This fall semester at Syracuse Florence marked an exciting turning point for our volunteer program. Under the guidance of Olimpia Bozza, the program has been revived and expanded, becoming more active than it has been in several years. The renewed structure has opened the door to new opportunities, stronger community partnerships, and a wave of student initiatives.
Student Journalism
One new and successful volunteer opportunity was the student reporter position for this very news page. Wake Forest communication major Jacqueline Money David provided enormous help in creating content with her talented writing. This experience demonstrated the value of student-led journalism, and we hope more students will want to volunteer for this role in future semesters.
Charity Fundraising
Another runaway success was the charity fundraising organized by Eliza Duff-Wender, who volunteered with Fondazione Solidarietà Caritas ETS. Duff-Wender committed to supporting their soup kitchens, which provide more than 1,200 meals each day to people in need across Florence.
“It was especially important to me that I not only reap the benefits of living here in Florence, but also that I be intentional with my time here,” Duff-Wender said.
As part of her experience, Duff-Wender launched a creative fundraising initiative mobilizing fellow study abroad students to reflect on their spending habits and give back to the city that has hosted them. She not only met but surpassed her fundraising goal, and she even shared her story in a podcast—in Italian—recorded with Radio Toscana, helping raise awareness among other international students.
“We are very grateful to Eliza for her work and dedication and proud of the meaningful impact created through our I-Engage program,” said Syracuse Florence Director Sasha Perugini. “Writing this as a Florence citizen, grazie!“
Food Bank Volunteers
Another impactful example of volunteer opportunities has been the charity and donation drives organized by student volunteers connected to the St. James Food Bank. Volunteers Annie Carter and Sophia Claps worked together every Thursday morning, stocking the food pantry, putting together bags of food, sorting clothing, and handing out fruit.
“I really enjoyed my role at St. James because I was able to meet local people in the Florence community while also helping those in need,” Carter said. “This experience also helped to fill some of my free time during the early weeks of study abroad, giving me an added sense of purpose.”
Claps shared similar sentiments about the experience. “I enjoyed meeting the other regular volunteers and learning about their experience with how they ended up living in Florence,” she said. “Seeing the same faces from the community every week was very special when they came to collect goods.”
Carter and Claps extended their volunteering into Syracuse Florence by hosting a donation drive for clothing, bedding, towels, food, and toiletries that study abroad students might leave behind at the end of the semester.
“I would totally recommend this volunteer opportunity to future students!” Carter said.
The revival of the volunteer program has empowered students to connect more deeply with Florence while supporting meaningful local causes, turning everyday moments into opportunities for service and sustainability.