Helping for the Holidays and Beyond: UM Alum and Employee Emily Lynch

The University of Montana recently was named the top university in the U.S. for service to its community and country. It’s people like Emily Lynch who help UM earn that distinction. Lynch is a UM alum and now works in the University’s Office of Experiential Learning and Career Success (ELCS). She assists students looking for internships and volunteer opportunities and manages broader service projects. 

Lynch has her own background in helping others. She was drawn to UM and Missoula by the friendly small-town feel. “It had always seemed like a community that takes care of one another and is very connected and warm,” Lynch said.

After graduating from UM with a degree in English, the Kalispell native spent time traveling around the East Coast and southern states with AmeriCorps. She followed that up with a two-year stint with the Peace Corps, teaching English in China. Lynch returned to campus as a Peace Corps recruiter.  

“I started to really feel the pull to come back to UM,” she said. “I feel really strongly about the success of our students, and I wanted to come back and bring it all full circle.”

After a year, she joined ELCS full-time as the experiential learning program manager. In that role, she works to provide civic engagement and service programs for students. Programs like Service Saturday connect students with area nonprofits for a day of service that could range from forest conservation to socializing shelter cats.

Lynch also manages the Alternative Breaks program, where students spend part of their academic break on a three- to five-day trip working with nonprofits in another community. Next month, students will head to Spokane to assist an organization focused on homelessness and food insecurity. Volunteer programs are open to all UM students, including Missoula College students. 

Another program Lynch works on is the Holiday Helpers drive, which provides gifts for the YWCA, the Poverello Center and Soft Landing in Missoula.

“It’s always a nice way to kick off the holidays,” she said of the event, which is a great way for alumni and the community to support UM’s mission of service. “People want to give during the holidays but they don’t know where or where their money is going if they donate it at the grocery store or something. With this, we know our partners so well and we know exactly where the gifts are going and who it's helping”

ELCS will host a Holiday Helpers drop-off and gift-wrapping event from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, in Aber Hall Room 206. Please see below for a list of suggested items.

YWCA

• Blanket throws
• Coffee cup
• Popcorn
• Hot cocoa mix
• Water bottles
• Chocolates/candy
• Board/card games
• Children’s books (0-17)
• Boxes of tea
• Packs of cookies
• Prepackaged cheese and crackers
• Movies (DVD)
• Mini holiday lights
• Coffee
• Masks, hats, gloves, scarves
• Visa/MC gift cards
• Target gift cards
• Walmart gift cards

Soft Landing

• Gift cards- big dipper, walmart, Roxy theater, etc.
• Mechanical pencils
• school supplies
• art supplies
• stickers
• hot chocolate
• young adult books
• popcorn
• candy
• nice socks
• headphones
• ring lights
• new stuffed animals
• coloring books
• nail polish
• bike pumps
• Volley balls
• Soccer balls
• Headscarves - The wider the better