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JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 7, 2017 — More than 700 members of the 51���� community served all across the city of Jackson and surrounding areas Tuesday. Students, faculty and staff worked at schools, churches, homes, parks and non-profits as part of Union’s 15th annual “Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service.”

The Day of Remembrance is a time when the university joins together to give thanks to God for his protection over the campus during tornados in 2002, 2003 and 2008, and to give thanks to the Jackson community for their support during those times. This year, Union sent teams to 39 different projects.

Brooke Watson, a sophomore sport management major and member of Union’s women’s soccer team, served with her teammates at the Regional Inter-Faith Association, a non-profit in Jackson focused on providing food to people in need. She said working at RIFA is a way for her to show gratitude to God and to the people of Jackson.

“Even though I wasn’t here when the tornados happened and the community helped us, I think it’s important to carry on the tradition of giving back to the community,” Watson said.

Ali Renckens, a senior English and journalism major, helped clean up litter, trim the canopy and spread mulch at Liberty Garden Park near Union’s campus. Renckens said she visits the park regularly to run and exercise, and she often sees other Union students there.

“Since we do have this great space that the community has been good enough to provide for us, we do kind of have a responsibility to give back and to help clean it up,” she said.

Justice Walker, a senior math and education major, led a team of volunteers from Union’s MOSAIC organization. The students worked at Arlington Elementary School helping in classrooms, painting and playing with kids. Walker said the Day of Remembrance serves as an opportunity to get away from Union’s campus and see what the broader community of Jackson is all about.

“It’s so easy for us to just sit in our dorms or in our classrooms and think that this is all Jackson has to offer,” Walker said. “But there are so many people here who just want us to be around, so it’s an opportunity to be a light for other people.”