Service Day 2017

Partnerships provide local outreach opportunity

On March 22, 30 students piled into a bus and headed to Benton Harbor for Andrews University’s Service Day. Hosted by Campus Ministries, this biannual event provides students with an opportunity for both outreach ministry and a chance to partner with charities in nearby neighborhoods. This year, three options were available through the Salvation Army and Mosaic Café, a resale store and coffee shop that provides employment for those with criminal backgrounds.

At the Salvation Army, students scrubbed down the kitchen, repaired cabinets and organized classrooms. Since the organization provides both education and meals for community members, as well as the traditional thrift store, the assistance was greatly appreciated.

“Overall I believe the event went well!” reflects Unique Bolden, Andrews student. “I heard students say they were blessed and the people at the Salvation Army said that they were blessed by our help, too!”

At Mosaic Cafe, some students helped organize donations for their retail store while others worked on demolition and renovation at a building where the company is opening a new restaurant.

Reflecting on the weekend’s events, June Price, University chaplain, expressed her admiration for the students’ involvement, but hoped for more involvement in the near future.

“I’m always so proud of our students going out and taking the time to serve,” she says. “It’s a wonderful attitude, and I’d love to see more students get involved in our large-form service projects.”

For information on upcoming service events, or details on how you can volunteer long-term as a student missionary, email cm@andrews.edu, call 269-471-3211 or stop by the Campus Ministries office in the Campus Center.

Related Links

• More about outreach and missions at Andrews
• What You've Been Made For: Experiences as a student missionary
• Our2Cents: Students & Benton Harbor ministry serve local residents