For many Stillwater residents, a pile of leaves or an overgrown yard can be difficult to tackle alone. Through Into the Streets, Oklahoma State University students roll up their sleeves and step in each semester to lend a helping hand while building meaningful connections within the community.

Into the Streets is a long-standing tradition at OSU. Each semester, OSU students are paired with residents from Payne, Logan, Noble, Pawnee and Lincoln counties who need support with projects around their homes, creating opportunities for meaningful service while strengthening relationships between the university and the community. This semester, more than 2,000 volunteers from OSU served at 277 job sites across the region.

Cahill Kirkpatrick, a junior and volunteer group coordinator for the Hargis Leadership Institute's Into the Streets service project, said the experience built a strong connection between OSU students and the Stillwater community.

“It is so great to give back to the community that gives so much to the students at OSU,” Kirkpatrick said. “I am from out of state, so the community of Stillwater has been so important to me during my time here. When we were doing our final walk-through with the resident we were assisting, you could see the tears in his eyes and the gratitude for the work we did. It was cool to see the impact a few hours of work can have on our community.”

Community members interested in receiving assistance through Into the Streets submit a project request through an online form available on the program's website. In addition to accepting online submissions, student organizers proactively reach out to past participants through phone calls, postcard mailers and email notifications to help spread awareness of the opportunity.

Once requests are received, student leaders carefully review each project to ensure it aligns with safety guidelines and the scope of work volunteers can reasonably complete. Because volunteers are not permitted to use power tools or work on ladders taller than six feet, some projects may be modified in consultation with residents to focus on manageable tasks such as painting shutters, yard work, minor repairs or other community service projects. This review process helps ensure volunteers can safely provide meaningful assistance while maximizing the number of community members served.

“The recurring community members we assist are a great part of the tradition,” OSU student volunteer coordinator Haley Osiek said. “We serve a few of our smaller retirement communities. Some of those people we have served when they were still living independently, and we've now seen them move into this season of life. It is great to stay connected.”

Into the Streets also partners with agencies within the Stillwater community. On Saturday, volunteer groups spent time at Will Rogers Elementary and the Saville Center for Child Advocacy.

While residents benefit from the work completed during Into the Streets, students often leave with lessons that last long after the projects are finished. Whether leading teams of volunteers, coordinating service sites or building relationships with residents, participants gain valuable leadership, communication and problem-solving skills. Through interactions with residents from diverse backgrounds and generations, students see firsthand how a few hours of their time can make a lasting difference in the lives of others while developing a deeper understanding of the community they call home.

“This was my first year as a team lead for Into the Streets,” Kirkpatrick said. “Hargis Leadership Institute had 75 participants at multiple sites. It was a great experience to have the opportunity to spearhead the communication and logistics for our group. It was a lot of responsibility, but I loved seeing it all come together.”

The work completed during Into the Streets often inspires something bigger, bringing neighbors together and encouraging community members to get involved.

“I was able to see the community come together during Into the Streets by interacting with neighboring families and friends,” student volunteer center ambassador Aubrey Wilson said. “At my job site, there were quite a few kids who wanted to know what we were doing and wanted to be involved, so we educated them on what we were doing, and they started their own version in their yard.”

To learn more about Into the Streets, request assistance for a future service day or explore volunteer opportunities, visit okla.st/intothestreets.

Frequently Asked Questions