WILSON, N.C. — October 18, 2017 — Don’t be surprised to see a blur of gray t-shirts as Barton Bulldogs go zipping by on Wednesday morning, Oct. 18. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni in signature t-shirts headed out this morning to serve a multitude of local organizations during the College’s annual “Day of Service.”
With more than 700 Barton participants signed up, students and professors at the College set aside books, and campus staff members and area alumni stepped away from desks, for the tenth annual “Day of Service” on campus and in the Wilson community.
Begun in 2008, this campus initiative supports Barton’s vision for its graduates to be “well-prepared for life and for success in their chosen careers because they will possess a lifelong commitment to learning, service, and achievement.” This well-established program, now 10 years old, has become one of the most highly anticipated annual events for the campus community.
Through participation in these one-day projects, Barton hopes to provide its students with a foundation for developing a deeper appreciation for service learning and a stronger sense of civic responsibility, as well as meeting needs within the Wilson community. Developing a lifelong commitment to service is part of the “Barton Experience,” and Barton College’s “Day of Service” provides an intentional opportunity for the campus community to give back to its hometown community of Wilson.
Barton College’s “Day of Service” began with a kick-off breakfast for participants at 8 a.m. followed by brief remarks from campus leaders. Members of the college community then dispersed to assigned locations across the city for service and will return to campus later this afternoon to share a meal and reports of work.
Local service projects for the 2017 Day of Service this year include working with: the Arts Council of Wilson, Black Creek United Methodist Church, Brian Center, Bridgestone, Building Blocks for Tots, Carriage House at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Diversified Opportunities, Eastern N.C. School for the Deaf, Ecological Forest, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Greenfield School, Habitat for Humanity, Hope Station, Imagination Station, Kiddie Kampus Child Care Center, Manchester Street Clean Up, Margaret Hearne Elementary School, New Hope Elementary School, Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House Museum, Preservation of Wilson, Rocky Mount High School, Sallie B. Howard School, Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, St. Therese Catholic Church, Street Clean-Up, The Spot, Veterans Residential Services, Wells Elementary School, Wesley Shelter, Willow Springs, Wilson Family YMCA, Wilson House Assisted Living, Wilson Parks and Recreation, and Y.O.U.T.H. of Wilson, among others.
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