Southern Adventist University Service Day
Event: 15th annual Community Service Day in observance of M.L.King Jr.’s birthday.
When: Jan. 19
Theme: “Serving: Your Purpose.”
Who participated: More than 600 students and faculty from Southern Adventist University.
Time commitment: Each volunteer donated six hours of community service to area nonprofit organizations.
Where: 50 locations across the city.
Value of contributions: $70,400, based on the Independent Sector’s estimate that a volunteer’s time is worth $19.50 per hour.
AmeriCorps VISTAs
The program: AmeriCorps VISTA, a national service program to fight poverty.
History: Program was founded as Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network in 1993.
Its mission: VISTAs commit to a year of full-time service working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses or strengthen community groups.
Local participation: Lee University, Cleveland, Tenn.
Lee’s VISTA volunteers: Regina Lawson was brought to campus to coordinate better efficiency in the Leonard Center’s student food bank. She also is involved in the Community Garden Initiative, Keep America Beautiful, a local homeless shelter, the Caring Place and a soup kitchen. Ms. Lawson is directing a new campus kitchen program in which students prepare food and deliver meals along routes in a Salvation Army Disaster Relief truck. “We’ll basically be a mobile soup kitchen,” said Ms. Lawson. Amber Bush, a Lee alumna, is working with faculty to incorporate service learning into classes. She also is developing a community tutoring program for grades K-12.
Youth club service day
Event: Phi Beta Sigma and Sigma Beta Club, the fraternity’s mentoring program for youth ages 8-18, joined for a day of community service.
Where: Chattanooga Community Kitchen.
What they did: The kids stocked pantry shelves, donated clothing and helped the kitchen serve the homeless. Sigma Beta Club members also presented a $100 donation to the kitchen.
Sponsored by: Xi Alpha Sigma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
Fraternity members participating: Donald Tatum, director of Sigma Beta Club; Edrius Cameron, vice president of Xi Alpha Sigma chapter; Justin Allen, president of Xi Alpha Sigma Chapter; Robert Phillips, fraternity director of social action; and Carlis Shackelford, senior adviser.
Concert for Suzy Kay
Event: Benefit concert.
Where: Rhythm & Brews.
Benefits: Medical and living expenses of Suzy Kay, a single mother and cancer patient.
Entertainers: Kennon Ownsby, Brad Parsons, KO and the Knockouts, One Shot Down, Ernie Wilson from Soul Crush and Jonathan Wimpee from Milele Roots.
Highlights: Buffet provided by Big River Grille & Brewing Works. Several local restaurants donated gift certificates, which were raffled throughout the benefit.
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