Pi Kappa Sigma spent November collecting trendy, used clothing items for teenage girls at Youth Villages, all the while serving their mission and growing as human beings.

“I hope that it makes our members more aware of the needs of other girls in the community and that they see it as a potential to make a positive impact in the lives of others,” said Emily Brunson, PKS service coordinator.

Brooke McAllister, a senior family relations major, interned with Youth Villages in Middle Tennessee last summer and was excited to get PKS involved with the organization.

McAllister, whose passion is helping young people, was glad to find an internship that provided her some financial support while also allowing her to develop as a person, at the same time doing something for which she is committed.

“I chose Youth Villages because I wanted some experience in a social services organization where I could learn a lot and also get to serve,” she said.

Youth Villages is a nonprofit organization seeking to help troubled children and their families lead successful lives. With locations across the country, including one here in Nashville, Youth Villages primarily serves youth between the ages of 12 and 17, many of whom have suffered abuse.

“I worked in a group home with teenage girls,” McAllister said. “We were there to provide therapeutic structure, supervision, and to spend time with them. We took them on outings, helped with homework and listened when they wanted to talk.”

But, service isn’t just about the people who are being served. It’s about the people who are serving.

“I didn’t realize beforehand how much working at Youth Villages would impact me,” McAllister said.

“I learned so much about myself – that I’m a lot stronger than I thought, and also a lot less patient. I learned to work in a challenging, sometimes stressful environment, and to not take things personally.”

A service-oriented university, Lipscomb’s overarching goal is to prepare students for lifetimes of service, and PKS is living up to that purpose.

McAllister is one who believes she benefited from helping the teenagers. “I am blessed to have a career where my very job is to serve and love and show compassion, which in my mind, is a direct way I serve Jesus, and help build the Kingdom here on earth,” she said.

McAllister is seeking full-time employment for after graduation and plans to start on her master’s degree for Marriage and Family Therapy next fall.