Elizabethtown College hosted its annual campus-wide Spring Day of Service on Friday, March 31. More than 230 Blue Jay students and employees, along with family and alumni, came together to support local agencies by packing 1,500 school supply kits and making over 200 blankets for children in the community.
“Each year, the Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) strives to engage our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the surrounding community in meaningful acts of service,” Director of the Elizabethtown College Center for Community and Civic Engagement, Javita Thompson said. “This year’s Spring Day of Service was a great opportunity to serve five community organizations and help live out our motto of Educate for Service. We look forward to continuing this work to help future members of our community!”
Volunteers assist in assembling school supply kits at Thompson Gym
Four one-hour and 15-minute sessions took place across the day in Thompson Gym.
Participants assembled school supply kits that will be distributed to local agencies: Unto, Church World Service (CWS), and The Joshua Group.
Volunteers also collaborated to make Linus blankers that will be donated to the James Biever Police-Community Alliance. Blankets will be placed in police squad cars and given to children who are interacting with police as a result of experiencing a traumatic situation.
The term “Linus” blanket originates from the Charles Shulz Peanuts comic strip and is named after the character Linus van Pelt.
Service is an essential part of the Etown experience. The Day of Service was offered in the spirit of Elizabethtown College’s motto, Educate for Service. This motto guides Etown’s campus community and encourages all to live out these words through intentional action to make positive impacts on the lives of others.