A Q＆A With HCC’s “Helping Hand” – Belinda Green
When it comes to helping others, Howard Community College’s (HCC) Belinda Green says there’s nothing she loves more. We recently sat down with Belinda, materials handling clerk at HCC, to learn more about her passion for lending a helping hand and why she loves working at the college.
Q: How long have you worked at HCC? What led you to the college?
A: I reached 11 years in October. I retired from Well Fargo in 2007. I had been at that job for 27 years. I was an accounts manager, and the job moved to Philadelphia. I went to Philadelphia for six months to train and was offered the opportunity to apply for the job. But I didn’t want to live in Philadelphia.
I came to HCC to sign up for classes in August 2008. A friend suggested I get a job here and go to school. The mailroom had an opening. I worked part time in the mailroom and part time at the front desk at Duncan Hall until the mailroom position opened up fulltime.
Q: What did you study at HCC? Did you graduate?
A: I have a math course to complete and then I will have an AA in general studies. It takes a long time when you’re working full time and taking one class [a time]. I love hospitality. Sharon Schmickley (dean of business and computer systems) suggested a course that led me to graduate with a certificate in event management. Another three classes and I could have an AA in that as well.
Q: You’re known for your work with the Giving Tree each holiday season, where the college community can choose an item from the tree to gift a family of a student in need. You also volunteer whenever you can.
A: Giving is just part of me. The Giving Tree is right down my line. I’ve changed things around a little bit. This year we spiced it up by bringing the Dragon Scales [HCC’s a Capella group] to the tree unveiling. We also had nice tags created. We have 12 families this year. We unveiled it on a Monday and by Tuesday we had five tags left. It’s very popular.
For Friendly Campus, I’m the behind-the-scenes person. I come in before everyone gets to work and set the stations up and break them down at the end. I also volunteer for all the Development events. GreenFest with Bob Marietta is fun. Vino is fun. And I love the Challenge Race. I used to do check-in for the practice runs, and this year I was one of the participants. I had a blast, I really did!
Q: What drives you? What other ways do you help others outside of campus?
A: Most of my hobby time is giving back somewhere. For Thanksgiving I’m a helper at a soup kitchen in Baltimore. For House of Ruth I collect and donate toiletries. Those are the things I like doing. A local nursing home is another favorite spot that I collect toiletries for.
Q: What do you like most about working at HCC?
A: I love the environment here. This is a great place to work. You get to meet different people. It gave me the opportunity to complete my education without having to spend too much money out of my own pockets. The mailroom affords me to know almost everyone on campus. I love that because I’m a people person and I like talking to people and really get to know them. It’s actually a super place to work. What we have here, it’s not out there.
Wherever you want to go, you can get there from here.
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