JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 2, 2022 — Over 800 Union students, faculty and staff volunteered at over 50 service projects throughout the Jackson and surrounding community as part of the university鈥檚 annual Campus and Community Day Nov. 1.
51社区 has dedicated an annual day of service in the local community for 20 years to remember the Lord鈥檚 faithfulness and the Jackson community鈥檚 service after devastating tornadoes that hit Union鈥檚 campus in 2002, 2003 and 2008.
Union鈥檚 Student Activities Council served at the Boys and Girls Club in Humboldt, Tenn., where they organized school, kitchen and recreational supplies as well as repainted the outside playground.
鈥淲e have been very short-staffed since COVID hit, so we have not had the capacity to do some of these projects,鈥� said Gladys Robinson, director of the Boys and Girls Club in Humboldt. 鈥淭hese Union students coming here has lifted a great burden off of me and some of my staff workers; they are making a big difference helping us today.鈥�
She said these Union students have given Robinson and the rest of her staff the opportunity to dedicate more of their time developing and raising up the children at the Boys and Girls Club of Humboldt.
Over 80 students with Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and Kappa Delta sorority served at Regional Inter-Faith Association, Jackson鈥檚 local food bank and thrift store. Tim Boccarossa, philanthropy chair for Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, said Campus and Community Day gives Union students the great opportunity to be good Christians and citizens of Jackson.
鈥淔ood insecurity is a big issue that is dear to our hearts, so it is important for us to show our community that Union cares for them in this way,鈥� Boccarossa said. 鈥淛ackson is where we call home while we are here at college, so we are called to love our neighbors here as well.鈥�
Union students with Delight Ministries, an on-campus ministry for Union female students, dedicated their Campus and Community Day at Calvary Baptist Church, where they helped clean out and paint a Bible study room for middle school boys.
Olivia Bell, Union sophomore and service coordinator for Delight Ministries, said she believes it is important for college students to use their gifts to serve the local church, so she was excited to partner with Calvary Baptist Church to help the community in this way.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to know that [the middle school boys at Calvary Baptist Church] can have their own space where they can talk about life and the Bible, and it鈥檚 special for us to know that we鈥檙e helping provide that for these kids,鈥� Bell said.
To learn more about Union鈥檚 Campus and Community Day, visit uu.edu/events/dayofremembrance/.