WILSON, N.C. – Don’t be surprised if you see a multitude of Barton “Bulldogs” in bright blue shirts around Wilson early Wednesday morning, Oct. 20. With over 725 participants signed up, students and professors at Barton College will set aside books and campus staff members will step away from desks for Barton’s third annual “Day of Service” 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.”
“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 broader Wilson community,” shared the Reverend Hollie E. Woodruff, chaplain of the college.
“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,” she added.
The Day of Service will begin with a kick-off breakfast for participants at 8 a.m. followed by brief remarks from campus leaders. Members of the college community will then disperse to assigned locations for service and return to campus later that afternoon to share a meal and reports of work.
Local service projects for the Barton community include working with the Arts Council of Wilson, Avanté, Boys and Girls Club, Bridgestone/Firestone, Building Blocks for Tots, the Clothes Line, Community Christian School, Diversified Opportunities, Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, Fike High School, First Christian Church, For the Love of Dogs, Greenfield School, Habitat for Humanity, Hope Station, Imagination Station, Jones Elementary School, Kiddie Kampus, Margaret Hearne Elementary School, Mental Health Association, New Hope Elementary School, Parkwood Village, Preservation of Wilson, Reid Street Community Center, Sallie B. Howard School, St. Therese Catholic Church, The Arc, The Spot, United Way, Wilson Community Church, Wells Elementary School, Wesley Shelter, Westview Christian Church, Wilson Parks and Recreation, Wilson Residential Services, YMCA, and Youth of Wilson, among others.
The 2010 Barton College Day of Service is sponsored in part by Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company.
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Questions? Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.