Halloween season is in full swing across Galen College of Nursing, and students are finding meaningful ways to give back while celebrating the season. At Galen’s Tampa Bay campus, members of the Galen Student Veterans Association (GSVA) recently partnered with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 39 in St. Petersburg to host a community haunted house, bringing together students, military families and local residents for a weekend of spooky fun and service.

The event marked GSVA’s first volunteer initiative and provided members with an opportunity to strengthen community ties while honoring fellow veterans and military families. Students, spouses and friends came together to help set up and operate the haunted house, creating a memorable experience for attendees and showcasing Galen’s commitment to service beyond the classroom.

“For the past three years, I have reached out to organization after organization hoping to volunteer, and most of those efforts ended in closed doors,” Abigail Avalos, the Vice President of GSVA said. “So, when VFW Post 39 graciously welcomed us to be part of their event, it meant more than I can easily put into words. They didn’t just give us a place to help; they made us an extension of the St. Pete community.”

Although excited about the opportunity, Avalos admitted she felt some nerves leading into the event.

“I wanted to make sure we made a good first impression on the Post, on our school, and on the entire community,” Avalos said. “But with the help of the students, spouses, and friends who showed up to set up and stand alongside us, we made GSVA recognizable for the first time.”

The experience reinforced a lesson Avalos has learned throughout her life as a military spouse: service is never accomplished alone.

“Watching everyone pull together reminded me of something I learned as a military spouse: no one serves alone,” Avalos said. “Behind every service member is a network of people who show up, adapt, and carry the mission forward together, and that is exactly what our team did.”

Beyond the Halloween festivities, the event gave GSVA members a chance to give back to the veteran community and recognize the sacrifices made by military families.

“Our veterans have given so much of themselves in service to this country, and military families have sacrificed right alongside them through deployments, moves, and long stretches apart,” Avalos said. “Being able to stand with the VFW and give back to the people who have given so much is an honor.”

Avalos hopes the organization’s growing presence in the community will inspire others to pursue their goals while showing veterans and military families that new opportunities await after military service.

“It shows veterans and military families that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off,” Avalos said. “There is so much more you can build on top of a military career, and you don’t have to do it alone.”

With a successful first event now complete, GSVA members are already looking for new ways to serve and connect with the community.

“This was our first volunteer event, but it is only the beginning,” Avalos said. “I can’t wait to see what GSVA accomplishes next.”