GOSHEN — Nearly 200 Goshen College freshmen and faculty members were out in force on the streets of Goshen and Elkhart Wednesday afternoon as part of the college’s 14th annual Day of Service event.
Held once a year as a way for GC students to reaffirm their commitment to service, Wednesday’s event featured eight groups of approximately 20 freshmen students and two faculty members who were then paired with one of several service organizations or charities from around the county.
According to Jodi Beyeler, assistant director of public relations for the college, the Day of Service is part of the core curriculum of courses that all students must take as new students at the college.
“We made some changes last year to the day and instead of cancelling all classes, just the 100 and 200 level classes are cancelled for the day,” Beyeler said. “Then first-year students and their professors spend the day in service.”
Service organizations partnering with the college for this year’s event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., included: Boys and Girls Club of Goshen, Feed the Children, Habitat for Humanity, LaCasa Inc., Soup for Success, Greencroft and Pathways Retreat.
Christina Hofer, a GC freshman from South Dakota, was busy raking leaves in the 700 block of North Fifth Street Wednesday through her group’s partnership with LaCasa Inc.
“We split into groups, and our group is raking leaves here and I think we’re just going down the block and then down the other side of the block,” Hofer said. “All freshman are taking a core class as part of Goshen’s general education program, and the class is called Identity, Culture and Community. We always have a service day, it happens every year, but it’s part of this class this year. So all the freshmen are out today.”
Despite being a school requirement, Hofer said she sees the importance of volunteering for one’s community and would most likely have participated regardless of the requirement.
“Yeah, I think it’s definitely important,” Hofer said. “I mean, sure it’s hard for us to get up and get out on cold mornings like this. But there are so many of us. A class of 175 can do a lot. So yeah, I think it’s definitely important.”
Chris Vendrely, a GC freshman assisting in the clean-up efforts along Fifth Street, was quick to agree.
“Part of the Goshen core is service, so getting out here in the community in Goshen doing service is important to us,” Vendrely said. “Right now we’re raking leaves up and down the street. Hopefully we won’t be doing this for too long, because it’s pretty cold out here. We’ve got a lot more to do though. But it’s worth it.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Goshen College freshmen, from left, David Pauls, Karina Flores and Chris Vendrely rake leaves in the 700 block of North Fifth Street during the college's annual Day of Service event Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. JOHN KLINE | THE GOSHEN NEWS
Goshen College students volunteer time to help community
- Local News
-
-
Treatment plant building, lift station fixes approved
GOSHEN — The Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Digester and Lab buildings have water leaking in and the plant’s Twelfth Street lift station has bricks falling off the building due to water damage.
-
Crashes rekindle seat belt debate
An Indiana lawmaker who sponsored a bill that would have required seat belts on school buses hopes two high-profile collisions in a span of a week that left more than 60 people injured will spur parents to urge the General Assembly to act.
-
SLIDESHOW: 2013 Westview Graduation
Photos from the 47th Commencement Ceremony at Westview High School. The class of 2013 had 87 students.
-
THE DIRT ON GARDENING: Choose your pool plants wisely
Do you have a pool or a pond or do you plan on having one in the near future? Then you’ll want to choose your plants wisely that you’ll expect to have near or around the perimeter.
-
Handle poison hemlock carefully
Poison hemlock is a weed that seemed to burst onto the scene last year during the drought.
In the past, it could be found in waste areas like along railroad tracks and ditches, but in 2012, poison hemlock seemed to be everywhere, including backyards, gardens, fields, even along the river at Bonneyville Mill Park. -
'Piazza' program starts Saturday at Ruthmere
The “Coffee on the Piazza” program will return to Ruthmere Museum this spring and summer.
-
Jefferson students spend the day at Camp Amigo
On Tuesday, 450 Jefferson Elementary School students experienced “outdoor” school.
-
Bus driver’s condition upgraded after Wednesday wreck
A school bus driver injured in a four-bus crash Wednesday north of North Webster was hospitalized in fair condition Thursday.
-
Goshen has growth spurt
Goshen Mayor Allan Kauffman doesn’t have the magic bullet as to why Goshen is over the 32,000 mark in population for the first time.
-
Sentence dealt for reckless homicide
GOSHEN — From the witness stand in Elkhart Circuit Court, Kristina Wolfinger could see the man who killed her brother. She described what she didn’t see.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
