Lydia set her sights on raising $5,000 to purchase a pallet stacker for Wesley House, helping the food pantry better serve the 3,500 individuals who rely on it each year.
“We have pallet shelves in the warehouse but have had to load them by hand because we didn’t have a lift,” explained Food Pantry Manager Audrey Ricks.
The non-profit often gets whole pallets donated from Walmart after holidays, but manually loading and unloading is time consuming and physically taxing for volunteers.
Ricks put the cost of a pallet stacker, including shipping, at about $5,000.
Zerr was undaunted.
By the first week of March, she had raised the funds, the pallet stacker had been purchased, and a ribbon cutting ceremony had been held to recognize Zerr’s efforts and celebrate the new addition.
“This is definitely my proudest accomplishment in undergrad, and I greatly appreciate all of the support I have gotten up to this point,” Zerr said.
Wesley House Advisory Board Chair Douglas Stuckey and Executive Director Matt O’Malley both praised Zerr’s work and expressed profound gratitude.
Zerr credited Professor Kristen Humphrey with continued guidance and support. For many years, Humphrey has made real-world community-based projects part of the Social Work program.
Zerr said the experience, combined with leadership opportunities she has had as president of Pitt State Campus Democrats and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, will help her hit the ground running in her career field.
https://www.pittstate.edu/gorillaconnection/2025/12/pitt-state-social-work-students-give-back.html
https://www.pittstate.edu/hpss/programs/social-work/index.html