Union University students honored the school’s 20th annual Campus and Community Day on Tuesday, Nov. 1 with various service projects in the community.
“Campus and Community day is a time when the university comes together to serve the community that the Lord has blessed us with,” J Bryan, temporary coordinator for service and events, said. “Organizations, schools, churches, ministries and many others request projects for which our students, faculty and staff can volunteer.”
The Campus and Community Day tradition began in 2002 as a way for students, faculty and staff to thank God for his protection over campus during the tornado incident that year. As the campus saw more devastating tornadoes in 2003 and 2008, Campus and Community Day became even more important as a means to give thanks to the community.
“The purpose of Campus and Community Day is to pour into the community of Jackson just like they poured into us after tornadoes struck campus on three separate occasions,” sophomore political science major Emily Turner said. “We want to thank the churches and organizations who helped us rebuild, and by dedicating a day each year to volunteer for [them], we can express our love and gratitude for this beautiful community.”
Students have the opportunity to sign up for various service projects on Campus and Community Day. These projects range from painting, cleaning, construction work and more.
“This year we had projects with various kinds of work,” Bryan said. “Including painting elementary school cafeterias, donating and distributing food to RIFA, doing yard work for widows in our community, donating blood and platelets at St. Jude Children’s Hospital, cleaning various community parks, helping local churches with maintenance/cleaning, and many more. The type of work ranges based on the needs of the host organization who requested the project.”
In addition to this, on-campus organizations have the chance to come together as groups to serve the Jackson community. Students can also choose to lead a project for their respective organization.
“Leading a project is honestly so much fun,” Turner, leader of the Life139 service project at Birth Choice, said. “This was a chance for me to get to know new faces as we worked alongside each other to help an amazing organization in Jackson.”
Campus and Community Day has been a Union staple for two decades, and the school does not anticipate an end to the tradition anytime soon.
“[Campus and Community Day is] a time for us to serve and express our gratitude for the Jackson community rallying around us and supporting us in the midst of the destruction of the tornados,” Bryan said.
