On Tuesday, Oct. 29, students, faculty and staff went into the Jackson community and volunteered at many different organizations as a way to give back to the community.
Students served in various ways, from giving chemistry lessons to high school students and painting buildings to giving blood and packing backpacks for impoverished children.
The serve team, which is part of the office of university ministries, planned this day and helped students get connected with organizations. This year, there were 49 different projects, each with different organizations and individual team leaders.
Katie Simpson, sophomore music composition major, went to ComeUnity Cafe in downtown Jackson and helped relocate the compost bin in their garden, weed garden beds and plant parsley and lettuce seeds.
“I am thankful I had the chance to pause from my own responsibilities and spend a day serving the community,” said Simpson.
This is the goal of Campus and Community Day. Serve team encourages students to use this day to give back to the community of Jackson, which has given so much to Union, especially following the 2008 tornado. Not only is this day a day of gratitude to the community, but it is also a day of gratitude to God.
“The Lord is faithful to His people,” said Zane Lancaster, junior nursing major and member of serve team. “And hopefully by serving others, we will remember what he has done for us.”
Lancaster also emphasized the need for students to think outside of themselves. Lancaster wants to encourage students to think of others instead of just themselves and to set aside time to serve the community.
“Whether on purpose or not, college can be a very self-centered time of a person’s life,” said Lancaster.
Visit the office of university ministries website for more information about opportunities to serve in the Jackson community.
Photo courtesy of Union University