic recreation major.

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