Nonprofit organizations across the country are among many who feel the overwhelming impact of COVID-19. But last fall, when several Tuscaloosa nonprofits needed help like never before, the University of Alabama’s student-led organization Serving Bama found a way to safely continue vital, in-person volunteer services, and it continues doing so today.

“We knew that now more than ever, the Tuscaloosa community needed our support,” said Chloe Keck, a senior biology major who is team leader for Serving Bama. “It was important for us to find a way to continue offering services to our community partners, to be consistent and hands-on in the community, while being cognizant of the pandemic and the precautions we needed to take to keep everyone safe.”

Two University of Alabama student volunteers groom horses at TROT. (contributed)

Serving Bama is one of UA’s Center for Service and Leadership’s community action teams. Through Keck’s leadership, and with the help of 23 assistant team leaders, Serving Bama meets a variety of needs for 11 Tuscaloosa nonprofits where nearly 130 UA students volunteer weekly.

One of those organizations is Therapeutic Riding of Tuscaloosa (TROT), which offers equine-assisted therapy to people with cognitive challenges. Volunteers feed the animals, clean the barn and help maintain the facility.

“We have been fortunate to continue to operate during the pandemic, providing needed therapeutic services to individuals in the west Alabama area,” said Dr. Marguerite Malone, CEO and clinical director of TROT. “But without the valuable services and help provided by Serving Bama and other volunteers from the University of Alabama, we would not have been able to keep our facility open.”

Although there have been challenges along the way, the Serving Bama team has never lost sight of its goal to serve the community, even in a pandemic. Keck put new safety protocols into place for volunteers, such as self-transportation to and from sites, contactless check-in, mandatory mask-wearing, a limit of 10 volunteers per site and social-distancing requirements.

“Chloe wasted no time in pivoting her 23-person leadership team to meet the direct needs of the community, without compromising the health and safety of anyone,” said Ashley Clark, coordinator of outreach for UA’s Center for Service and Leadership, who advises the group. “She’s been innovative in vetting the service sites and adapting programming for at-risk sites.

“Because of Chloe and the leadership team’s dedication to their community and to the Center for Service and Leadership, Serving Bama continues to safely benefit both UA students and the Tuscaloosa community.”

Serving Bama members volunteered more than 1,000 hours last semester.

“The effect that service can have on the world is just astounding, and this position and my involvement with Serving Bama really highlights that for me,” Keck said.

Serving Bama partners with UA Arboretum, Humane Society of West Alabama Dog Shelter and Cat Shelter, Salvation Army, Therapeutic Riding of Tuscaloosa, West Alabama Food Bank, Wings of Grace, Schoolyard Roots, Moundville Archaeological Park, SD Allen Ministries, Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Jeremiah’s Garden.

Additional information can be found by following Serving Bama on Instagram @servingbama. Students may sign up to volunteer at Serving Bama’s GivePulse page.

This story originally appeared on the University of Alabama’s website.